4 hitches
Description
There are probably a great number of different holds and methods of ‘hitching’, or taking hold of the jackets. A hitch was the traditional name for tying ropes on a fishing boat, so it’s no surprise that this term is used in traditional wrestling from the Westcountry.
The most common hitches are perhaps defined as:
- The collar hold (‘yoke’ or ‘normal’ hold)
- The sleeve-and-collar hold
- The single sleeve hold
- The sleeve-and-waist hold
The formulaic manner relies upon holding the collar, lapel/ropes, sleeve at the elbow, sleeve at the wrist or under the armpit down to the waist. Any of these places can be hitched.
To take the hitch the same on both sides (to grab with the left and right hands on both sides of the collar, for example), is what we call an “even hitch”. To take the hitch differently on both sides (the left hand hitches the collar, and the right hand hitches the elbow) is called an “uneven hitch”. Even hitches are strongest, but do not provide the highest variety of techniques, whilst the opposite is true with uneven hitches.
The collar hold is perhaps the most common form of hitch used in the modern sport. This is the method taught today by the Cawley’s and used to great success to control the head and therefore the back.
The other hitches have been reclaimed from historical records. They are either described or illustrated, and we have sought to leverage them in modern sport.
[1] This concept is known as ‘Kumikata’ in Judo.