Written and researched by Jimmy Seals, a student at CHS
The Chilhowie High School Warrior Wrestling Team is honoring the oldest contact sport known to mankind. That sport is none other than wrestling; here are some of the important dates of this very long and timeless sport.
668 B.C. In the 23rd (ancient) Olympic Games, both boxing and (Greco-Roman) wrestling starts as official contests.
About 500 B.C. According to the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters, a book of legends form the year 712, which is the oldest extant example of Japanese writing), Takemikazuchi defeats Takeminakata in a grappling match on the shores of Izumo (today's Shimane Prefecture) for control over the Izumo territory. Takemikazuchi, the leader of the Japanese people is said to have established the imperial family from which the present day emperor traces his ancestry. This event is the first supposed grappling match in Japanese history.
23 B.C. According to Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan, a book from the year 720), Emperor Suinin, a potter form the Izumo, to fight Taima-no Kehaya, a bully and a braggart from which is now Nara Prefecture. The two wrestled for quite a while until Sunkue finally renders some devastating kicks to Kehaya's stomach and solar plexus. Kehaya was mortally wounded, and Sukune, the winner, has been immortalized ever since as the "Father of Sumo." (Note: Sumo means wrestling/grappling in general. The Greco-Roman/catch-as-catch-can style of wrestling used to be known as "Western Sumo" in Japan) This is to believed to be the first recorded no-holds barred match in Japan's wrestling history.
Even before these three dates in wrestling history, wrestling dates even further back to the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras in the history of the world. Bronze statues of wrestlers that have been discovered in Iraq that dated back to 3000 BC. Paintings in Egypt have been discovered that depict scenes of wrestling. Nobody knows for sure when wrestling came about, but it is known as the 2nd oldest sport known next to running.
The sport of wrestling can even be dated back in the biblical days; the Bible (the Old Testament) makes several references to wrestling. In the famous story about Jacob wrestling with an angle story which was when the name Israel came from.
"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day...And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh,; and hollow of Jacob's thigh went out of joint, as he wrestled with him...And he said, let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me...And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
Wrestling certainly has made its mark on the history of the world and the sports world. Most people probably don't know that some very important figures in American history were Amateur Wrestlers. The sixteenth President of the United Sates of America Abraham Lincoln was a wrestler. He once defeated the Louisiana State champion in New Salem, Louisiana. There was even a tale about George Washington 's wrestling matches; most notably against a man named "Irish" Joe McGrity. The legend has it that Joe hated Washington so much that he challenged him to a "Loser Leaves America" match, which George won. That story may not be true, but that's another great thing about wrestling. Wrestling has many fables, and stories about the sport, most defiantly the earlier days of the sport because it has been on this earth for so long. No body has ever completely finished writing about the history of the sport. Getting back to famous Americans that were wrestlers George Patton, and Norman Schwarzkopf wrestled. At the prestigious US Military academy West Point many presidents were also wrestlers one point in their lives. Such as Calvin Coolidge, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Zachary Taylor, and John Tyler.
In an interesting story Theodore Roosevelt was a major wrestling fan, he was also wrestler himself. His favorite wrestler of all time was a man by the name of Frank Gotch. Gotch was a World Heavyweight Champion for many years, and he was one of the most popular sports figures of the 20th century. Reports ay that in one of the meetings between Roosevelt and Gotch. Teddy asked him to wrestle a jiu jitsu expert in the East Hall of the White House, Frank expected the challenge. Gotch was so well liked by Ted that he was invited to spend the night at the White House for two times.
Wrestling is a sport that should be honored and the Chilhowie Warrior Wrestling team is honoring the traditions of the past. The spot of wrestling is timeless, now these modern day warriors of the mat. Are preserving the sport of wrestling, as so many did in the past. So Warrior fans come out and support your Warrior Wrestling Team as they continue to preserve this great sport.