Hey! Unfortunately we don't yet have a full-scale article on Tigel.
However, here is a short summary of what we know about it so far.
You can also use our COMPARE app to see how Tigel stacks up against some other traditional styles of wrestling!
You can also use our COMPARE app to see how Tigel stacks up against some other traditional styles of wrestling!
Tigel
Tigel (Tigil; tigel; gibbigib; qilis) is a traditional wrestling style, originating from Ethiopia.grips on the opponent's garments grip fighting/changing grips during the match.
Both wrestlers take a right underhook grip. Their right shoulders must keep touching at all times. They can either close the clinch by clasping their hands together behind the opponents back, or keep their left arm loose.
Techniques
We don't know much about Tigel's arsenal of techniques, except that .Objective
Matches consist of 3 rounds. Victory is obtained by throwing the opponent on the ground. A clean throw earns 2 points, while throwing the opponent on their side earns 1. The person who is able to score the most points is the winner of the match.Competition
We don't yet know where (on what surface) the matches traditionally take place. The match duration is 3 rounds each of 3 minutes, with 1 minute breaks in between.We don't know if any weight classes are established.
We don't know whether it is allowed for women to participate in Tigel competitions.
Some external resources on Tigel:
- Account of an American who wrestled in a Tigel tournament (Archived)
- Footage from a Tigel match (2013)
- Video of ethiopian youth practicing a variation of Tigel, where gripping the opponent's garments is legal
- Entry about Tigel on UNESCO ICM's website
- "Article by K. Bromber, titled ""Ethiopian wrestling between sportization of national heritage and dynamic youth culture"""