AMMA competes in Ssireum (Korean Wrestling)

Some of our AMMA fighters decided to try their skills at this year’s Ssireum NZ team trials in Auckland today. Ssireum is the traditional national sport of Korea. In the modern form each contestant wears a belt that wraps around the waist and the thigh. The competition employs a series of techniques, which inflict little harm or injury to the opponent: opponents lock on to each other’s belt, and one achieves victory by being first to bring any part of the opponent’s body above the knee to the ground. A competitor wins his match if he secures two takedowns. 

The trials were scheduled to go down rain or shine on an open sandpit. Unfortunately, it was pissing down with rain the entire time. First up from AMMA was Dave Nicholls and Ben Forman who were pitted against each other. Dave won the match to continue in the tournament. However, on his second match Dave lost by grounding himself prematurely during his first takedown of his opponent, and then losing the second takedown. Too bad for Dave it wasn’t Greco-Roman Wresting, Freestyle Wrestling, Judo, BJJ, Submission Wrestling, WWE, MMA, or bar brawling!

Kemp Salmond lost a close match with a very experienced wrestler. Kemp scored first with a great takedown, but his opponent came back with a takedown when Kemp tripped onto his knees. Eventually Kemp lost when what appeared to be Kemp’s takedown was overruled when Kemp’s hand was ruled to have hit the ground first.

Lika Mahe easily won his first match by 2-0 takedowns to progress to the finals. In the final match, Lika was taken down first, but came back strong with 2 subsequent takedowns, eventually securing first place. Lika wins the number one position for his 130kg weight division and will represent New Zealand in Ssireum World Championships in Seoul, Korea this year. Congratulations, Lika! Not too shabby for someone who has had no training in the Ssireum. Represent!

Thanks very much to Hamish and Ben for capturing the videos of the matches below.