Europe

Lluita del bac (Catalonia, Spain)

Lluita del bac (Catalonia, Spain)

  • Name of sport (game): Bac wrestling
  • Name in native language: Lluita del bac ( catalan)
  • Place of practice (continent, state, nation):

    This traditional wrestling is practiced in the region of the end of the Ebro river, in the province of Tarragona in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain

  • History:

    We are currently studying its history, we know that it was practiced in our area and in Valencia at the end of the 19th century but we do not know since when it began and its exact origins.
    There were two ways in the Bac struggle, closely related and complementary to each other. On the one hand, for the defense staff, all sorts of techniques were practiced that included blows with any part of the body (fists, feet, knees, elbows, head ...), dislocations in the limbs, pinching in sensitive areas and takedowns. Also the use of traditional tools as weapons. As well as learning to defend against attacks with these tools.
    On the other hand, fights were practiced in the form of impromptu challenges, in which rules were usually agreed upon at previous moments, however they used to have as a common feature that who made to fell on the contrary wins. The most potentially harmful techniques, such as blows and dislocations, were forbidden.

  • Description:

    In sport, the association has currently drawn up regulations. The summarized rules are:
    - The two fighters embrace without letting go trying to bring the other to the ground.
    - If you fall to the ground with your whole shoulder, there are two points for your opponent, if you fall to the side or in any other way he gets a point.
    - Win the first one to reach 4 points or the one with the most points at the end of the time (2 or 3 minutes depending on the category)

  • Current status:

    Although the Bac fight was rooted in the traditions of the Ebro Lands and, until the first half of the 20th century, it was a general practice, even forming part of the usual repertoire of children's games throughout the territory, the lack of an organization and regulations made the practice decline until its near disappearance, remaining only maintained by a small number of people. One of them, MR. Juan Jose Valldeperez Casanova (knowledgeable and conservative of Bac, as well as a teacher of karate, jujitsu and Greco-Roman wrestling) included Bac in the training program of the karate clubs in which he taught. In this way, he got the Bac fight to be practiced again within the scope of the kushinkai karate clubs of Camarles, Deltebre and San Jaume d'Enveja. And later he was joined by the Kushinkai club in Sant Carles de la Ràpita.
    These clubs regularly organize Bac exhibitions within the framework of the traditional rice festivals that are held annually in the delta area and also on the occasion of the local festivals of the municipalities. Likewise, these clubs have been organizing Bac children's competitions periodically from 2010 to the present.
    In 2015, these sports clubs began the procedures for the Bac to be registered in the list of recognized physical-sports leisure activities and registered in the Registry of Sports Entities. On October 6, 2016, the Catalan Sports Council approved the inclusion of Bac in the registry. From there, the procedures for the creation of the Associació de Lluita del Bac de les Terres de l’Ebre (in Catalan) could be started. These procedures were delayed due to the pandemic, but the association made up of the aforementioned karate clubs has recently been established.

  • Importance (for practitioners, communities etc.):

    We are currently about 100 people who practice and spread this style of wrestling. The government of Calunya has recognized this style of wrestling as a sport and there is a growing interest from different agencies and media.

    We are in the process of recovery. this style of wrestling had been abandoned and currently several martial arts clubs in the area have created the association to recover and promote this beautiful tradition.

  • Contacts:

    Associacó de la Lluita del Bac de les Terres de l’Ebre
    President: Miguel Castro Casanova
    Secretari: Juan Antonio Roman LLambrich

    logo

  • Sources of information :

    Articles:
    https://www.tornaveu.cat/noticia/5746/la-lluita-de-bac-les-arts-marcials-catalanes 
    http://hemeroteca.marfanta.com/noticia/Sant_Jaume_vol_recuperar_la_lluita_lliure_ebrenca/9350 

    Video:
    https://tac12.alacarta.cat/horaridestiu/tall/voleu-coneixer-la-lluita-al-bac 
    https://www.facebook.com/1636664417/videos/416194486701510/ 

     

    The information contained in the article comes from the following sources:
    Associacó de la Lluita del Bac de les Terres de l’Ebre

    Source of photos used in this article and gallery:
    Associacó de la Lluita del Bac de les Terres de l’Ebre

  • Gallery:

Contact

logo bez tla fundacja

Fundacja IRSiE

30/63, Świętokrzyska street
Warsaw, 00-116

traditionalsports@sportinstytut.pl

logoTW

logoYT