h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought we had discussed Devon wrestling before on this site, but I cannot see any evidence from previous postings.

There is a traditional of wrestling in many Celtic areas, and regional variations exist.

Devon wrestling was one of those variations. It is no longer practised, and given its brutality this is not surprising, but it was very popular in the past - up to the 18th century.
It's brutality probably reflects the tough life of those times, and the fact that celtic wrestling provided successful combatants an escape from the grinding poverty of those days.

The following site gives some details.

http://www.coreedaoz.com/attachments/PanCeltic_Wrestling.pdf

Interestingly, this site gives devon wrestling an alternate celtic name. "Gwrynva Deunansek". I had not seen that name before.

The site also suggests that whilst Devon wrestling is no longer, a more basic form "shin kicking" continues.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Shin-kicking-fun-exhibition-visitors/story-15771278-detail/story.html