description Ssireum Overview
Ssireum is a traditional Korean wrestling sport in which two competitors grip each other's satba, a cloth belt worn around the waist and thigh. A bout is won by forcing the opponent's body above the knee to touch the ground, using throws, trips, and other wrestling techniques. Competitions are held in a circular sand area, and the sport is practiced both as a cultural tradition and an organized contest.
help Ssireum FAQ
How does a competitor win in ssireum?
Each wrestler grips the opponent's satba, a cloth belt around the waist and thigh, and tries to force the opponent's body above the knee to the ground. The decisive action is a throw, trip, or body-control maneuver rather than a pin counted over several seconds. [UNESCO description](https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-korean-wrestling-ssirum-ssireum-01533)
What is the satba used for in ssireum?
The satba gives both competitors a legal grip around the waist and thigh. It lets a wrestler combine hip, leg, and upper-body leverage while attempting to bring the opponent down. [UNESCO description](https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-korean-wrestling-ssirum-ssireum-01533)
Is ssireum closer to sumo or freestyle wrestling?
Its satba grip and throws make it closer to belt wrestling than to sumo, where pushing an opponent out of a circular ring is central. Ssireum is won when the opponent's body above the knee touches the ground, not simply when a foot leaves a ring.
Is ssireum practiced in both North and South Korea?
Yes. UNESCO describes traditional Korean wrestling as practiced across the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and as a popular tradition in the Republic of Korea. Its cultural scope therefore extends beyond one modern Korean state. [UNESCO description](https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-korean-wrestling-ssirum-ssireeum-01533)
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