Lancashire wrestling

Lancashire wrestling

Illustration of a half Nelson technique
Also known as	Catch-as-catch-can Lancashire catch-as-catch-can Lancashire style
Focus	Grappling, ground fighting
Country of origin	England
Famous practitioners	Sam Hurst Donald Dinnie Edwin Bibby Joe Acton Tom Cannon Billy Riley Joseph Reid Herbie Hall See more
Ancestor arts	Folk styles from England and continental Europe
Descendant arts	Catch wrestling Freestyle wrestling American folkstyle wrestling Theatrical professional wrestling Luta livre Submission grappling Vale tudo Shooto Mixed martial arts And associated styles
Olympic sport	No

Lancashire wrestling, commonly called Lancashire catch-as-catch-can or Lancashire style, is a folk wrestling style that originated in the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It became notable as the least restrictive and most aggressive style in England. It was popular across Britain and abroad, becoming the primary influence on catch wrestling, through which it is an ancestor of freestyle wrestling, American folkstyle wrestling, Brazilian luta livre, Japanese shoot wrestling, and associated styles like mixed martial arts and theatrical professional wrestling.