Collar-and-Elbow
Officially Collar-and-Elbow Wrestling
Ancient Irish traditional wrestling style — competitors begin with mandatory grip on opponent's collar (one hand) + elbow (other hand); throw for a fall wins. Dominant Irish wrestling style; brought to US 19th century + heavily influenced early American pro wrestling.
What is Collar-and-Elbow?
Collar-and-Elbow is the traditional Irish wrestling style — competitors begin every bout with a mandatory grip: one hand on opponent's collar (or nape of neck) + other hand on opponent's elbow. From this fixed 'collar-and-elbow' grip, wrestlers execute throws + trips to score falls. Dominant wrestling style in Ireland from medieval era through 20th century. Massively popularized in USA via Irish immigrant diaspora in 19th century — became one of the two dominant American wrestling styles alongside Catch-as-Catch-Can, and directly influenced early American professional wrestling development. Notable American practitioners include President Abraham Lincoln (a documented collar-and-elbow wrestler in Illinois). Modern practice: limited but preserved via Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) cultural events + occasional Highland Games exhibitions.
Quick facts
Category
Combat Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~5 min
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇮🇪 Ireland
Estimated origin
Medieval Ireland (documented 1600s+); peaked in USA 1850-1900 via Irish diaspora; influenced early American pro wrestling
Olympic
No
Popularity
niche
How it works
Objective
Throw opponent to back or shoulders for fall while maintaining collar-and-elbow grip.
Match structure
Best-of-3 falls; first to 2 falls wins match.
Rules
Basic rules
Start with collar + elbow grip
Every match begins with mandatory grip: one hand on opponent's collar + other hand on opponent's elbow.
Throws + trips permitted; no ground wrestling
Standing wrestling only; no ground grappling once fall scored.
Fall = back or shoulders on ground
Wrestler whose back/shoulders touches ground first loses fall.
Best-of-3 falls wins
First to 2 falls takes match.
Advanced rules
Grip breaking + re-establishing
Grip may break during throw execution; must be re-established between attempts.
Leg trips permitted
Own-leg tripping of opponent's stance legal; no grabbing opponent's legs.
Cultural context
Historically featured at Irish country fairs + coming-of-age contests.
Scoring
Best-of-3 falls; back/shoulders on ground = fall.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Back/shoulder fall | 1 fall |
Win condition · First to 2 falls wins.
Equipment
Wrestling attire
Jacket with sturdy collar historically; modern events use singlet with fabric collar.
Grass wrestling ring
Traditional grass ring at fairs + festivals.
Positions & roles
Wrestler
×1Grip + throw + trip.
Officiating
Traditional community refereeing.
- Judge / village elder
Penalties & fouls
Penalties
Illegal leg grab
Fall loss.
Striking
DQ.
Strategies
Hip throw from established grip
Classic finishing throw from collar-and-elbow position.
Grip control battle
Establish stronger grip before opponent gets full grip.
Terminology
- Collar
- Opponent's jacket collar or nape of neck — mandatory grip point.
- Elbow
- Opponent's elbow — mandatory second grip point.
- Coraíocht
- Irish Gaelic word for wrestling.
Major competitions
Irish traditional festivals + Gaelic Games exhibitions
occasional · Ireland · since 1900
Historical US collar-and-elbow tournaments (1850-1900)
historical · US Northeast + Midwest (Irish diaspora) · since 1850
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA — nominal cultural preservation)
Founded 1884 · Dublin, Ireland
No formal international collar-and-elbow body
N/A
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Abraham Lincoln (USA, 1809-1865) — documented collar-and-elbow wrestler in Illinois before presidency; inducted National Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Colonel James H. McLaughlin (USA, 19th century) — collar-and-elbow champion
- Various Irish country champions across 19th-20th centuries
Records
Presidential wrestling
Abraham Lincoln — US President Lincoln was a documented collar-and-elbow wrestler with reported 300+ match record; inducted National Wrestling Hall of Fame 1992 (1992)
American pro wrestling influence
Collar-and-Elbow — Along with Catch-as-Catch-Can, one of two dominant American wrestling styles 1850-1900 that shaped early American professional wrestling (1900)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Attend Irish cultural festivals
Occasional collar-and-elbow demonstrations at GAA events.
advanced
- 1
Cross-train with Cornish + Backhold wrestling
Similar Celtic-family folk wrestling traditions.
Frequently asked
Did Abraham Lincoln really wrestle?+
Yes — documented collar-and-elbow wrestler in New Salem, Illinois before his political career. Reported record of ~300 matches with only 1 loss. Inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame 1992 as 'Outstanding American' category.
Is collar-and-elbow still practiced?+
Rarely as competitive sport — largely displaced by freestyle + Greco-Roman + submission grappling. Cultural preservation at Irish festivals + occasional Highland Games events. Historical influence on American pro wrestling significant.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Collar-and-elbow— Wikipedia