Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! October 1, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Discussing this weeks wrestle-off between Maroulis and Hedrick, and the Beach Wrestling World Championships. Also looking at results from the first Women's Classic International Tournament and next weekend's Youth Olympic Games.

1. Maroulis and Hedrick Wrestle-off Scheduled for October 6
Helen MAROULIS (USA), the three-time world and Olympic champion will wrestle Alex HEDRICK (USA) on October 6 in a Final X special wrestle-off to determine who will represent the United States at 57kg in October’s World Championships. 

The best-of-three series was originally scheduled for June 23 but had to be rescheduled due to an undisclosed Maroulis injury. Though it has not been confirmed, Maroulis is said to have pulled out of the June 23 match after re-aggravating a concussion that she suffered in January while wrestling in the Indian Pro League.

If Maroulis is able to compete and is victorious, it’ll be her thirteenth time (age-level and senior-level) representing the United States at a World Championship or Olympic Games.

2. Wrestling Delivers First-Ever Level 2 Coaches Course
United World Wrestling delivered its first-ever Level 2 Coaching Course last week to a group of coaches in England.

The course was aimed at coaches living in the United Kingdom, an area still working to develop several basics for their wrestlers.

The participants were asked to design and teach skill progression on the 7 Basic Skills of Wrestling, as well as design developing practice sessions on the four training phases. Overall the course included more than 40 hours of instruction and practical assessment.

“I thought the coaches that attended did a phenomenal job throughout the week,’ said Errett. “They came with a great attitude and effort each day.”

Click HERE for full release 

2017 Beach Wrestling World Championships (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

3. Beach Wrestling World Championships Scheduled for this Saturday 
This weekend, 150+ participants from 16 nations will be in the mix for a beach wrestling world title in Sarıgerme-Ortaca (Mugla), Turkey. More importantly, they will be in the mix for a spot at next summer's 2019 Beach Games in San Diego.

Turkey took gold at home last year with Iran taking silver and Russia bringing home bronze. Norway returns this year with a large team hunting for the podium after just missing the mark with a fourth-place finish last year. Frank Are Haugen ANDERSEN (NOR) at 70kg will lead the way for Senior Men’s team. Standing in his way is Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO), a 2014 European Bronze medalist in freestyle. Also, be on the lookout for Semen RADULOV (UKR) to be in the mix for gold at 70kg again this year.

Romania and Turkey will be head to head for team gold in the Senior Women's division. Norway is also a likely team podium finisher. Italy’s Francesca INDELICATO (ITA) will be looking to repeat at 60kg. Always scrappy Brenna STIKKELMAN (USA) may be able to play spoiler at 60kg. Romania's youngest wrestler Adina Ionela IRIMIA (ROU) in +70kg will be one to watch out for.

Click HERE for the full SCHEDULE 

Mohammad Ghorbanali NOSRATI (IRI). (Photo by Sachiko Hotaka)

4. Buenos Aires Hosts Youth Olympic Games, Begins October 12-14 
Wrestlers from 50 nations and all five continents will be represented in Buenos Aires, including several Cadet-level continental and world champions. The Youth Olympic Games, which are held on October 12-14, has been a springboard for some of wrestling’s current senior-level superstars, including European Games medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) and world champions Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) and Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN).

In an effort to become more gender equitable, wrestling increased the number of female participants in Buenos Aires to 50, which is up from 32 participants in Singapore 2010 and Nanjing 2014. The adjustment was part of a larger effort by the International Olympic Committee to meet its goal to make the 2018 Youth Olympic Games the first-ever gender-equal Games.

Click HERE for the full entry list 
Click HERE for Youth Olympic Games schedule

5. Iran Wins First Women's Classic International Tournament
Iran captured the team title at the first Women's Classic International Tournament in Beirut, Lebanon, winning two gold medals and four medals overall. Meanwhile, Iraq and Syria finished second and third respectively.

Champions of the first Women Classic International Tournament were Nada MEDANI (EGY) at 50kg, Yana SOROKA (UKR) at 55kg, Fateme NIKBAKHT (IRI) at 60kg, Anastasiia LAVERENCHUK (UKR) at 65kg, Dalma CANEVA (ITA) at 70kg and Masoome KHANLAR PANBE CHOULE (IRI) at 75kg.

Team Standings
1. Iran 
2. Iraq 
3. Syria 
4. Egypt
5. Ukraine
6. Georgia
7. Italy
8. Armenia
9. Lebanon
10. Kyrgyzstan

Click HERE for full release

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 
 

1. Big Move Monday!
Don't Miss the Beach Wrestling Worlds this week, LIVE on unitedworldwrestling.org

2. That Sunday feeling.
3. Interested by The Beach Wrestling?

WATCH Live the Worlds Here: http://ow.ly/uM6F30m2v1j

#beach #wrestling #beachwrestling#sarigerme #turkey
4. The Art Of Wrestling / Images from the Junior World Championships / Photo @thegrappleclub -
5. ??Russian Tank??

UWW and Iran sign MoU to bring Chouke under Associated Styles

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 20) — United World Wrestling and the Iran Wrestling Federation took a significant step to promote Choukhe, signing a four-year Memorandum of Understanding.

The MoU will enable both organizations to work together to promote and protect Chouke, a traditional form of wrestling, under the UWW Associated Styles.

Both UWW and the Iranian federation will also work to develop Chouke under their umbrella. This agreement's objective is to facilitate the protection, development, and promotion of Chouke. As per the agreement, both parties will hold regular meetings to exchange ideas and share knowledge.

Chouke is a traditional form of wrestling in Iran with wrestlers performing on mud in a marked circular ring. Each bout is of five minutes with more than one bout conducted at the same time. In case of a tie with a one-minute break, three minutes of extra time are added. Within three minutes, the wrestler who earns the first point will be the winner.

This style of wrestling does not allow the wrestler to touch his opponent's legs. The bout can only be fought with grips above the waist. There are different ways to score points in Chouke.

One point is awarded for a takedown, two points are awarded if a throw is completed outside the ring, and one if completed inside. Most other moves award only one point. A fall occurs when even one shoulder touches the ground.

Both wrestlers have to wear the official clothes to compete in Chouke. A t-shirt, a special jacket and a short are considered to be official outfit. The shirt must be long enough to go below the waist and the sleeves be long till the elbow. A strong cloth belt must be tied around the waist of the wrestlers and is fixed at the back and the wrestlers compete barefoot.

The old form of wrestling has a special place in Iranian history, and the agreement will help with its growth and development in Iran. UWW's commitment to work closely with the Iran federation for Chouke is in line with its vision to grow and promote all the traditional forms of the oldest form of the sport.