Wrestling Association of the Philippines

Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) is the governing sports organization for wrestling in the Philippines, and maintains the Philippines National Wrestling Team.

Philippine Wrestling

Wrestling in the Philippines includes the Olympic sports of Greco Roman, Freestyle (Male & Female categories), and the indigenous traditional wrestling in different regions of the Philippines: "Bultong" in the Cordilleras; "Dumog" in the Western Visayas; and "Layug" in Central Visayas and Mindanao.

Brief History of Traditional Filipino Wrestling

Indigenous wrestling commonly known as "Dumog" in "Kinaray-a" an Astronesian language spoken in Panay island particularly in the provinces of Antique and most of the central towns of Iloilo and Capiz. Karay-a "Dumog" is an indigenous grappling art in Panay Island with both combative and sportive aspects, which truly originated in early Aninipay Island (now Panay) in Central Philippines since time immemorial. The sportive aspect of "Dumog" as an indigenous grappling art is governed by set of rules to ensure the safety of the players where the dangerous techniques such as neck breaking called "Butok", chokes called "Kuga" and maneuvers or submission holds that may maim, break bones, and dislocate joints called "Pamaki" are prohibited. The objective in the sport is "Buntolanay" - to pin down the opponent's upper shoulder blades to the ground thence declared as "Buntol" or pinned down and defeated. The combative aspects of Karay-a Dumog is very dangerous and deadly at par with the other grappling arts of other countries in the orient like Japan and China. To hone and possess a very high level of skill in both aspects of Dumog is having a "Kina-adman".

The original skilled practitioners of Dumog in Panay propagated the indigenous grappling art of Panay to Negros Island and Luzon via the early contract migrant workers called the "Sakada" from Antique, Iloilo and Capiz who worked as lowly laborers doing the planting,cutting, harvesting and loading of the sugarcanes to trucks/trains in the sugarcane fields (Hacienda) to be brought to Sugar Mills in Negros Islands and parts of Luzon. Dumog is very effective in close quarter combat called "Uktanay". The hand techniques are called "Pangalima", the body mechanics called "Pagbalinsay" and the leg techniques and footwork as "Pangahig" and "Panikang" respectively, the throwing techniques called "Balandakanay", the submission holds and breaking techniques called "Paki-ay". "Dumog" as one of the indigenous grappling art of the Philippines is not only an exciting sportive wrestling but also an effective fighting art both standing up and on ground. Hence, must be recognized as a precious cultural Filipino heritage that has to be treasured, preserved and propagated for posterity.

Age-Groups

The Olympic sport of Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling is broken down into three age group levels: Cadets(16-17 yrs.old), Juniors (18-20 yrs.old), and Seniors (20 yrs.old and above). Each group follows different weight categories, as follows:

CADETS		JUNIORS		SENIORS
Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
		50 kg	44 kg	55 kg	48 kg
				60 kg	51 kg
				66 kg	55 kg
				74 kg	59 kg
				84 kg	63 kg
				96 kg	67 kg
				120 kg	72 kg

References

• Philippine Olympic Committee