Schwingen is German for swinging, a sport in Switzerland. It is a form of folk wrestling that dates back to the 15th century. Originally mountain farmers used this to test their strength and skills. It is still prominent in the mountains but since the 1800s it has been brought into the cities where it is widely practiced by many. In this sport the participants wear knee high shorts with belts over their clothes. The idea is to swing your opponent onto their back pinning their shoulders to the ground by holding onto their shorts. One hand must be on the opponents shorts at all times. The matches usually take place outside in a circular area of saw dust. During a Schwingen festival each person faces six to eight opponents, each round lasts five minutes. Men or women can compete in this sport, sometimes even against one another. There are no weight classes, opponents are paired by referees. It is similar to greco roman wrestling and includes some techniques from judo.
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