 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.