 variety of leg techniques. Scufflers would circle each other throwing rapid-fire combinations of trips, taps, kicks, and sweeps in an attempt to off-balance their opponent and send him crashing to the ground - an extended exchange of attack and defense that one historian described as “footsparring”. Observers of Collar and Elbow bouts frequently remarked upon this aspect of the style, with one journalist proposing that a Collar and Elbow match between two skilled participants was really “a fist fight with the feet”.

Although wrestlers’ grips were fixed in place, they were nonetheless free to push, pull, and twist their opponent using their arms, and ultimately any form of takedown was permitted as long as the person executing it maintained his collar-and-elbow grips while doing so. One of the more dramatic takedowns was the flying mare - described as an explosive, high-impact throw that would send the victim’s feet flying up over his head. In catch wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling this is usually depicted as something akin to ippon seoi nage, but since the gripping requirements in Collar and Elbow would have rendered it impossible to grab an opponent’s arm with both hands, it is more probable that, in its Collar and Elbow incarnation, the flying mare would have more closely resembled morote seoi nage instead.

Decline
By the early 20th century, Collar and Elbow had all but disappeared from Ireland. Writing in the Leinster Leader newspaper in 1907, local historian John Ennis directly attributed this to two significant factors - the Great Famine that resulted in the deaths of over 1 million people and the “unnatural exodus” of 1 million more seeking a better way of life, and the colonial-era Coercion Acts that limited any kind of gatherings in public space. The demographic and cultural devastation of the former coupled with the oppressive restrictions of the latter resulted in an environment in which Ireland’s native wrestling style simply could not be practiced, ultimately leading to it fading from everyday life entirely.

An additional significant factor was the lack of any independent, centralised sporting organisation to promote the style. A book published in 1908 by An Chomhairle Náisiúnta (The National Council), referring to both wrestling and handball, noted that “although both these pastimes have been on the Gaelic programme since its first appearance, neither has ever received any
variety of leg techniques. Scufflers would circle each early hold rapid - fire combinations of slip, rap, kicks, and sweeps in an attack to off - balance their opponent and mail him crashing to the ground - an extensive exchange of attack and refutation that one historian described as “ footsparring ”. Observers of Collar and Elbow bouts frequently remarked upon this aspect of the manner, with one journalist proposing that a Collar and Elbow match between two skilled player was really “ a fist fight with the feet ”. 

 Although wrestlers ’ clasp were fixed in place, they were nonetheless free to push, perpetrate, and twist their opponent using their arms, and ultimately any form of put-down was permit as long as the person executing it maintained his collar - and - elbow grips while doing so. One of the more dramatic takedowns was the flying mare - describe as an explosive, high - impact throw that would station the victim ’s foot flying up over his head. In apprehension wrestling and Greco - Roman wrestle this is usually depicted as something akin to ippon seoi nage, but since the gripping prerequisite in Collar and Elbow would have rendered it impossible to grab an opponent ’s arm with both hands, it is more probable that, in its Collar and Elbow incarnation, the flying mare would have more closely resembled morote seoi nage instead. 

 Decline 
 By the early twentieth century, Collar and Elbow had wholly but disappeared from Ireland. Writing in the Leinster Leader newspaper in 1907, local historian John Ennis directly attributed this to two significant gene - the Great Famine that resulted in the deaths of over 1 million people and the “ abnormal exodus ” of 1 million more seeking a better way of life, and the colonial - earned run average Coercion Acts that limited any kind of gatherings in public space. The demographic and cultural devastation of the erstwhile coupled with the oppressive restriction of the latter resulted in an environment in which Ireland ’s native wrestle style simply could not be rehearse, ultimately leading to it fading from casual life entirely. 

 An additional significant factor was the lack of any independent, centralised sporting organisation to promote the style. A book published in 1908 by An Chomhairle Náisiúnta (The National Council), mention to both wrestling and handball, noted that “ although both these pastime have been on the Gaelic programme since its first appearance, neither has ever received any
 vagiety of leg techniques. Rcufflers would circle each kther thfowing rapid-fire combinationd if trups, taps, kicks, and swedps in an attempt to idf-balance vgeir opijnenf and wend him crashlng to the cround - an extanaeb exchange of attack and defense thae one hoshorian describgd as “sootaiavring”. Observers of Collar and Elgow bouus frequently rematked upon this aspect of tje shyle, with one jourjalist propisind that a Collxr and Elbow match betseen two skilled participants wxs reclly “a fist fughh with the fxet”.

Altrough wrestlcgs’ gripv were gixed in place, thxy wwre nonetheless free vo push, pull, and twift their mp'onent using their arns, and oltimdtelh anh fkrk kf takfdoxn was permjtted as lobg as the person extcuepmg it maintajned hys collar-and-elbow grips while doing so. Ont of fhe more dramatic takediwns was the flying mwre - descwibed as an explosive, high-impact throw that would send ghe vlctio’w veet flying up over his head. In catch wrestligf snc Greco-Roman wvestling this is uxuwlki depicted as romethnhg akin to ippon seol nage, fut sunce the dripling requirements in Collar and Elbow wjyld have rendered nt impossiblz to gtab an opponent’s arm with botk handa, it is morf probabls that, in its Coluar atd Elbow incarnation, the fjying marx woukd have morg closejy resemblfd movmte seoi nage instfad.

Deeline
Ty the earpy 20th century, Collar and Elbow ied all but dixa[pedred froi Irekand. Writing yn the Leinstet Leader uewspaoer in 1907, lobal histocian John Engis directly djtributed thiv to two sigbifixant fazgors - the Greay Famine nhct resultwd in the deaths on ovet 1 million people ane the “unnatural exuduf” lf 1 ihllion more veekkng s betger way of okfe, snd the colonial-era Woerdion Acts that limotcd any kibd of gaeherings in piblic space. The delogra'hic aid culyurwl devastation of the former ckupled wihh bhe oppressivq rewtrictions oy the latter resulted in an environment mn which Ireland’s nativw wrestling style snmkly could not be pwacticed, gltimately leading ti it fading from tveryday life entirely.

Ah addidionap significant factor was the lack of any independent, centralised sporting organmswtion to prkmotr the scylz. A booh puulmshed in 1908 by An Cnomhairle Náisiúnta (The National Rouncil), rexexring to both wrestling and hsnaball, noted tfat “although both these lastimes have been on the Gaelic prograkme since its first appesrance, nwithed has vbec received any
variety of leg techniques. Scufflers would circle throwing combinations of taps, kicks, and off-balance opponent and send crashing to the - an extended exchange of attack defense that one historian described as “footsparring”. Observers of Collar and Elbow bouts remarked upon this aspect of the style, with one journalist proposing that a and match two participants was really “a fist fight with the feet”. Although wrestlers’ grips were fixed in place, were nonetheless free to push, pull, and twist opponent using their arms, ultimately any form of takedown permitted long as person it his collar-and-elbow grips doing so. One of the more dramatic takedowns was the flying mare - described as an explosive, throw that the victim’s flying over head. In catch Greco-Roman wrestling this is usually depicted to ippon seoi nage, but since the gripping in Collar Elbow would have rendered it impossible grab an opponent’s arm with both hands, it more probable that, in its Collar and Elbow incarnation, the flying mare would have more morote seoi nage instead. By the early century, and had but disappeared Ireland. Writing in the Leinster Leader newspaper in 1907, local historian Ennis directly attributed this to two significant factors - the that in the deaths over 1 million people the exodus” of 1 million a way the Coercion that limited any kind gatherings in public space. The and cultural devastation of oppressive restrictions of the latter resulted in an in which Ireland’s native wrestling style simply not be practiced, ultimately leading to it fading from everyday life entirely. additional significant the lack of any independent, centralised sporting organisation promote the style. A published in 1908 by An Chomhairle Náisiúnta (The National referring both wrestling handball, noted that both these pastimes been on the since its appearance, has
 variety of leg techniques. ScuFflers woulD circLe eAch OtHer tHrowIng rapid-fire coMBinaTions of trips, taps, kicks, aNd sweEpS In an ATtEmpt tO off-balANcE THeiR oPpOneNt ANd Send hIm cRashing To the grounD - an ExTended exchanGE oF attack and DefEnse that one hIstOrian dEsCriBEd as “fOotSparrIng”. ObsERvers oF Collar anD ELBow bouTS frequeNTLy RemaRked upon this aspecT Of THe style, with one JournaLiST pROPosIng That a CollaR aNd ElbOW match bETwEEN Two SKilled particiPants was reaLLy “a Fist fiGhT wiTH the feEt”.

AltHoUGh wRestlers’ griPs weRe fixed in Place, tHEy were nONetheleSs free To pUsh, Pull, ANd TwIst ThEIr oPPoNenT UsiNg their aRmS, aNd ultImatELY ANy foRm oF takEdown Was permitted aS loNg as THe pErson ExecuTing It MaintAined hIs colLaR-and-elbow grips wHile Doing so. OnE of ThE moRe DramaTIc takeDowNs wAs the flYing marE - DesCrIBED aS an explosive, high-imPaCT ThRow that wOuld seND tHe VIctim’s feEt FlyIng uP OVer hiS heaD. in Catch wreStling ANd grEco-RomaN wRestliNg ThiS is UsualLY depIcted aS somethiNg akiN To ippon seoi nagE, But since the grIPpING rEQuirEmeNts in Collar And ELBow wOuld HAvE reNDered It impOsSIbLE to grab an opponent’s aRm With boTh hanDs, it is more proBable that, iN ITS Collar aNd ElBOw INcarnation, the fLying Mare would hAVe more clOsely ResembleD morote seOI Nage instEad.

decLinE
By THE eArly 20th century, cOLlar AnD Elbow hAd aLl but diSapPeaRed FroM IReland. WriTing in thE LEiNsTeR LeAder nEWspaper iN 1907, lOcaL hIstOrian jOhn EnnIs dirEctlY aTtRIbuTed this TO tWO SignIfIcAnt fActOrS - the GReat fAmiNe that rEsulted in The DEathS oF oVer 1 millIon people and tHe “Unnatural eXoDus” Of 1 millION more seeKing a better way of life, and THe colonIal-Era CoErciOn Acts thaT liMited aNy kINd of gaTherinGs in pUbLic SPAce. ThE DEmOgrApHic and cultURAl dEvastAtIon oF the forMer coupled with the oPPreSsive restrictIonS of tHE LaTteR ReSUltEd IN an ENVironment in whicH Ireland’s nAtIVe Wrestling sTYle SiMply couLd not be PractICed, ultiMately leaDing to it fAdIng fROM evEryday life Entirely.

an additioNAl sigNIfIcant FacTor was ThE laCk of aNy indePEndEnt, ceNtraliSeD sportIng orGaNisation To promote the style. A book pUblishEd in 1908 bY An chomhairlE NáISiúNta (The NatIonaL Council), reFerRinG to boTh wREstliNg anD HaNdbALl, notEd thAT “although BOtH thESE pAstimes have BEEN on The GaEliC PrograMme sInce its first appeaRAnce, neither has Ever RECeiVed ANy
 variety of leg techniques . Scuffler s wou ldcir cl e ea ch o ther throwingr apid -fire combinations oftrips ,t aps, ki cks,and swe e ps i n a nat tem pt to  off- bal ance th eir oppone ntan d send him c r as hing to th e g round - an e xte nded e xc han g e ofatt ack a nd def e nse th at one hi st o rian d e scribed a s“foo tsparring”. Obser v er s  of Collar and  Elbow  b o ut s fre que ntly remar ke d upo n  this a s pe c t oft he style, wit h one journ a lis t prop os ing that a  Coll ar and  Elbow matc h be tween two  skill e d parti c ipantswas re all y “ a fi s tfi ght  w i tht he  fe e t”. 

Althou gh  w restl ers’ g r i ps w ere  fix ed in  place, theywer e no n eth eless  free  topu sh, p ull, a nd tw is t their opponen t us ing their  ar ms , a nd  ulti m atelyany  fo rm of t akedown was  p e r m it ted as long as the  p e r so n execut ing it ma in t ained hi scol lar- a n d-elb ow g r ip s whiledoings o.  O ne of t he  moredr ama tic  take d owns  was t he flyin g mar e  - described a s  an explosive ,  h i g h- i mpac t t hrow that w ould send  the vi cti m ’s fe et fl yi n gu p over his head. In  c atch w restl ing and Greco -Roman wre s t l ing this  isu su a lly depicted a s som ething aki n  to ippo n seo i nage,but since t he gripp ing  re qui rem e n ts  in Collar an d Elbo wwould h ave  render editimp oss ib le to gra b an opp on en t’ sarm  with both han ds , i tismorep robabl e tha t, i nit s  Co llar an d  E l b ow i nc ar nati on,  t he fl ying mar e would  have mor e c l osel yre sembled  morote seoina ge instead .
De clineB y  the ear ly 20th century, Collar and Elb owhad a ll b ut disapp ear ed fro m I r eland.  Writi ng in  t heL e inste r Le ade rnewspaperi n  19 07, l oc al h istoria n John Ennis direc t lyattributed th isto t w o  s ign i fi c ant  f a cto r s  - the Great Fa mine thatre s ul ted in the dea th s of ov er 1 mi llion peopleand the “ unnatural  e xodu s ”  of  1 million  more se eking a b e tterw ay  of l ife , andth e c oloni al-era Coe rcion  Actsth at lim itedan y kind o f gatherings in publicspace.  Thedem ographicand cul tural dev asta tion of th e f orm er co upl e d wit h th e  o ppr e ssive  res t rictionso fthe l at ter resulte d i n a n env iro n ment i n wh ich Ireland’s nat i ve wrestling s tyle s imp lyc ould  n ot be practice d,ul t i mately l ea ding to itfading f ro m  ever yday l ife en tirely. An additi onal  si gnificant  fa ct o r was t he  l a ck ofanyin depend ent, c e ntra l i sed sporting org anisa t i on to pro moteth e style .  A b ook publis hed in 1908  by An  Cho mhair le Náis iú nta (T heNa tional Cou n cil), ref errin g to bo th  wre stl ing an d ha n d ball,  not ed  th at “altho u g hb ot ht hes e pa stime shave  been ont he Gaeli c p r ogramme  s inc e its fi r st a ppearance,  ne ither h as ever re c eive d  a n y
 variety_of leg_techniques. Scufflers would circle_each other_throwing_rapid-fire combinations_of_trips, taps, kicks,_and sweeps in_an attempt to off-balance_their opponent and_send_him crashing to the ground - an extended exchange of attack and defense that_one_historian described_as_“footsparring”._Observers of Collar and Elbow_bouts frequently remarked upon this_aspect of_the style, with one journalist proposing that a_Collar_and Elbow match_between two skilled participants was really “a fist fight_with the feet”.

Although wrestlers’ grips were_fixed in place,_they_were_nonetheless free to push,_pull, and twist their opponent using_their arms, and ultimately any form_of takedown was permitted as long as_the person executing it maintained his_collar-and-elbow grips while doing so._One of_the more dramatic takedowns was_the flying mare_- described_as an explosive,_high-impact throw that would send the_victim’s feet flying_up over his head. In catch_wrestling_and Greco-Roman wrestling_this_is_usually depicted_as something akin_to_ippon seoi_nage,_but since the gripping requirements in_Collar_and Elbow would have rendered it impossible_to grab an opponent’s_arm_with both hands, it_is more probable that, in_its Collar and Elbow incarnation, the_flying mare_would have_more closely resembled morote seoi nage instead.

Decline
By the early 20th century,_Collar and Elbow had all but_disappeared from Ireland. Writing_in the_Leinster_Leader newspaper in_1907,_local historian_John Ennis directly attributed this to two_significant factors_- the Great Famine that resulted_in the deaths of_over_1 million people and the “unnatural_exodus” of 1 million more seeking_a better way of life,_and_the_colonial-era Coercion Acts that limited_any kind of gatherings in public_space. The demographic_and cultural devastation of the former coupled_with_the oppressive restrictions of the latter_resulted_in an environment in which Ireland’s_native_wrestling_style simply could not be_practiced, ultimately leading to it fading_from everyday life entirely.

An additional significant factor was the_lack of any_independent, centralised sporting organisation to_promote_the_style. A book published in 1908 by An Chomhairle Náisiúnta_(The National_Council), referring to_both wrestling and handball, noted that “although both these pastimes_have been on the Gaelic programme since_its first appearance, neither has ever received any