It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"[2][3] in the Cornish dialect of English; historically, this usage is attested by Chaucer,[4] Shakespeare[5] and Drayton.

In addition Cornish wrestling is taught at Devon Celtic Combat which meets on a Wednesday evening at Morice Town Primary Academy, Charlotte St, Plymouth.

Cornish wrestling has a long history, with Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1139) describing Corineus, the legendary founder of Cornwall, as a man "of great courage and boldness, who, in an encounter with any person, even of gigantic stature, would immediately overthrow him, as if he were a child", and later tells the story of how Corineus wrestled a Cornish giant, Gogmagog or Goemagot upon the cliff top known as Lamm Goemagot.

Cornish, Devon and Breton wrestlers have long taken part in inter-Celtic matches since at least 1402 and these still occasionally continue.

In 1654, Oliver Cromwell and many of his privy council were reported as watching 100 Cornishmen wrestling in Hyde Park, presenting "...great agility of body and most neat and exquisite wrestling at every meeting of one with the other, which was ordered with such dexterity, that it was to show more the strength, vigour and nimbleness of their bodies, than to endanger their persons.

"[15] Wrastling is as full of manliness, more delightful and less dangerous (than hurling).... for you shall hardly find an assembly of boyes in Devon and Cornwall, where the most untowardly amongst them will not as readily give you a muster of this exercise as you are prone to require it.

Charles II, along with "a world of lords" and many other spectators, watched a series of wrestling matches in St James' Park in 1669, with a purse of £1000, which saw the "Western men" win.

James Gerry (of Linkinhorne) and Samuel Rundle (Plymouth) fought for a £20 purse and the championship of Cornwall in 1883 at Liskeard.

Lasting just over an hour, the match ended in a draw in the 19th round following Rundle tearing leg muscles.

[27][28] Another example is Lizzie Taylor (1831–1887), known as "Happy Ned" or "Lizzie-poor-Dick", who threw John Lillywhite in a wrestling-bout at Clowance.

[40][38][41] Wrestling matches were once played in churchyards, but in 1297 the Bishop of Exeter banned it from such places in Devon and Cornwall.

[43] In late Victorian times women were briefly banned from matches, as men often wrestled in their long johns, which was not considered respectable.

[49] Note that in 1927 the rule became best 2 falls in 20 minutes, but there was much resistance to this change as it was perceived that often the worse player won these matches.

[50] This was changed to the current rules of two, ten minute, rounds with points being used to determine the winner if no back is scored.

[81] In 1886 and 1887 a series of wrestling tournaments (in Truro,[85][86][87] Penzance[88] and Redruth[89] amongst others) was organised by what was described as the "County Committee" with secretary Mr J F Mark.

[92] In 1928, William Tregonning Hooper initiated inter-Celtic tournaments between the CCWA and its counterpart in Brittany, as the similarities of Breton and Cornish wrestling are sufficient for successful competitions to be held between the two.

[93] In 1930, the CCWA had financial difficulties resulting in suspension of activities and the belts and cups being seized by the bank.

[13][10][99] In 1933 the CCWA changed its name to the Cornish Wrestling Association ("CWA")[99] and adopted a rule to limit rounds to 15 minutes.

[101] The East Cornwall Wrestling Federation ("ECWF") was formed in 1934, at least in part to hold competitions under more traditional rules (the time limit being a key issue).

[105] The ECWF held rival championship titles of heavyweight, middleweight and lightweight champion in the "Old Cornish Style".

The following Junior Championships are fought annually in competitions across the Duchy: Cornish wrestling is Cornwall's oldest sport and as Cornwall's native tradition it has travelled the world to places like Victoria, Australia and Grass Valley, California, following the miners and gold rushes.