The history of Breton wrestling, called Gouren, dates back to the 4th century. A sport, registered in the Breton heritage, today to the test of modernity.
By learning about the Gouren and discussing with practitioners, you will discover the importance of heritage, history and culture. To continue to exist in the face of the rise of Olympism and the professionalization of the sports movement, the Gouren seeks to claim its identity as a traditional Breton wrestling. A complicated position to project into the future.
A small point on the Gouren
The Gouren is part of the great family of traditional wrestling. Brought by the Celts in the 4th century, it is close to traditional Scottish and Irish wrestling… Practiced and regulated by the Nobles during the Middle Ages, the Gouren lost its notoriety with the French Revolution. The practice continues thanks to a few peasants who have appropriated the sport. In 1930, the wrestlers organized themselves and created the FALSAB (Federation of Friends of Breton Athletic Wrestling and Sports) under the impetus of doctor Charles Cotonnec de Quimperlé.
And to practice it? The Gouren is practiced standing up, the goal is to score a Lamm, that is to say to bring down his opponent on his back. Wrestlers hang their hands on the shirt above the waistband and leg attacks cannot be made above it. Very codified sport, the wrestlers pronounce an oath in Breton then in French before the fight.
A troubled practice
If the goal of the Federation of Gouren, officially created in 1980, is to promote and develop the practice of Gouren, it remains complicated. Today, the Gouren Federation brings together some forty clubs present in the five departments of historic Brittany, and has 1,500 members. A much denser practice in Finistère, where half of the clubs are located.
Recognized by the Ministry of Culture as intangible cultural heritage of France, Le Gouren is not officially recognized by the Ministry of Sports. In the eyes of the ministry, the Gouren Federation depends on the French Wrestling Federation. A lack of recognition that is detrimental to the development of the practice according to Christian Pelé, president of the Gouren federation. He sees a disinterest of the French State for traditional regional sports “All that is regional language and culture is not recognized as it should be at the national level”. A complicated relationship between the Federation and the Ministry that tends to isolate the Gouren, making it difficult for it to develop.
For Christian Pelé, there is a cultural disagreement “We did not want to renounce our traditions, our language, nor our refereeing terms and our technical terms, we consider that there is no reason that judokas and karatekas can speak Japanese and that we cannot cannot use our language in the practice of our sport”. But it is also difficult for the Gouren to establish itself in the sports landscape of Olympism in search of medals which tends to oppose “respecting popular traditions”.
Projects for the future
Despite the weight of tradition, the Federation of Gouren tries to build for the future. This requires a redefinition of the statutes with the French Wrestling Federation. A decision which must be taken next September by the General Assembly of the Gouren Federation and which could allow Gouren to be recognized by the Ministry of Sports through this recognition by the French Wrestling Federation. An institutional agreement, but which could concretely change a lot of things for the Federation of Gouren. “These changes will allow visibility at the national level. Having a commission within the French Wrestling Federation means having licenses recognized by the FFL. Then, it will allow the training of our animators to be supported financially, but above all logistically by a larger federation. We will also be able to benefit from this support for national and international competitions. Finally, it will allow our trainers to participate in courses to discover other types of wrestling, but also to introduce Gouren to other trainers”. So many challenges to take up for the Federation of Gouren with one idea in mind: to revitalize the practice of Gouren, slowed down by the covid and to perpetuate it.
Solenn Ravenel
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