History of MAS Wrestling

MAS Wrestling (Russian: Мас-рестлинг) is the international name used for the Yakut ethnosport  derived from the traditional stick pulling game mas tard’yhyy (мас тардыhыы). MAS Wrestling – the National Sport of Yakutia, Russian Federal Republic of Sakha. In 2003 it was included in the Russian Register of Sports. February 20, 2015 Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko signed an order (№ 155) on the state accreditation, confirming the existence of the status of the all-Russian Sports Federation.  Reminiscent of the Eskimo Stick Pull featured at the World Eskimo Indian Olympics, as well as the Highland Games test of strength The Swingle Tree (played with a shepherd’s crook), participants taking part in MAS Wrestling competitions sit in front of each other, prop their feet against the board that divides the competition area and tug on a wooden stick (mas), making sure to start over the propping board. MAS Wrestling has roots in Viking games going back more than a thousand years. In the Viking sagas it was referred to as “kjevletrekk” in Norwegian. MAS Wrestling demands great muscular strength from the hands, legs, back, and abdominals.

The sport was registered by the All-Russia Sports Registry (VRVS) in 2003 and has been governed by the International Mas-Wrestling Federation.  MAS Wrestling USA was formed in 2013 and the first USA Open tournament was held in June 2013.

Viking War Kjevle Trekksahka2old school maselder massakha