Ssireum (also called Sirum) is a traditional Koreansport and martial art also called Korean sumo wrestling in the West. Ssireum symbolizes the national spirit of the Korean people. Ssireum is a contest of physical strength and technique in which two contestants compete in direct contact against each other. It is a form of wrestling found only in Korea. In the beginning, ssireum was practiced as combat for self-defense against attacks and a part of rituals originating from the ancient tribal states. With the advancement of civilization, the formation of specific rules governed the combat and allowed ssireum to develop into a major national sport for physical competition and entertainment.
