Ssireum
Ssireum is a grappling art originating in Korea. It belongs to the wrestling family of martial disciplines and centers its training on belt wrestling, a method in which practitioners use cloth belts or bands tied around the body as the primary means of controlling and unbalancing an opponent. The practice is oriented around standing and ground-based wrestling techniques that rely on grip, leverage, and body positioning rather than strikes or weapons.
As a grappling art within the broader wrestling tradition, training in this style generally emphasizes physical conditioning, balance, and the development of core strength. Practitioners work to improve their ability to control and throw opponents through the manipulation of grips and body mechanics. Drilling takedowns, maintaining stable posture, and learning to respond to an opponent's movement are typical elements found across grappling and wrestling disciplines of this kind.
Those who are new to martial arts and considering Ssireum are encouraged to visit local schools, observe a class in person, and speak with instructors before committing to training. Watching a live session provides a clearer sense of teaching style, training environment, and whether the art suits individual goals. Related grappling and wrestling styles are linked below for further comparison.
Gear to expect. Grappling training typically calls for a gi or no-gi rashguard, and quality mats for home drilling — your school will tell you exactly what, and when. New students rarely need to buy anything for a trial class.
Find your martial art →Related grappling styles
Classification and facts from our open-data taxonomy (Wikidata CC0 base + our editorial classification). Where a fact (like origin) isn't recorded, we leave it out rather than guess. Methodology.