Backhold Wrestling | Scotfest Oklahoma 2026 - Traditional Scottish Wrestling
Backhold Wrestling Competition
The Heartland Backhold Wrestling Championship 2026 Official Logo

The Heartland
Backhold Wrestling
Championship 2026

Sept 19 & 20, 2026

⚔️ Scottish Tradition · 🤝 Honor & Respect · 🏆 Fierce Competition

Experience one of Scotland's oldest martial arts. Backhold wrestling has been practiced for over 2,000 years—a test of strength, balance, and pure grit!

Heartland Backhold Wrestling Championship 2026 🤼

Scottish Backhold Wrestling is a traditional Scottish wrestling style with roots going back hundreds of years. It is a standing-only wrestling discipline focused on strength, balance, technique, and sportsmanship.

The Starting Position

The referee will check and confirm the correct position before the start:

  • Right arm under opponent's left arm
  • Left arm over opponent's right arm
  • Hands clasped using a finger-to-finger ("S-grip")
  • Chin on opponent's shoulder
  • Chest to chest
  • Square stance
  • Ear to ear

🏁 Start of Bout

The bout begins when the referee calls "Hold!"

🎯 Falls & Victory

  • • Bouts are decided by best of five falls
  • • First competitor to win three falls wins the match
  • • Each fall restarts from the same neutral standing position

Rules & Guidelines

✅ Allowed Techniques

  • • Throws, trips, lifts, and sweeps
  • • Balance-breaking techniques
  • • Use of hips, legs, and body positioning

❌ Not Allowed

  • • Ground wrestling
  • • Striking
  • • Submissions
  • • Joint locks or choking
  • • Dangerous or unsportsmanlike behavior

⚖️ Grip Rules

  • • Grip must be maintained at all times
  • • Only open hands below kilt/knees height
  • • Opening hands above = immediate loss of fall
  • • Breaking hold whilst standing = instant loss

🛡️ Safety

  • • Referee may stop any bout for safety
  • • Warnings or disqualification for unsafe conduct
  • • Head must remain within the hold throughout
  • • If head slips out, throw immediately—or be reset

👕 Competition Attire

  • • Traditional attire strongly encouraged—kilt recommended
  • • Shorts or wrestling trousers also acceptable
  • • Short-sleeved or sleeveless top
  • No shoes—competitors wrestle barefoot

📋 Additional Requirements

  • • No jewelry
  • • No zips, metal, or hard objects
  • • Nails must be trimmed

🏆 Awards

  • • Medals/Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
  • • Additional awards at organiser discretion

💪 Pure Strength Meets Pure Skill

Unlike modern wrestling, backhold requires you to maintain constant physical contact while using throws, lifts, and body positioning to defeat your opponent. It's chess with muscles!

All competitors must follow referee and organiser instructions. Entry is at your own risk.

Medical support will be present. Photography and filming may take place.

Competition Format 🏆

How backhold wrestling unfolds at Scotfest

⚖️ Weight Classes

Men

Lightweight

66.7kg / 147lbs

Middleweight

79.4kg / 175lbs

Heavyweight

98.4kg / 217lbs

The Open

Open Weight - The Championships

Women

Lightweight

60.3kg / 133lbs

Middleweight

73kg / 161lbs

Heavyweight

85.7kg / 189lbs

The Open

Open Weight - The Championships

📊 Tournament Structure

Single elimination bracket within each weight class:

1

Preliminary Rounds

First day—whittle down to finalists

2

Semi-Finals

Top 4 in each class compete

3

Championship Finals

Crown the weight class champions

👑

Overall Champion

Weight class winners compete for grand title

Match Length

First to win 3 out of 5 falls wins the match—no time limits!

Experience Levels

Open to all skill levels from beginners to seasoned veterans

Awards

Medals for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each weight class plus Overall Champion

🤼

Experience Ancient Combat

Backhold wrestling is a thrilling display of strength, technique, and warrior spirit. Watch athletes carry on a 2,000-year tradition at Scotfest!

Partnership Opportunity

Sponsor Backhold Wrestling
at Scotfest

Backhold Wrestling brings fast-paced, crowd-friendly head-to-head competition to Scotfest—combining tradition, athleticism, and a simple-to-follow format that draws strong audience engagement all weekend.

Fast-Paced Action

Exciting head-to-head competition

Crowd-Friendly

Easy-to-follow format

Rich Tradition

Scottish heritage sport

Bring the Heartland Backhold Wrestling Championship to Life

We're seeking a Presenting Sponsor ($8,000) to help launch this new two-day championship. Sponsorship directly funds athlete experience, safety, officials, trophies, and event production.

Tax-Deductible Contribution

Scotfest Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Sponsorship contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Premier Partnership

Presenting Sponsor

$8,000 /year

Backhold Wrestling at Scotfest — Presented by [Your Company]

As the Official Presenting Sponsor, your brand receives top placement across the Backhold Wrestling footprint—on-site, online, and in key festival communications—plus category exclusivity and premium hospitality.

Exclusivity & Rights

Category Exclusivity

Up to two lines of business, subject to existing commitments

Naming Rights

"Presented by" naming rights for Backhold Wrestling at Scotfest

Co-Developed Activation

B2C + B2B opportunities mutually agreed upon

On-Site Branding & Activation

Competition Area Recognition

Co-branded recognition at entry/hub/tent/signage placements

Premium Vendor Footprint

Up to ~200 sq ft, subject to layout

Emcee Mentions

Throughout the weekend as scheduled

Logo Placement

On key on-site elements tied to the competition area

Staff/Volunteer Shirts

Logo placement based on print deadlines

Promotional Rights

Sampling/lead capture/surveys within policies

Corporate Volunteering

Pre-event + festival weekend opportunities

Digital, Email & Social

Premium Page Placement

"Presented by" positioning on the Backhold Wrestling page

Sponsor Page Listing

Tiered placement on the Scotfest Sponsor page

Social Recognition

Across Scotfest channels—scheduled posts and inclusions

Media & PR (When Applicable)

Press Release Mentions

When appropriate and mutually agreed

Press Kit Inclusion

Listed on sponsor sheets

Earned Media Opportunities

Tied to human-interest and cultural sport coverage

Included in Package

Hospitality Benefits

Tailored to Your Goals

Ticket and hospitality totals can be tailored to your goals and inventory. Final quantities confirmed at contracting.

VIP Access Passes

Quantity and nights confirmed in agreement

GA Wristbands

Quantity and days confirmed in agreement

Kickoff Party Invites

Optional add or included by tier

Note: All passes are one per person (no "plus ones" unless explicitly included).

What Your Sponsorship Supports

Your sponsorship directly supports the professionalism, safety, and guest experience of Backhold Wrestling, including:

Officials, event administration & match operations
Field-of-play setup
Safety support coverage
Awards & presentation elements
Competition staging & PA/announcements
Crowd experience upgrades
Photo/video capture to amplify sport and sponsor

Investment Options

One-Year Agreement
$8,000

Presenting Sponsor package

First Right of Refusal

Presenting sponsors receive first right of refusal on renewal (time-sensitive) and priority planning for placements and activations.

Optional Add-Ons

Sponsor-Hosted Guest Experience

Food/beverage/activation budget TBD based on your goals

Sponsor-Provided Giveaways

Awards support or promotional items (pre-approved)

Additional Signage Placements

Produced at sponsor expense; placement pre-approved

Expanded Co-Marketing

Use of Scotfest marks (approval-based)

Become the Presenting Sponsor

If you're interested in the "Presented by" position, we'll send a short deliverables sheet and confirm placements based on your goals and category.

Contact:

Sponsorships — Scotfest Inc.

Sponsor Inquiry
Questions?

Sponsorship FAQ