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I was born in Brest (France) in 1981. I have practiced Gouren for 17 years; currently I am a Gouren trainer. I am a college student in data processing. The both my sisters also practice Gouren.
I am training in Gouren once or twice a week; it comes to from 2 to 4 hours a week.
I was the champion of Europe in 2001 and 2004. I was announced the best wrestler of the 2004 competition.
Gouren is an old traditional Celtic wrestling form; it has a very strong family spirit. It is a sport where the respect for opponent is very important. Besides, contrary to many combat sports there is no combat on the ground in Gouren.
In the Gouren world everyone knows everyone - it has a family spirit; its environment is very friendly and cordial. We often meet each other and have a glass of drink together; we have fun gathering on festivals.
It is Scottish wrestling. It is another form of traditional Celtic wrestling. On the European championships we wrestle in the Back-Hold style.
You can see a moment of a Back-Hold match at the photograph (at right) where I wrestle with Michelle, a very good Scottish wrestler. There is no time limit in a Back-Hold match. The winner is the wrestler who gains more "drops" (the limit is 5 drops per combat). To accomplish a drop you have to take the opponent down in the way that any part of his/her body (knee, back, buttocks, etc.) touches the ground before yours.
Because I have started Gouren very early and I just fell in love with this sport. Moreover, I am Breton and I am very proud to continue the traditions of my people.
Gouren is a combat sport perfectly suitable for women. Our federation pays very much attention to our needs.
This sport matches any woman, no matter if she is a zealous competitor or not. It inspires a very good spirit. Besides, it is the very versatile sport where women can improve their build, flexibility and techniques.
Since the basic Gouren is a sport adapted to everyone, there are very few differences between female Gouren and male Gouren. During the past 13 years men and women compete separately. There are just two differences:
- Duration of a match for women is less than for men;
- Women must wear a white tee-shirt under our "roched" (special wrestler's robe to grab by).
For me wrestling is a real pleasure. Gouren is a very significant part in my life. It brings me a lot in physical, moral and intellectual development.
No, because we learn how to fall during the training. Besides, there is no grappling on the ground in Gouren. But in Gouren the thrower has to accompany the opponent in the fall.
The objective in Gouren is to make your opponent fall on two shoulder blades before any other part of the body (we do not compete on the ground). The technique is called "Lamm", it brings the absolute victory in combat. In fact, there are other techniques to get winning points. In order to gain points, it's necessary to make the opponent touch the ground by the back first.
I don’t know much about these sports but why not? I am always ready to test myself in new sports
Only one year of gymnastics when I was very young. But I use many elements and techniques from other sports in order to have a good physical condition for Gouren.
Gouren is a real sport because we you have to develop your physical condition very much but it is also an entertainment because it is a fun to wrestle with friends. It is a sport for the people who like contests and an entertainment for the others.
Not at all, I have many friends who do not practice any sport. I don’t think that there are criteria to distinguish a wrestler from another female athlete
I think Gouren is suitable to all women. We have a lot of techniques, which can be used by any kind of women. Of course I would recommend because I think wrestling brings you a lot of advantages - both at the physical and mental levels.
I don’t think so but that depends on the character of a women wrestler. I would pose this question for men…
Yes, of course. When I was younger I wrestled against boys and I won very often. Now I wrestle against men but only for training or demonstration. I think I learn more when competing with a man.
They are very surprised and have trouble believing it at the beginning. They think that I don’t have the physical appearance of a wrestler but then they are proud to say that they have a friend who is a wrestler and especially a champion of Europe.
No, I don't challenge anyone; I usually show them wrestling photographs or call them to see me in competitions. After that they said, "OK, OK, I would always agree with you." :) One day after a tournament, when I was younger and still wrestled against the boys, a photographer intending to take pictures of our group asked: "Boys, why don't you approach this young lady, does she frighten you?" I turned around and saw all the boys whom I defeated during the competition. Ones when I was hanging out with friends, I joked at a friend and automatically accomplished a Gouren technique on him. The guy found himself lying on the ground in front of the other friends. This story spread very quickly and everyone was impressed.
No, there is no need to do that in Gouren.
I think that in the old times nobody would imagine to see women's fighting. May be men were afraid of women beating them. ;)
I think that women have humanized the combat sports and improved their image. Women bring positive elements to combat sports.
II have never noticed something like that and I don't think Gouren has anything to do with such things. There is much respect between women wrestlers and men wrestlers in Gouren.
No, because we don’t have the same strength. We don’t have the same way of working and acting.
I think it is the law of the nature.
I don’t think that is the right criteria to choose a boyfriend
No, never but I am ready to defend myself or my friends because I don’t like gratuitous violence. I would do that only as a last resort or if there is no other choice (if it is for someone's defence).
Yes, of course I wrestle for fun all the time.
I like music, movies, going out with my friends, others sports…
At home I speak French. I also speak a little Breton. I would have liked to speak Breton but for the moment I don’t have time to learn it much but I am learning when talk to my grandparents.
I think it is a very good initiative. It makes it possible to discover other combat sports. It is very nice. Continue!
December 2004
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We are grateful to the Gouren trainer 
