The Marajoara Wrestling: between vernacular practice and institutionalization

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v20i1.2506

Keywords:

Martial arts, vernacular martial arts, combat sports, traditional sports, traditional games, Marajoara Wrestling, Agarrada, Brazil, phenomenology

Abstract

The Marajoara Wrestling is a traditional grappling and throwing fight, typical of Marajó Island in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. The sport is going through a process of expansion through competitions and tournaments. The objective of this research is to understand elements and experiences specific to the institutionalization process in the Marajoara Wrestling through an empirical-phenomenological investigation. It is an exploratory, qualitative study, anchored in interviews and supported by ethnographic procedures to produce a broad understanding of the cultural contexts of the Marajoara Wrestling, as well as its practical and technical objectivity. The results are divided into three parts: Marajoara Wrestling and Tradition in Techniques; Marajoara Wrestling and its institutionalization; Marajoara Wrestling versus Agarrada. Understanding the phenomena present in Marajoara Wrestling makes it possible to understand the tensions in the process of institutionalizing the sport. Understanding these tensions enables an interventionist and educational role in Marajoara Wrestling, which is of interest applied to both Physical Education and Sports Psychology.

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Author Biographies

Leonardo Coelho, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo – EEFERP-USP

Leonardo Fernandes Coelho (Brazil) is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (EEFERP-USP). He holds a technical degree in Administration from the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul. Between 2013 and 2015, he worked as a Junior Researcher for the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in the field of Human Sciences, with an emphasis on the History of Education. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education – with an emphasis on Sport – from EEFERP-USP (2022) and a Master's degree from the same institution (2025). His main research interests include Greco-Roman Wrestling, Sport Psychology, Phenomenology, Marajoara Wrestling, Combat Sports, Martial Arts, and Vernacular Martial Arts. E-mail: leonardof.coelho@usp.br

Pedro Henrique Martins Valério, Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras, Universidade de São Paulo – USP

Pedro Henrique Martins Valério (Brazil) holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto at the University of São Paulo. He earned a Master's degree in Physical Education from the School of Physical Education and Sport at the University of São Paulo and a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities at the University of São Paulo. His research focuses on Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestations, bodily practices, and research methods in Psychology through the lens of Phenomenology. E-mail: pedrohmvm@gmail.com

Cristiano Roque Antunes Barreira, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo – EEFERP-USP

Cristiano Roque Antunes Barreira (Brazil), Full Professor at the University of São Paulo (USP), based at the School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP-USP). He supervises doctoral research in Psychology (FFCLRP-USP) and Physical Education (EEFERP-USP). Former Director of EEFERP (2017–2021) and President of the Brazilian Association of Sport Psychology (ABRAPESP, 2017–2019). He was Visiting Professor at Université Paris Cité (2023–2024) as a CAPES and FAPESP research fellow. His academic work focuses on listening, embodiment, and martial arts/combat sports, with an emphasis on classical phenomenology. Email: crisroba@usp.br

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Published

2025-04-29

How to Cite

Coelho, L., Valério, P. H. M., & Barreira, C. R. A. (2025). The Marajoara Wrestling: between vernacular practice and institutionalization. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 20(1), 93–105. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v20i1.2506

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2025)

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Leonardo Coelho, Pedro Henrique Martins Valério, Cristiano Roque Antunes Barreira

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