(Transcript from World News Radio)
It's one of the oldest sports known to humanity and evidence exists that different forms of wrestling have been practised for thousands of years in many different cultures.
A type of combat sport, wrestling involves grappling with an opponent in a series of moves that vary according to the type of wrestling practiced.
And beyond the mainstream wrestling world, the sport has also found a home within Sydney's gay community, becoming a regular part of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival.
Peggy Giakoumelos reports.
It's Friday night at a gym in inner city Sydney.
On the second floor of the gym large thick pink and blue sponge mats line the floor.
They're there to cushion the inevitable falls that occurs during a wrestling training session.
Scott Fernandez is one of the members of the Sydney Silverbacks who are training at the gym tonight.
It's a gay-friendly wrestling club that's been around since the early 1990s.
"Often there's a lot of perception out there that gay guys, might not be masculine or might not be able to do those types of sport that involves aggression or putting yourself out there. So I think a lot of people are curious to come along and say: 'oh you're doing a sport that involves physical contact and levels of aggression'. I think it provides that safe environment where you can explore that side of you and you can interact with other people who are like-minded. And there's a professional coach there and all the techniques we learn are safe. So it really provides that real platform for exploring what your body can do and what it can do with other people. In a very friendly supportive environment."
The group runs an annual tournament as part of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.
Some members are also planning to attend and compete in The Gay Games in the United States later this year.
Member, Brendan Jones says there is still a need for sporting events and clubs that cater specifically to non-heterosexual athletes.
He says this is because there's still a lot of discrimination in the sporting world.
"A colleague of mine at work, a straight colleague, we were talking about the Gay Games which is coming up in a few months. And he was saying why do you need the Gay Games? And I had trouble articulating it, because he hasn't experienced that kind of discrimination before. But eventually I just said to him: 'OK, name me 10 currently competing gay Olympians'. And even I could only come up with three or four off the top of my head. And I said that's why. It is a because there is still that discrimination there, so I would say, yeah, it's still one of the biggest barriers."
About 20 men are in attendance at tonight's training session - men of all shapes, ages and sizes.
The club practices Olympic Freestyle wrestling.
Michael is also a member.
He joined the club four years ago as a beginner.
He describes how Olympic Freestyle wrestling differs from other forms or wrestling.
"In Olympic Freestyle you use your whole body, while some of the other ones like Greco-Roman you can only use the upper body, you can't use legs and so on. However, I must point out we're not out to hurt anybody. With wrestling you are to dominate. It's very strictly regulated. Freestyle just happens to be the one we do. There's a whole lot of other ones. There's Greco-Roman which uses the upper body. There's grappling, Brazilian Jujitsu which uses a lot of wrestling. In fact, it's very interesting because we find some of the Brazilian wrestlers come to us to learn a few techniques and vice-visa versa. Or the grappling guys. We've even had rugby players come along to wrestle because it teaches them about take downs, tackles that sort of thing. And that kind of cross-fertilisation is quite useful."
Nick Preston has been a member of the Silverbacks for about two years and has also competed in tournaments.
He says he found going to the gym just to do exercises uninspiring, and wanted to do a form of exercise that was both social and allowed him to use his body in a challenging way.
"I think that when you start wrestling your body aches a lot, but it's funny over time you adapt to it, you learn to use your body in ways that you didn't know was possible. You have muscles that you didn't know existed. So it's just interesting in terms of flexibility and strength and I find it a lot more fulfilling that just going to the gym. And you get to wear really sexy singlets."
Michael says he has competed in tournaments in the past, an experience that was mainly positive.
On some occasions though, athletes from other clubs took issue with his sexuality, refusing to wrestle with him.
"I've experienced situations where in open mat sessions, some of the straight guys are reluctant to wrestle with us, which is really annoying. I'm not sure what they're scared of. But on the other hand I think it's probably quite cool that they're scared. Because you want your opponent to be scared. So yes, I think there is a bit discrimination but, I think that what really counts is that we're out there and people meet us and they see us and they realise that we're as serious as they are and probably as good sometimes. I think it changes perceptions it's all about knowing people and the fear of the unknown."
The Silverbacks will be marching in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on March the 1st.
And SBS will broadcast the 2014 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Sunday March 2 at 8.30pm on SBS 2.
