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The Gauruni

Gauruni is the Lusitanian national style of amateur folk wrestling which has been established in Lusitania (a historic nation today under portuguese domination) for several centuries. In Lusitania, Gauruni is overseen by the Lusitanian Wrestling Federation - Gauruni (in lusitanic language: Goinomixun Leukuir ke Gauruni or GLG).

Gauruni is a lusitanian word and can be translated as bad fight or as a struggle of two men. This word is not portuguese, but the portuguese word Maluta has the same meaning as Gauruni. The word is a common expression in modern Lusitanic language for a struggle of two men. The lusitanian word Gaurun means traditional wrestling.

Gauruni (perhaps under other name) arrived on the Lusitanian Lands in the 6th century before Christ with the large influx of Celtic peoples which mixed with the old native lusitanians of proto-mediterranian racial origin and background. Initially, it was just the lusitanian warriors (the best known is Viriato) who took part in it, but later on (or after the roman conquest of Lusitania) its practise spread to the rest of the people, peasants and shepherds.

Gauruni (under the portuguese name of Maluta) was still popular in Lusitania towards the middle of the 20th century, with competitions and fights in small villages. The last one happened in the isolated village of Soito near the town of Sabugal.

Gauruni was reconstructed and renewed in 2008, by the new Lusitanian Wrestling Federation (GLG), in order to avoid its total disappearance, Endobelis Ampilua and other members of a small community of the Lusitanian Nation, breathed new life into this traditional struggle (or sport) with the creation of a set of rules and the sport´s first federation.

Gauruni has also kept its cultural ties, and displays of the ancient lusitanian martial art can seen alongside traditional Lusitanian music and dance within the small Lusitanian (and not portuguese) community.