“If we continue to show the finger at combat sports, that will be a problem”, the misunderstanding of the president of the Federation of struggle

If the government has authorized the resumption for professionals, the practice of combat sports remains prohibited. For the president of the French Federation of struggle, Alain Bertholom, also president of the Confederation of Martial Arts and Combat Sports, this announcement is incomprehensible. “What differences are there between a defense in the zone, a scruming rugby with a wrestling match or a judo match?” He questions. For France TV Sport, he does not hide his frustration in the face of this situation.

How did you react to the new government announcements allowing high-level athletes to fully take the practice of their sport?

Alain Bertholom : “For high -level athletes, it is rather a good thing since abroad, many countries allowed the wrestlers to train normally. We really had a feeling of imbalance in relation to what he was doing abroad. It is starting to go back to normal and that's good.”

“We had proposed to the ministry a progressive recovery. We did not have an answer”

It is not for amateur level for combat and contact sports … The fight is one of them, how did you experience this ad?

AB : “We were surprised, it was in the field of misunderstanding … We had proposed to the ministry a gradual recovery spread over 3 weeks, we did not have an answer to these proposals so we cannot be told, but without explanation! So we don't know why clubs are not allowed to resume their activities …“

Do you understand that the health situation and the particularity of your sport oblige the authorities to take exceptional measures?

AB : “Precisely, what differences is there between a defense in the zone, a scrub of rugby with a wrestling match or a judo match? We remain in misunderstanding because we had asked for treatment equity in all sports.“

“A fighter necessarily wants to fight!”

Will all this have a financial impact on your federation?

AB : “Everything will depend on the date of recovery. If in September, during the start of the school year, we can resume a normal activity, it should be able to go, but if we continue to show the finger at combat sports, it may pose serious problems. It is still difficult to decide on the amount of possible losses … This is why we had proposed this progressive recovery. Our goal was to reassure our licensees, the parents of the youngest and arrive in September to a completely normal practice.“

How are you going to adapt while waiting for the green light?

AB : “Until the next deconance phase, which is July 11, we will continue an alternative practice with the clubs that wish. There are still clubs that offer outdoor physical maintenance and live with it. For us the ideal would have been to be able to go up on a carpet, start to redo the fight at least standing, only projection, no ground struggle. This is what we had proposed but we were not heard.“

Precisely, you announce that you want to continue to energize alternative activities, what are they and how do you set up its activities while respecting the safety instructions?

AB : “We have a preparation called “Wrestling Training” and which is adapted to the fight. It is in the form of fitness and clubs are used to practicing it all years. It goes well and they manage to adapt it to outdoor practice so there is not too much problem … After there is always physical training, bodybuilding … But a fighter, whether judoka, wrestler or boxer, at some point, he necessarily wants to fight!“

“We asked for an appointment with the Prime Minister“

Have you had feedback from the Ministry of Sports? Hope for the next announcement?

AB : “Nothing at all! No news from the minister's office! And that does not concern that the struggle is a problem that envelops combat sports … We have mobilized at the level of the Confederation of Martial Arts and Combat Sports, which still represents nearly 1.5 million licensees and even together, we have no explanation, that's the problem! To hide nothing, we asked for an appointment with the Prime Minister, I hope that the return will be positive. If it does not take place, we would necessarily be disappointed and our misunderstanding would be only greater.“

You have sports deadlines, like the Beach Wrestling, how are you going to organize yourself if on July 11 the government considers that it is not possible to resume in a total way?

AB : “Normally, our Beach tour should start on July 23 in New Aquitaine. We hope to be able to maintain it since it is essentially standing and projection so we minimize the risks. Then we are quite capable of respecting barriers, there is no problem at this level … I just hope that we can resume after July 11 and that we will not have to cancel this tour which would be annoying for us.“