Ssireum is a traditional form of wrestling in South Korea. It is a type of belt wrestling in which competitors hold each other by a special belt called satba, wrapped around the waist and thigh, and attempt to bring their opponent to the ground using a wide variety of freestyle wrestling techniques. The Ssireum wrestling arena, known as a ssireumjang, is a raised circular sand ring that allows spectators to clearly observe the action. The sand layer is typically 10–20 cm deep. During competitions, athletes compete barefoot and wear only wrestling trunks with a satba belt tied over them. The satba is made of durable cotton fabric and is approximately two meters long. It is tied in such a way that it forms a loop around the wrestler’s right thigh for gripping and then wraps around the waist. Two main gripping positions are recognized: right Ssireum, where each wrestler’s right arm is positioned over the opponent’s left arm, and left Ssireum, where the left arm is positioned over the opponent’s right arm. To win a match, a wrestler must force the opponent to touch the ground with any part of the body above the knee. Unlike Japanese sumo, pushing an opponent out of the competition area does not result in victory. In such cases, the wrestlers are simply returned to their starting position. A Ssireum match begins with both competitors kneeling in the center of the ring and taking a mutual grip: the right hand holds the opponent’s waist belt, while the left hand grips the loop around the opponent’s right thigh. The wrestlers then rise to a standing position and wait for the signal to begin the bout. The duration of a match is three minutes. Strikes, kicks, and joint-lock techniques are prohibited. Only throws and takedowns using the body, hips, arms, and legs are allowed. Because wrestlers maintain their grip on the satba until a throwing technique is executed, direct hand grabs of the legs are generally not practiced in Ssireum.