THE MARAJOARA WRESTLING TODAY: PERCEPTIONS OF ATHLETES AND FORMER ATHLETES OF THE MODALITY

Abstract

Marajoara Wrestling (MW) is being recognized, nationally and internationally, as a practice of corporal combat of expressive effectivity and with important cultural elements. The following text is the product of exploratory investigation that had the objective of identifying the perspective of athletes and former athletes of the modality about MW. The sample is composed of 13 male participants, from 30 to 60 years old, residents of the Marajó Archipelago. For the data collection a semi-structured interview script with seven open questions was utilized. The results show that MW is undergoing a process of sportification, schooling and of longing for the preservation of its traditions. It is perceptible, furthermore, that the schooling of traditions of MW to children can retrieve the interest for the modality, giving emphasis to the cultural identity of the marajoara people.