Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the Alps. Two men try to wrestle each other to the ground. As soon as one of them touches the ground with both shoulders, he has lost. Since 2010, the sport in the natural arena on the summit of the Hundstein has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many spectators have braved the drizzle and gathered on the plateau of the 2117-metre-high mountain. Apart from a few tourists, it is mainly locals who cheer on the fighters loudly. Who will win the title of "Hagmoar" at this year's Jakobiranggeln? The competition for the medal and the winning flag begins after the command of the "Schermtax". This is what the referee is called in this sport. Ranggeln must be played quickly: The opponents only have a maximum of six minutes to claim victory.
Different tactics are used. For some years now, grips from judo have also been part of the ranggler's repertoire. However, any innovation is viewed rather critically by many spectators. After all, Ranggeln is a tradition that is more than six hundred years old.
There has been an early form of this competition since 1390. This can be seen in the "Fecht- und Ringbuch" by Albrecht Dürer, published in 1512. It contains illustrations and explanations of throwing techniques from the Middle Ages. The "cross throw" presented in the book, among other things, is still performed in the same way today.
Even though rank wrestling is sometimes referred to as "peasant jiu jitsu", there are some serious differences. For example, no pain grips may be used in rank wrestling. Choking, which is quite common in Jiu Jitsu, is also a no-go in rank wrestling.
To win, however, you shouldn't concentrate too much on the holds. What counts most here is speed and creativity. Nobody knows this better than the Schermtax. After all, he must have been "Hagmoar" several times to get this position.
Ranggeln is not a sport limited to the Salzburg region, it is also practiced in Tyrol and Bavaria, among other places. In Carinthia and Styria it is known as "wrestling" and the Swiss call it "swinging".
You can't be squeamish when it comes to wrestling. Because rain or snow, the men compete against each other in all weathers. The participants fight barefoot and in pfoad (shirt) and trousers made of linen. It's all about the honor of being allowed to wear the title "Hagmoar" for a year. With slogans such as "Was kost' so a Feder" or "Du magst auch dei' Feder vom Hut aberdoan", the competitors try to goad each other on. This goes back to the early 19th century, when the winner received a "Schneidfeder" ("Schneid" stands for courage) from the rooster as a hat decoration.
At that time, the fighters were searched in advance for weapons such as knives or brass knuckles. Back then, the competition was also used to settle disputes over girls once and for all. The fact that this is no longer an issue shows that there was once a clergyman who won the title of Hagmoar. According to the book "Hundstoa Ranggeln" by Günther Heim, a priest first read the mountain mass in 1978, then took part in the Ranggeln - and won.
Just like this year, 34-year-old Christopher Kendler from Saalbach Hinterglemm. He prevailed against 103 competitors. With his selection as Hagmoar 2025, this year's Jakobiranggeln comes to an end without incident.
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Sources:
Special thanks to chairman Johann Bernsteiner
Book: Hundstoa Ranggeln by Günther Heim, published by Tauriska Verlag (ISBN: 978-3-901257-45-2)
Talks and experiences at the Hundstein Ranggeln on July 27, 2025
Photos: Ingrid Müller
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