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| PLA members at Gyeyang / Courtesy of PLA |
By John Redmond
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| Derek Bell / Courtesy of PLA |
Outdoor activities such as playing in amateur sports league competitions, participating in climbing and hiking clubs trails and running and cycling on weekend tours are becoming more and more popular as the number of organizations reaches a wider audience due to the ease of access on the internet.
Indoor pursuits such as swimming, wall climbing and table tennis are also greatly represented alongside martial arts, yoga and fitness clubs.
When Canadian Derek Bell arrived in Korea over a decade ago to work at a university in Seoul, he quickly found his hockey needs catered for through a field hockey league near the Olympic village in Seoul.
But this wasn't enough. Something was still bothering Bell. Wrestling.
Bell had always wanted to learn to wrestle, being a fan of the sport since childhood.
"I was interested in wrestling since I was a child," he said. "I used to watch Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling in the summer in my hometown."
The Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling (GGP) is a regional wrestling promotion that tours Maritime Canada, comprising Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
"In the '80s, I started watching WWF with stars like Hulk Hogan. I always wanted to try it."
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| Derek Bel being thrown in a training bout in Gyeyang. / Courtesy of PLA |
Through contacts in his hockey league and some online research, Bell soon found himself in touch with the Professional Live Action (PLA), a professional wrestling promotion group based in Seoul.
Formed in 2011, the PLA has 20 male and 20 female wrestlers, including 10 tag teams.
The group provides assistance with training, wrestling techniques and upcoming bouts.
"The hardest part about training is to ensure you land properly, to reduce knee impact and avoid back injury," said Bell.
Due to the theatrical aspect of wrestling, the sport has endured a lot serious injury among players, especially in tag team events, which are highly choreographed.
"A lot of the moves are standard wrestling moves, but are technically very hard. One mistake and you can seriously injure yourself or your opponent," said Bell.
"When you are thrown, it's very important to know how to land and roll. Reminds me of judo. You learn to roll with it."?
Bell belongs to a PLA group near Incheon in Gyeyang.
"I have been training for a few months every Saturday and I have a match every month or month and a half," said Bell.
The club has a dedicated indoor training center and holds regular matches.
Members comprise locals and foreigners. Many foreigners come and go due to the nature of their contracts in Korea.
Training usually occurs on the weekends with matches usually once a month.
For more information on the PLA, visit http://http://prowrestling.wikia.com/wiki/Professional_Live_Action.
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