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Ritual fighting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Human tendencies to compete and social demands for group and individual survival may conflict. Many societies posess a compromise: ritual fighting. Ritual fighting (or ritual battle or ritual warfare) permits the display of courage and manliness and the expression of emotion while resulting in relatively few wounds and even fewer deaths. Thus one can view the practice as a standard form of conflict-resolution and/or as a healthy psycho-social exercise.
Native Americans often engaged in this activity (see Native American fighting styles), and ritualised endemic warfare also occurs or occurred in many other hunter-gatherer cultures. In more formalised social environments representative champions — not necessarily leaders themselves — may represent a party and engage in ritual single combat after the manner of David and Goliath.
Other (recreational) traditions, such as those of boxing or wrestling, have a part in the modern phenomenon of Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club.
Compare duel, but contrast ritual killing.
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