Beyond the Mat: Describing the Journeys of Female Professional Wrestlers in Jilin Province

This study explores training and competition experiences of female professional wrestlers in Jilin Province, aiming to understand their career journeys, challenges, and developmental needs in traditional Chinese wrestling. Adopting a qualitative approach, it involves semi-structured interviews with seven female athletes and coaches and performance observations. Findings identify their physical, technical, and psychological demands (injury, weight control, competition stress). It proposes tailored training programs with periodization, mental training, and tech tools, emphasizing coaching support and gender equity. This research contributes to building a supportive ecosystem for female wrestlers, enriching coaching practices, and revitalizing traditional Chinese wrestling.