by Isaac HimmelmanHuka-Huka wrestling, a revered part of indigenous culture in Brazil, may soon be lending its best fighters to the Olympics.A project is underway to transform indigenous Huka-Huka fighters into Olympic wrestlers. Kanato Yawalapiti, a Huka-Huka leader from the village of Pallushayupiti, and Ione de Carvalho, an anthropologist and special adviser for Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, are part of the team that is offering training to the fighters, in hopes to prepare them for the 2024 Olympics.The routine of a Huka-Huka fighter is intense. Fighters must wake up at 2 a.m. and sit on a bench, watching the fire to improve their vision. Two hours later, when the temperature is lower, they bathe in the chilling river. It is only around 7 a.m. that the training begins.The new program will train fighters in contemporary techniques, though it’s uncertain whether they’ll keep their early morning schedule.
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