The Nickname ‘Mandarria’: Origin, Meaning, and Use in Canarian Wrestling
The nickname ‘Mandarria’ is closely tied to the figure of Miguel Cabrera Castillo, a wrestler from Gáldar who played a key role in Canarian wrestling at the turn of the 20th century[1]. Analyzing this nickname helps explain how nicknames in Canarian wrestling reflect both personal traits and the social and cultural context of the time.
According to the Spanish Royal Academy dictionary cited by the source, ‘mandarria’ means “iron hammer or mallet used by shipwrights to drive or remove bolts from ship hulls”[1]. However, Falcón Falcón, José Roque rules out any connection between Miguel Cabrera’s nickname and such trades, as there is no documentary evidence linking the wrestler to those professions[1].
The source also cites the Canarianisms dictionary by Pancho Guerra, which defines ‘mandarriazo’ as “a strong blow, like those given by Mandarrias, the famous wrestler”[1]. This suggests the nickname was associated with the power of Mandarria’s lifting techniques, one of his most feared and characteristic moves in the ring[1]. Furthermore, the same dictionary defines ‘Mandarria’ as “a famous Canarian wrestler, used as a term of comparison”[1].
The popular expression “you look like a mandarria” has survived to the present, according to oral tradition cited by the source, referring to the way wrestlers dressed, especially the loose clothing required by the “mano arriba” or “mano metida” grip system[1]. This system required very wide wrestling trousers, giving wrestlers a disheveled appearance that, according to the source, might seem ridiculous today[1].
The popularity of the nickname was consolidated at a time when wrestling attire and techniques were quite different from today, and Mandarria was one of the most prominent wrestlers of his era[1]. The source notes that Mandarria’s fame helped spread terms and expressions related to his nickname in Canarian speech[1].
Regarding the origin of the nickname, the source presents two versions. One is a family anecdote passed down by a nephew, according to which Miguel Cabrera himself coined the nickname after a conversation with Circo Cuyás manager Joaquín Moreno. When asked how he would perform in an upcoming match, Cabrera replied: “What can I do, Don Joaquín, if I’m just a mandarria?”[1]. This quip led to the nickname spreading among family members and emigrants in America, according to the testimony collected by the source[1].
On the other hand, the source emphasizes that the link between the nickname and the wrestler is undeniable, as Mandarria was probably the most famous wrestler of his time, and his wrestling style—especially his lifts—justified the association with the strength of a ‘mandarria’[1].
In summary, the nickname ‘Mandarria’ not only identified Miguel Cabrera Castillo but also became a linguistic and cultural reference in the Canary Islands, associated with both physical strength and the image of the traditional Canarian wrestler of the late 19th and early 20th centuries[1].