In the Puget Sound, wrestling is mentioned in Puyallup-Nisqually by Marian Smith along with a brief account of a contest between a White strongman from a circus, and a Puyallup in which their techniques are vaguely contrasted.

Wrestlers weren't allowed to change holds during the match and only appeared to use one hold.

"The men faced each other, the right arm of each passed over the left shoulder of the other, the left arm encircled the right side of the opponent's body at the waist and the hands were clasped together at the back. Before beginning, there was often argument about the exact position of the shoulders and arms. This hold was maintained until the opponent was downed or, if it was broken during the struggle, a new start was made. The wrestlers shifted ground constantly, since foot-work played an important part in maintaining equilibrium. One man tried to lift the other straight in the air of bend his opponent forward across his hip. A man thrown or taken off his feet was conquered. Wrestling was called 'skwádgwıs'*."

The account of the wrestling match is quite straightforward: A prominent Indian wrestler had wrestled a wrestler from a circus and both had managed to flip the other using holds the other wasn't familiar with, and the match ended amicably. No other detail is provided.

There are the occasional references to martial arts in terms of warfare and weapons, where techniques for specific weapons are given. However, they are unfortunately far and few in between, and mostly refer to a coup de grâce.

*Modern Xʷəlšucid would be "skʷadgʷis".