Kazakh wrestling

Kazakh ('Qazaq') wrestling ('kuresi') is a type of wrestling in which two fighters battle on foot, trying to get both of an opponent’s shoulders to simultaneously touch the ground.[1] It is an ancient martial art that can be traced back to when Nomadic Kazakh tribes engaged in combat, serving as entertainment and training.[2] Kazhymukan Munaitpasov was a famous Kazakh wrestler, becoming the first Kazakh world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.[3]

History

The earliest rock paintings of Kazakh wrestling can be traced to 1200 to 600 BC. Kazakh wrestling was a central part of military training in an age in which battles were fought on chariots. A soldier had to possess excellent balance while standing on a chariot and fighting using a spear and bow. A soldier also had to be skilled with both his right and left hand, because an opponent could be on either side while he was driving a chariot. The purpose of wrestling seemed to be threefold:[4]

  1. to train the soldier in balance while handling the chariot.
  2. the wrestling matches were closely related to religion and served ritualistic purposes.
  3. to train the soldiers in close combat, allowing him to knock or throw his opponent off balance while at the same time maintaining his own. When people began to wear heavier armor, wrestling became even more important, as sword fights could quickly turn into grappling situations.

The first modern Kazakh wrestling competition was held in a sports festival of Almaty (modern day capital of Kazakhstan) in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (modern day Kazakhstan) in Soviet Union (dissolved country) in 1938. After that, the competitions are traditionally held in the cities of the republic. The first international tournament was held in 1952 among Asian participants. Since Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic became Kazakhstan by gaining its independence by the Soviet Union, the popularity of Kazakh wrestling has increased with national championships and leagues being held every year.

Kazakhs organized the International Kazakh Wrestling Federation (IKWF) in World Congress in Berlin in 2004. Serik Tukiev became the first federation president. The first Asian Championship by Kazakh wrestling was held in Altai Krai, Russia in 2005. There was an international tournament named after Kazakhstan's president in November, 2005. More than 100 athletes from 25 countries participated. Among them were Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, France, and others. Mongolia held II Asian Championship in July, 2011.[5] Kazakh wrestling championship was held in August 2011.

Techniques

Designed for close combat, the techniques were aimed at knocking an opponent off balance from a standing position. This allowed a soldier to use fighting techniques in a real battle at close proximity, when he had a weapon in his hands. The techniques and methods used in Kazakh wrestling have strong similarities with the ones found in Judo and Mongolian wrestling. Victory is achieved when the opponent is thrown flat on their back. Points can also be achieved by throwing the opponent on the side or forcing him to a knee. The goal of Kazakh wrestling is to throw the opponent on the floor while remaining standing or falling atop of him. As a result of this sacrifice throws and throws that cause the thrower to drop to one or two knees are not favoured. The wrestlers are not allowed to touch the legs but can freely grab the jacket and the belt of the opponent.

Competitions

Wrestlers are divided into three groups depending on their age and eight categories depending on weight. Adults compete for ten minutes, teenagers for five minutes. Kazakh wrestling is included in zonal, regional, republican sports festival programs; teams are honored throughout Kazakhstan.[6]

Before a match starts, wrestlers place their hand on their chest and bow. Wrestlers then greet their opponent with a hug before stepping backwards after which the referee gives the signal to start the match.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kuresi in Kazakhstan - UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  2. ^ "Qazaq Kuresi". worldethnosport.org. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  3. ^ Шаяхметова, Жанна (2021-04-07). "Kazakhstan Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Great Kazakh Wrestler Kazhymukan Munaitpasov". The Astana Times. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  4. ^ "Origin of Kazakh traditional wrestling goes back to ancient history". 2022-08-26. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  5. ^ Қазақ энциклопедиясы. Vol. 5.
  6. ^ Сағындыков Е.С. (1991). Қазақтың ұлттық ойындары. Алматы: "Рауан" баспасы. p. 176. ISBN 5-625-01063-3.
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