- Yağlı güreş
Yağlı güreş (In English pronounced|ˈjɑːlə ˈgurεʃ in Turkish pronounced|ˈjɑːlɯ ˈɟyrεʃ) is the Turkish national
sport . It is commonly known as oil wrestling (sometimes as grease wrestling) because thewrestler s douse themselves with olive oil. It is related to UzbekKurash and toTatar Köräş . The wrestlers, known as pehlivan (fromPersian پهلوان or "pahlavan", meaning "hero" or "champion") wear a type of hand-stitchedlederhosen called kisbet (sometimes kispet), which were traditionally made of water buffalo hide, but now also ofcalf leather.Unlike Olympic wrestling, oil wrestling matches may be won by achieving an effective hold of the kisbet. Thus, the pehlivan aims to control his opponent by putting his arm through the latter's kisbet. To win by this move is called paça kazık. Originally,
match es had no set duration and could go on for one or two days, until one man was able to establish superiority, but in1975 the duration was capped at 40 minutes for the baspehlivan and 30 minutes for the pehlivan category. If no winner is determined, another 15 minutes—10 minutes for the pehlivan category—of wrestling ensues, wherein scores are kept to determine the victor.The annual
Kırkpınar tournament, held inEdirne in Turkish Thrace since1362 , is the oldest continuously running, sanctioned sporting competition in the world. In recent years this style of wrestling has also become popular in other countries, most notably theNetherlands andJapan .History
The earliest depictions of
wrestling are found in theBeni Hasan Temple inEgypt . The sport of oil wrestling dates back to2650 BC in Egypt andAssyria . The foremost olympic sport in ancient Greece was wrestling. As depicted on numerous illustrations, the wrestlers used to compete completely naked. Olympic athletes greased themselves with olive oil, probably to protect their skin from the Ægean sun. Turks on the other hand knew neither the olympic wrestling (which is Greco-Roman meaning legs are not involved) nor olive oil because they were nomadic land people from central Asia. The style of Turkish wrestlers(Güreşçi) were original to themselves as this sport origins in Central Asia. Being all of the terms in this game Turkish proves this idea. Turkish wrestlers had started covering themselves according to the Islamic law (between the navel and the knees) after the 10th century. When the ancient Turkish freestyle wrestling met the ancient Greco-Roman olympic oil wrestling, a new wrestling style was born: Traditional Turkish Oil Wrestling. Freestyle and the leather clothing came from traditional Turkish wrestling called "karakucak" (literally means black hug), olive oil came from the ancient olympic wrestling and most of the wrestling terms from Persian. In theOttoman Empire , wrestlers learned the art in special schools called تکیه tekke, which were not merely athletic centres, but also spiritual centres, similar to those attended by theJapan eseSumo wrestlers, where it was taught that man is not justmatter , but alsospirit . These centers bear a striking resemblance to the Zurkhanes of Iran. This could explain the abundance of Persian terms in oil wrestling. Sincecompetition without theharmony of matter and spirit would be detrimental to the development of good character, wrestlers oil one another prior to matches as a demonstration of balance and mutual respect. Equally, if a younger man should defeat an older man, he kisses the latter's hand (A sign of respect for elders in Turkey, similar to a Japanese bow).Matches are held all over
Turkey throughout the year, but in early summer the wrestlers gather inKırkpınar for the annual three-daywrestling tournament to determine who will be thebaspehlivan (chief hero) of Turkey. Every year, around 1000 wrestlers attend the tournament. Ottoman chroniclers and writers attest that the Kırkpınar Games have been held every year since1362 , making them the world's oldest continually sanctioned sporting competition. Only about 70 times were the Games cancelled. The matches have been held there since1924 , where they were moved after theBalkan War . The original site had been some 35 kilometres distant.Kırkpınar, on the outskirts of
Edirne (the second capital of theOttoman Empire until the fall ofConstantinople in1453 ), was once the site of the summer hunting palace of the OttomanSultan .There are some organized competitions outside Turkey, prominent among which is the Royal Dutch Power Sport Federation ("KNKF Koninklijke Nederlandse Krachtsport en Fitnessfederatie") in the Netherlands.
Notable pehlivans
*1861-1886 Gaddar Kel Aliço "Ruthless Bald Alico" (born 1845 - died 1922), champion for 26 years, left the sport after a defeat by
Koca Yusuf and became the coach of Adali Halil.
*1887 Koca Yusuf of Sumnu / Aliço apprentice (b. 1857 Sumnu, near Deliorman Bulgaria - d. 4th of June 1898) defeated in 1887 Kel Alico at the Edirne Kırkpınar and got the Gold Belt. Champion for 9 years (1887 then 1889-1896). He defeated all the wrestling champions in Europe and went to America to defeat Robert the Champion of America, becoming the Universal Champion of wrestling on the 21st of May 1898. Finaly, in Chicago, Yusuf quickly defeated the famousEd Lewis .
*1888 Adalı Halil Pehlivan / Aliço apprentice (b. 1871 Kilise Köy,Greece - d.1926 Edirne) was buried on the special erected Pehlivan Cemetery. Champion for 18 years (1888 then 1897-1913). At the beginning of the Edirne Kırkpınar all wrestlers and officials go to his grave for a ceremonial prayer.
*Yusuf Pehlivan of Geçkin
*1914 Hergeleci İbrahim (b. 1848 in Islopol Razgrad - d. 1915), nicknamed Hergeleci as he was a trainer of wild horses, defeated Adali Halil at the Edirne Kırkpınar and became the coach of Koca Yusuf. In Paris, France, he wrestled with Yusuf. The match was interrupted and never completed.
*Kara Murat of Çömlek Village
*Molla İzzet of Silivri
* Nakkaş Eyüp of Çatalca (b. Kestanelik Village near Catalca) was nicknamed Nakkas (miniaturist) because he was very careful while wrestling, so it was commonly said his style is that of a miniaturist.
*Yenici Mehmet
*Mahmut of Kızılcık (b. 1878 Kizilcik near Dobruca, Romania - d. 1931 Eskişehir, Turkey)After oilwrestling-fame of being Champion at the Edirne Kırkpınar he went to Paris where he stood undefeated after 27 wrestling matches. His fame spread around the World and Kizilcikli Mahmut won all the wrestling matches he fought in the USA in the years 1908, 1909, 1919 and 1922. His legendary strength is still remembered in Romania.
*Mehmet of Kurtdere (b. 1864 in Deliorman, Bulgaria)- d.1939 Balıkesir, Turkey) wrestled with all famous wrestlers of his time and was very famous. He traveled to France, Great Britain, The Netherlands and the USA but was never defeated.
*Çolak Mümin Molla ( b.1873 Kavala, Greece - d.1915) became famous after he defeated Adali Halil. There are conflicting stories about this hero of the Edirne Kırkpınar. Mumin was called Colak for having one arm missing (or paralyzed).
*Suyolcu Mehmet
* Benli Badullah First Champion of the Turkish Republic Era, in 1924See also
*
Kirkpinar
*Köräş
*Kurash
*Greek Wrestling
*Pahlavani
*Pehlwani External links
* [http://www.turkishoilwrestling.net Yagli Gures and Kirkpinar]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XmWjMcDlYE See video Oil Over Europe I]
* [http://www.kirkpinar.jp/index.html Turkish Wrestling]
* [http://www.allaboutturkey.com/yagligures.htm allaboutturkey.com]
* [http://www.bashpelivanns.com/english/index.html bashpelivanns.com]
* [http://www.kirkpinar.com/ Kirkpinar.Com]
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