Bull wrestling

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Togyu, or "Okinawan bullfighting", is a traditional sport in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Bulls Ishikawa, Okinawa 2007.jpg
Tōgyū, or "Okinawan bullfighting", is a traditional sport in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.

Bull wrestling, cow fighting or bull fighting is a non-lethal human-facilitated bloodsport between bulls or cows found in some parts of the world.

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Africa

The Luhya community in Kenya practices a bull-on-bull sport. [1] Savika is a bull-wrestling sport practiced in Madagascar's central highlands.

Europe

Korida, from corrida, or borbe bikova ("fights of bulls") is a traditional sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Korida in Sanski Most, Bosnia and Herzegovina Sanski Most Korida 2011 006.JPG
Korida in Sanski Most, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fights are most popular in Bosanska Krajina, where the famous Corrida of Grmeč (Grmečka korida) is held. Grmeč, a mountain in the extreme west of Bosnia, is the best-known site of Korida of Grmeč bullfights in the Balkans. These are fights between bulls themselves and there is no death of a bull. [2] The fight is won when the losing bull turns his back and flee from the fight. [3] [4] Fights happen in an empty field, [5] and have been organised on every first Sunday in August for over 200 years, attracting thousands of visitors. The fights were brought about to Western Balkans, mostly Bosnia and bordering Dalmatian Hinterland in Croatia, by the Ottomans from Turkey, where they are popular for hundreds of years. [2]

The korida of Grmeč was depicted by the sculptor Slobodan Pejić. The sculpture of two bulls in a fight, made in bronze in 2004, has been compared to a confrontation of the oppressor and the oppressed or of the Bosnian people and the Austrian Emperor. [6]

Similar fights are organized in several places around Bosnia and Herzegovina, such Sanski Most, Cazin, Velika Kladuša, all in Bosanska Krajina, but also in central and eastern parts of the country, such as Vitez and Olovo's nearby villages Čevljanovići and Boganovići. [7] [8] [2] [4]

Croatia

In Croatia, koridas are traditionally organized in Dalmatian Hinterland region. [9]

East and Southeast Asia

Bull wrestling (Ushi no tsunotsuki) in Yamakoshi, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

South Asia

Bullfighting statue at Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, Bangladesh Bullfighting Statue at Shilpacharjo Zainul Abedin Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, Bangladesh..jpg
Bullfighting statue at Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, Bangladesh

India

Dhiri or Dhirio (Konkani: धिरी,धिरयो) is a popular form of traditional bull wrestling in the state of Goa, Coastal South West India. It was the weekend entertainment staple for most villages. Many families lived off the earnings made on appearance money and bets alone. [12] The Panaji Bench of the high Court vide order dated 20.12.96 directed the State Government to take immediate steps to ban all types of animal fights including Dhiri organised in the State of Goa, which was finally banned in 1997. [13] Dhiri bullfights are still very popular in Goa despite the ban. There have been demands for legalizing Dhiri. [14]

Nepal

Bullfight in Taruka Bullfight in Taruka.JPG
Bullfight in Taruka
Local festival in winter in Taruka Taruka Bullfight.JPG
Local festival in winter in Taruka

Every year on the day of Maghe Sankranti in different districts of Nepal bull wrestling is organized. The most oldest and popular bull wrestling of Nepal is of Taruka, Nuwakot, 75 kilometres (47 mi) away from Kathmandu. It is believed to have started in the early years of the 18th century as source of entertainment for nobles while visiting the village. Many people from around the country visit Taruka to witness this event. Other than Nuwakot bull wrestling is also organized in Dhading and Rasuwa.

Western Asia

Iran

VarzaJang is a bloodsport organized between bulls in the north of Iran. This wrestling is organized only in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces.VarzaJang takes place mainly in Mazandaran in Amol, Noor, Chamestan and Nowshahr and in Gilan in Rudsar, Lahijan, Chaboksar, Rasht and Khomam. [15]

Oman and the United Arab Emirates

Bullfighting in Oman Oman bullfighting (5).jpg
Bullfighting in Oman

In Oman and the United Arab Emirates two Brahman bulls are presented to each other and allowed to lock horns and fight, while their handlers hold ropes to separate them if necessary. [16] [17] The origins of bullfighting in Oman are unknown, though locals believe it was brought here by the Moors who had conquered Spain. Its existence in Oman and the UAE is also attributed to Portugal, which colonized the Omani coastline for nearly two centuries, [18] [19] and also introduced bullfighting to Omani Zanzibar. [20]

Turkey

Bull wrestling in Turkey is known as boğa güreşi (literally "bull wrestling"). Each year in the third week of June, the Kafkasör (Caucasus) festival takes place in the city of Artvin. At the beginning of the festival, certain rules are applied in order to save the bulls from injury. For example, if a bull retreats from the fight, it means defeat, etc. [21]

Islamic law

On 17 October 1987, the Muslim World League issued a fatwa declaring bullfighting and animal pits to be forbidden under Islamic law. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullfighter</span> Performer in the activity of bullfighting

A bullfighter is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. Torero or toureiro, both from Latin taurarius, are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter, and describe all the performers in the activity of bullfighting as practised in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, France, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and other countries influenced by Portuguese and Spanish culture. The main performer and leader of the entourage in a bullfight, and who finally kills the bull, is addressed as maestro (master), or with the formal title matador de toros. The other bullfighters in the entourage are called subalternos and their suits are embroidered in silver as opposed to the matador's gold. They include the picadores, rejoneadores, and banderilleros.

Shoot wrestling is a Japanese hybrid grappling style and combat sport. Shoot wrestling incorporates techniques from various wrestling, submission grappling, kickboxing and karate styles. It was particularly inspired and influenced by catch wrestling, a form of wrestling with submissions that was the predominant style of professional wrestling in the 19th and early 20th century, at the time a competitive sport and not yet predetermined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullring</span> Arena where bullfighting is performed

A bullring is an arena where bullfighting is performed. Bullrings are often associated with the Iberian Peninsula, but they can also be found through Iberian America and in a few Spanish and Portuguese ex-colonies in Africa. Bullrings are often historic and culturally significant centres that bear many structural similarities to the Roman amphitheatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blood sport</span> Any entertainment sport where blood is commonly shed

A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities characterized as blood sports, but involving only human participants, include the ancient Roman gladiatorial games.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Fighting Bull</span> Cattle breed used in bull fights and spectacles

The Spanish Fighting Bull is an Iberian heterogeneous cattle population. It is exclusively bred free-range on extensive estates in Spain, Portugal, France and Latin American countries where bullfighting is organized. Fighting bulls are selected primarily for a certain combination of aggression, energy, strength and stamina. In order to preserve their natural traits, during breeding the bulls rarely encounter humans, and if so, never encounter them on foot.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish-style bullfighting</span> Type of bullfighting

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<i>Course landaise</i> Form of bullfighting and bull-leaping

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grmeč</span> Mountain in north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina

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  22. حكم الملاكمة ومصارعة الثيران والمصارعة الحرة |