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A pictogram of Kazakh wrestling. Note the upright position of the wrestlers.
Kazakh wrestling (Qazaq Kuresi) is a traditional combat sport in which two athletes wrestle from a standing position, attempting to force both of their opponent's shoulders to touch the ground simultaneously.[1] It is an ancient martial art that can be traced back to the Nomadic tribes of Kazakhstan, where it served as both a form of combat training and entertainment.[2]
The earliest rock paintings in Kazakhstan depicting 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 balance while standing on a chariot and fight using a spear and bow with both his right and left hand, as an opponent could be on either side. The intended purpose of Kazakh wrestling is believed to be threefold:[3]
to train the soldier's balance while handling a chariot.
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 (former capital of Kazakhstan) in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (modern day Kazakhstan) in Soviet Union in 1938. The competitions are traditionally held in the cities of the republic. The first international tournament was held in 1952 among Asian participants. Since the 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.[4] Kazakh wrestling championship was held in August 2011. Kazhymukan Munaitpasov, a famous Kazakh wrestler, became the first Kazakh world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.[5]
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.
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