Kuresh – Tatar Wrestling

Kuresh is a form of upright jacket wrestling native to Uzbekistan, practiced since ancient times. It is an event in the Asian Games. There is an effort to include Kurash in the Olympic Games. Kuresh is a form of upright jacket wrestling native to Uzbekistan, practiced since ancient times. It is an event in the Asian Games.

The annual traditional wrestling tournament around the towns and villages of Dobrogea region. Traditional live music is part of the event and it stops only when the game ends. The sound of the 5 holes wooden Zurna is the artistic trademark on the field.

Turkish güreş, Uzbek kuraş and Tatar köreş are the same word in different Turkish dialects. It originally means martial art. The word exist in all Turkish dialects almost without exception, basically refers to martial arts similar to wrestling. The first one thrown to the ground would, by falling down, create enough space for the sword or spear of the thrower or another soldier to do its work, and therefore the fallen fighter would be at great risk of death. This is why falling to the ground is considered a decisive loss in almost all traditional wrestling styles around the globe.

Sheeps and rams are carried in to be offered as prizes for the winners.

Some nomadic gypsies are happy to get some free entertainment

As reflected by the rules, clothing is required which mimics armour or battle-garb, and where grips on the trousers and ground fighting are banned, since bending over low or going to the ground make a fighter vulnerable to weapon thrusts.

The first one thrown to the ground would, by falling down, create enough space for the sword or spear of the thrower or another soldier to do its work, and therefore the fallen fighter would be at great risk of death. This is why falling to the ground is considered a decisive loss in almost all traditional wrestling styles around the globe.

In the early stages of the competition there’s several fights going on at once. These guys have a hard time following the events passing by.

Upright grappling was an integral part of ancient and medieval warfare because most hand to hand weapons needed several feet of space to be effective to deliver their blows, such as swords and spears. Once within this range, the warriors were obliged to grapple with each other.

This Central Asian sport developed thousands of years ago as a form of training for fighting, for both self-defence and war.

This guy’s nickname is, guess what, “Hotlips”!

Horned prize ready for the delivery.


The winner congratulated by a smiling mayor and cheered by the same Hotlips’ Zurna wail.

The Crimean Tatar flag…

…a genuine look…

…and the remains of the day

2 Responses to Kuresh – Tatar Wrestling

Leave a Reply to Sofia Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *