Yağlı güreş
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Yağlı Güreş (IPA:[jɑ:lɯ ɡyrεʃ]) is the Turkish national sport. It is commonly known as oil wrestling (sometimes as grease wrestling) because the wrestlers douse themselves with olive oil. It is related to Uzbek Kurash and to Tatar Köräş.
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[edit] Description
The wrestlers, known as pehlivan, meaning hero, wear a type of hand-stitched lederhosen called kisbet (sometimes kispet), which were traditionally made of water buffalo hide, but now also of calf 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, matches had no set duration and could go on for one or two days, until one man was able to establish superiority, but in 1975 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 in Edirne in Turkish Thrace since 1362, 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 the Netherlands and Japan.
[edit] History
The earliest depictions of wrestling are found in the Beni Hasan Temple in Egypt. The sport of oil wrestling dates back to 2650 BC in Egypt and Assyria. In the Ottoman Empire, wrestlers learned the art in special schools called tekke, which were not merely athletic centres, but also spiritual centres, similar to those attended by the Japanese Sumo wrestlers, where it was taught that man is not just matter, but also spirit. Since competition without the harmony 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.
Oil wrestling is an old Turkish traditional sport practiced for centuries since the Turkic peoples' nomadic origins in the steppes of Central Asia, however some of the ancient related terms involving the sport that were Turkish have been replaced by Persian terms; it is unclear whether the presnet style was also shaped by neighbouring Iranians, who call their equivalent Pahlavani and in turn received it from India, where it is known by many names, including Pehalwani.
Matches are held all over Turkey throughout the year, but in early summer the wrestlers gather in Kirkpinar for the annual three-day wrestling tournament to determine who will be the baspehlivan (chief hero) of Turkey. Every year, around 1000 wrestlers attend the tournament. Ottoman chroniclers and writers attest that the Kirkpinar Games have been held every year since 1362, making them the world's oldest continually sanctioned sporting competition. Only about 70 times were the Games cancelled. The matches have been held there since 1924, where they were moved after the Balkan War. The original site had been some 35 kilometres distant.
Kirkpinar, on the outskirts of Edirne (the second capital of the Ottoman Empire until the fall of Constantinople in 1453), was once the site of the summer hunting palace of the Ottoman Sultan.
Oil wrestling's display of masculine shiny bodies (oil-drenched muscular athletes wearing nothing but short, tight leather pants who grapple in the hot sun, occasionally with their hands down each other's trousers) has great erotic beefcake appeal to some. In recent years, gay men in other countries noticing Turkish wrestling, have even gone on tours to the Kirkpinar Games (analogous to heterosexual men attending a female mud wrestling event).
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.
[edit] Famous Wrestlers (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 1885 Kel Alico at the Edirne Kirkpinar and got the Gold Belt. Champion for 18 years. 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. Finally, in Chicago, Yusuf quickly defeated the famous Ed Lewis. After that, he boarded the liner La Bourgogne for the voyage back to France. Off Nova Scotia it hit another ship and sank, taking down 500 people including the Terrible Turk. The survivors remember Yusuf acting "like a wild beast." With a dagger in his hand, he forced his way through the frightened crowds waiting to board the lifeboats. By the time he reached the rails, a fully loaded boat was already being lowered. Ignoring the shouts of the crew, he jumped into it. His huge weight, together with the violence of his leap, overturned the boat and all its occupants were thrown into the sea. Yusuf, although a good swimmer, was dragged down the weight of his 10,000 Dollar gold belt and drowned.
- 1888 Adalı Halil Pehlivan / Aliço apprentice (b. 1871 Kilise Köy,Greece - d.1926 Edirne) was buried on the special erected Pehlivan Cemetery. At the beginning of the Edirne Kirkpinar 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 Kirkpinar 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 Eskisehir, Turkey)
After oilwrestling-fame of being Champion at the Edirne Kirkpinar 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 Balikesir, Turkey) wrested 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 defiated Adali Halil. There are conflicting stories about this hero of the Edirne Kirkpinar. Mumin was called Colak for having one arm missing (or paralyzed).
- Suyolcu Mehmet
- Benli Badullah First Champion of the Turkish Republic Era, in 1924
