Kuresh is batyrs’ destiny

One of the most popular and eye-catching national sport in Bashkortostan is kuresh* wrestling. The rules are simple: a batyr** grapples with another using a long firm towel called «kushak» and tries to lie down his opponent. Wrestles can use all possible techniques to put an opponent on the ground. Today these duels held on special carpets. But it was not like that all the time- long ago the duels were held on the grass.
Kuresh continues to develop to the present day. Wrestlers work through their techniques and perfect their skills. This national sport got the government support, for example, the republic special program «Development of the national kuresh wrestling in Bashkortostan for 2008-2012» was approved at the beginning of the year. According to this program, the government will help to create all necessary conditions for professional sportsmen training and popularization of the national wrestling among people. Moreover, the government plans to build a palace of national and public sport in Ufa with a republic centre of the national wrestling.
Every sabantuy (the spring holiday celebrated after harvest sowing) holds kuresh wrestling. It is interesting to know that usually amateurs take part in the national wrestling, not the professional sportsmen. Here is the charm and lure of that sport: anyone can participate. The wrestling continues until the strongest wins. According to the centuries-old tradition, the winners get a ram for their strength and adroitness.
Among the sabantuy wrestling duels, there are competitions of the professional kuresh wrestlers in Bashkortostan. Annually, there are over 30 big competitions are held in the republic. Last year, the capital of Bashkortostan was honored with an opportunity to hold the World Championship of belt wrestling. Belt wrestling is the notion accepted in the world to denote national duels of different countries. Every nation has its wrestling. The wrestling is spread all over the world. The Bashkir «kuresh» is like Turkish «gureshk***», Kazakh «kuresk***», Azerbaijan «Gyuleshk;***», Armenian «kokhk***», Chinese «syuaizsiok***».
The National Belt Wrestling Association was established to unite all different branches of wrestling. Over sixty countries are members of that organization. Also, it is quite possible that soon the Olympic program will include the national wrestling. UNESCO plans to be an initiator of holding wrestling Olympic Games. The only thing that prevents it is the absence of commonly accepted rules. Today, belt wrestling is officially included in non-Olympic sport.
The initiative of the International Belt Wrestling Association and UNESCO can help to make the previously forgotten traditional sport popular. Probably very soon, national wrestling competitions will attract thousands of people in the world. People will like their ancestors’ sport as Bashkirs adore kuresh wrestling.
Notes:
*kuresh is a traditional Bashkir sport where wrestlers grapple each other with long firm towels and try to put an opponent on the ground.
**batyrs are national warriors.
***tradional belt wrestling sports in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, China.

Copyrights © Редакция журнала "Ватандаш" 2000-2022