Kurash

People play a sport called Kurash.

It is a type of wrestling.

Wrestlers use towels to hold each other. They try to throw their opponent to the ground. The goal is to throw them on their back. This big move is called a Halal. It helps a player win the fight. People do this at a festival called Sabantuy. It is a way to show great skill. It is a very old and special sport.

Kurash is a type of folk wrestling.

Many people in Central Asia practice it. Wrestlers use towels to hold their opponents. The goal is to throw the other person off their feet. This sport is a main part of a festival called Sabantuy.

Wrestlers try to score points with big throws. There are three kinds of scores. A Halal is the best score. You get a Halal by throwing someone on their back. You must use force and speed to do this. A player who gets a Halal wins the fight. A Yonbosh is the next best score. Two Yonbosh scores equal one Halal. A Chala is a score that is close to a Yonbosh.

Matches start with a greeting called Ta'zim. There are also rules to keep things fair. If a player breaks rules, they get penalties. Three penalties mean the player is out of the match. This is called Gʻirrom. Kurash is a very old tradition. It is now played in many countries around the world.

Kurash is an exciting style of folk wrestling.

Many people in Central Asia practice this sport. It is a way for people to show their strength and skill. Wrestlers often compete during a big festival called Sabantuy. In this sport, wrestlers use towels to grab their opponents. The main goal is to throw the other person off their feet. This tradition brings people together through sport and shared history.

There are specific ways to score points in a match.

The best score is called a Halal. You earn a Halal by throwing an opponent onto their back. You must use speed, force, and full control to do this. A second type of score is called a Yonbosh. If you get two Yonbosh scores, it equals one Halal. A third score is called a Chala, which is close to a Yonbosh. No amount of Chala scores can equal a Yonbosh.

Rules help keep the wrestling fair for everyone. Matches begin with a respectful greeting called Ta'zim. If a wrestler breaks a rule, they receive a penalty. The first penalty is Tanbekh, and the second is Dakki. If a wrestler gets a third penalty, it is called Gʻirrom. Gʻirrom means the wrestler is disqualified from the fight. There are also special words used to pause a match, called Tokhta.

This sport has a very long and deep history. The name comes from the old Turkic word küreş. Many different languages use names based on this word. The first official All-USSR championship was held in Kazan in 1928. Later, the first national championship for the Tatar Republic happened in 1949. Since 1956, many competitions have honored the poet Musa Cälil. Kazan has hosted many big events in cities like Salavat and Orenburg.

Today, Kurash is a sport that travels all over the world.

The International Kurash Association was founded in 1998. They have held championships in many places like Uzbekistan and Turkey. Some matches have even been held in Hungary and Mongolia. Kurash also appeared in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. It even joined the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in 2019. It is now a global way to celebrate an ancient tradition.

Kurash is a traditional style of folk wrestling practiced across Central Asia.

It is a sport that emphasizes strength, skill, and high-amplitude throws. Wrestlers often compete during Sabantuy, which is a major folk festival. The name of the sport is derived from the Old Turkic word *küreş*. This ancient root is still visible in many modern languages. For example, the sport is called *güreş* in Turkish and *köräş* in Tatar. It also shares this linguistic history in Azerbaijani, Bashkir, Chuvash, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Shor, Turkmen, and Uzbek.

In a match, wrestlers use towels to hold onto their opponents. The primary objective is to throw the opponent off their feet. There are very specific rules regarding what a wrestler can touch. For instance, a contestant is not allowed to grab the trousers or the legs of their opponent. The match begins with a formal salutation known as *Ta'zim*. If the referee needs to pause the bout, they use the term *Tokhta*. If a point needs to be canceled, the term *Bekar* is used.

Scoring in Kurash is based on the quality and impact of a throw. There are three distinct scoring levels: *Halal*, *Yonbosh*, and *Chala*. A *Halal* is the highest score and results in an immediate win. To earn a *Halal*, a wrestler must throw their opponent onto their back with full control, force, and speed. A *Yonbosh* is a throw that is close to a *Halal* but lacks certain qualities. Interestingly, scoring two *Yonbosh* points is equal to one *Halal*. The third level is the *Chala*, which is a throw close to a *Yonbosh*. However, no amount of *Chala* scores can ever equal a *Yonbosh*.

To maintain fairness, officials use a three-step penalty system. The first penalty is called *Tanbekh*. If a wrestler commits another infraction, they receive a second penalty called *Dakki*. The third and final penalty is known as *Gʻirrom*. When a wrestler reaches the *Gʻirrom* stage, they are disqualified from the match. These rules ensure that the competition remains disciplined and respectful for all participants.

The history of organized Kurash is closely tied to the development of regional sports. The first official All-USSR koresh championship took place in Kazan in 1928. This was followed by the first Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (TASSR) national championship in 1949. Since 1956, regular Tatar Köräş competitions have been held to honor the poet and national hero Musa Cälil. During the 1950s and 1960s, Soviet wrestling federations began to develop the sport further. They integrated elements from freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, and sambo to help the sport grow.

Kazan has served as a major hub for these competitions for many decades. The city hosted the first RSFSR national koresh championship in 1960, and this event has been held every year since. While Kazan has hosted about 15 of these championships, the events move to other cities as well. These include Salavat, Orenburg, Oktyabrsky, Tuymazy, Chelyabinsk, Cheboksary, Almetievsk, Samara, Ulyanovsk, and Naberezhnye Chelny. Over the years, athletes from 36 different Russian regions have participated in the Russian championships.

Today, Kurash has expanded into a major international sport. The International Kurash Association (IKA) was founded in 1998 and has held championships since 1999. These world championships have traveled to many countries, including Uzbekistan, Turkey, Hungary, Armenia, Mongolia, Ukraine, and Iran. The International Tatar Belt Wrestling Köräş Association was also formed on September 9, 2009. This group works to popularize Tatar traditions abroad and provides opportunities for athletes to compete globally. In 2010, a World Championship in Kazan attracted approximately 100 wrestlers from 17 different countries.

Kurash has also achieved recognition in major multi-sport events. It made its debut at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. It also appeared at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in 2019. This progression shows how a traditional folk practice can become a recognized part of the global sporting community. From its roots in Old Turkic culture to modern international arenas, Kurash continues to celebrate its unique heritage through athletic excellence.