Yagli Gures, oil wrestling, is the national sport of Turkey. Turkish Oil Wrestling was established as a sport during a campaign launched by the Orhan Gazi, the Ottoman sultan, to capture Rumeli (Thrace). At the place where he and forty warriors camped, they began wrestling for fun. The legend maintains that two of them wrestled for hours from morning until midnight, became exhausted, and died. They were buried under a fig tree, and when the soldiers visited the burial site years later, they noticed that springs had sprung up and named the place Kirkpinar (Forty Springs). Kirkpinar is in Edirne, which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for 91 years and is the place of the most famous and important tournament of the year.
The application of oil makes it hard for the wrestlers to hold each other, but its original use is also rooted in religious and spiritual aspects. There is also the more practical belief that olive oil was used by the people in Anatolia on a daily basis to protect them from the ravages of mosquito bites, and the wrestlers simply wrestled with their bodies oiled.
The wrestlers, called “pehlivans” wear “kispets”, which are tight-fitted water buffalo or calf leather trunks that tie at the waist and extend to the knees. After slathering each other in an olive oil and water mixture, the pehlivans engage in a battle of strength and endurance. Each competitor is allowed to reach into his opponent’s kispets as a method to control him and attempt to win the match. The wrestler’s whose “umbilicus is exposed to heaven” first loses the match. In the Kirkpinar matches, until 1975, there was no time limit on the matches. Now, depending on the category, there is a 30-40 minute limit with extra time if no winner has been determined by the end of “regulation”.
From June 21st- 27th, 2010, the 649th tournament will take place in Edirne. The tournaments are veritable fairs with music, celebrations, belly dancing, and singing attended by locals, and the mayor. Even the President of Turkey makes an appearance at the time honored matches. There are over 1,000 participants and the winner of the main category, the “bas pehlivan” receives money, a horse, an ox, or other such prizes.
For more detailed history, information, and more photos go to www.turkishoilwrestling.net.
The application of oil makes it hard for the wrestlers to hold each other, but its original use is also rooted in religious and spiritual aspects. There is also the more practical belief that olive oil was used by the people in Anatolia on a daily basis to protect them from the ravages of mosquito bites, and the wrestlers simply wrestled with their bodies oiled.
The wrestlers, called “pehlivans” wear “kispets”, which are tight-fitted water buffalo or calf leather trunks that tie at the waist and extend to the knees. After slathering each other in an olive oil and water mixture, the pehlivans engage in a battle of strength and endurance. Each competitor is allowed to reach into his opponent’s kispets as a method to control him and attempt to win the match. The wrestler’s whose “umbilicus is exposed to heaven” first loses the match. In the Kirkpinar matches, until 1975, there was no time limit on the matches. Now, depending on the category, there is a 30-40 minute limit with extra time if no winner has been determined by the end of “regulation”.
From June 21st- 27th, 2010, the 649th tournament will take place in Edirne. The tournaments are veritable fairs with music, celebrations, belly dancing, and singing attended by locals, and the mayor. Even the President of Turkey makes an appearance at the time honored matches. There are over 1,000 participants and the winner of the main category, the “bas pehlivan” receives money, a horse, an ox, or other such prizes.
For more detailed history, information, and more photos go to www.turkishoilwrestling.net.
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