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Turk Fight Series
Are
freestyle and Greco-Romanwrestling just too tame for you?
Is TV “rassling” just too phony? Then you’re ready for Yağlı
Gűreş (yaw-luh gresh), the gutsy national sport of the
greatest fighters in the world.
Every
year since 1640 Turkey’s best wrestlers – men and boys –
have gathered for their national championships on a grassy
field near the capitol of the old Ottoman Empire (Edirne).
The tournament is called Kirkpinar, or “Forty Springs,” in
honor of a 17th Century wrestling legend.
About
1,000 barefoot grapplers compete, oiled up and stripped to
the waist. The anything-goes style and the oiled leather
trunks originated with the world-renowned Janissaries, an
elite fraternity of body guards to the imperial Sultans. The
modern stadium
is located on the former site of the Sultan’s palace, and
Turkey’s president crowns
the champions on the final day.
For three
days the field is crowded with simultaneous matches in
eleven divisions, ranging
from school kids to forty-year-old masters. The sun is hot
and the fights are long.
Only if there is no winner after a half-hour is the mach
decided with a sudden
death overtime. There are few forbidden holds, and grabbing
of trunks is not off
limits.
Despite
the fierce aggressiveness, however, and the obvious
opportunities for fouling, these
Turks behave like blood brothers despite their hunger for
victory. If one is injured,
or gets grass in his eye, for example, it is his opponent
who comes to his aid.
Each
video offers you two hours of intense action, either at
Edirne or at one of the major
regional tournaments. You will want to start a Kirkpinar of
your own once you see how
real wrestling is done.
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