Kurash

The art of the throw

Wrestlers begin every bout with a traditional bow known as tazim. During the contest, opponents use fabric towels or sashes to grip each other and execute standing throws. Touching or grabbing the legs and trousers is strictly prohibited. The highest achievement in a match is halal, a decisive throw that puts an opponent flat on their back with clear momentum and control, immediately ending the bout. Lesser scores include yonbosh, two of which equal a victory, and chala, which registers an effective attempt without ending the contest.

Festival roots and tournament history

For generations, wrestling has served as the headline athletic contest at Sabantuy, a major Tatar folk festival. Formal championship systems began taking shape in the twentieth century. Kazan hosted the first USSR-wide koresh tournament in 1928, followed by regional Tatar championships in 1949. From 1956 onward, annual competitions honored the poet Musa Cälil. By 1960, regular championships drew competitors from across dozens of regions, establishing structured weight divisions and formal governing bodies.

Global growth

Modern international governance started in 1998 with the founding of the International Kurash Association. The organisation organised its first senior world championship in Tashkent the following year, later traveling to host cities across Europe and Asia. Belt wrestling organisations also emerged to preserve regional Tatar styles. The discipline gained broader continental recognition when it was added to major multi-sport events, debuting at the Asian Games in 2018 and the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

How Kurash is kept

A match begins with both contestants offering the tazim salutation. Opponents take hold of each other using waist towels or belts, keeping their feet planted and avoiding leg grabs. The referee uses commands like tokhta to pause action and bekar to cancel points. Competitors attempt sweeping throws with speed and control, striving for a clean back fall known as halal or building advantages through lesser throws until a victor emerges.

When and where

Bouts take place during seasonal folk festivals such as Sabantuy, as well as on scheduled tournament dates for national and international championships throughout the year.

The wrestling tradition is widespread across Central Asia, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and wider Russia. International federations now organize events across Asia, Europe, and beyond, from Tashkent and Kazan to Istanbul.

What Kurash means

As the centerpiece of communal celebrations such as Sabantuy, the wrestling tradition reflects physical skill, balance, and regional identity. It binds community festivities to folk heritage, while memorial bouts honor revered cultural figures such as the Tatar poet Musa Cälil.

Questions people ask about Kurash

See also

ChovganAn equestrian team sport played with mallets and horses across Iran and AzerbaijanPahlevani and zurkhaneh ritualsA traditional Iranian martial art blending calisthenics, wrestling, music and ethicsEid al-FitrThe feast that ends Ramadan, opened with morning prayers, sweets and visits homeNowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnics

Good reading and sources

• Kurash on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.