What can you tell me about the sport Kurash?

Question

Other than this:

"Kurash is the native ancient type of upright jacket wrestling practiced in Uzbekistan. Kurash is a member of Turkish wrestling arts. It is related to Turkish yağlı güreş and to Tatar Köräş.

There is an effort to include kurash in the Olympic games."

Answer 1

Kurash - the traditional upright jacket wrestling which originated in Uzbekistan more than 3500 years ago. The original translation of the word "Kurash" from the Uzbek language is grappling or wrestling. Kurash as a type of martial art or public sport entertainment is mentioned in many ancient oriental historical sources. The legendary 1000 years old Central Asian epos Alpomish describes Kurash as one of the most respected and beloved sports widely practiced by ancient people in Central Asia. Many ancient and Medieval philosophers and historians mention Kurash in their manuscripts and books. The great oriental scientist and philosopher Avetsena writes that practicing Kurash is one the best ways to keep the human body and mind healthy and sound. Still there is no exact information when, where and by whom Kurash was first practiced. But most of the scientists agree on that Kurash is one of the most ancient forms of martial arts people had ever practiced.

The new wave of Kurash development started in IX century AD. At that time people of Central Asia enjoyed Kurash as a form of public entertainment and recreation during major social events, like traditional holidays, wedding parties and feasts. Later Kurash emerged from entertainment to become a sporting competition and a form of physical training. The names of the strongest Kurash players became legendary, like the Pahlavan Mahmud who lived in XII century. His grave located in one of the regions of Uzbekistan is still considered by people of Central Asia as a holy pilgrimage place. In XIV century one of the greatest conquerors and statesmen in human civilization Timur used Kurash to train and to improve the physical condition of his soldiers. Its well known that the army of Timur was unbeatable and the strongest in the world at that time.

Years passed by and Kurash became one of the most respected and popular traditions in Central Asia, especially in Uzbekistan. Its true to say Kurash is in the bones of the Uzbek people. Children inherit their love for Kurash from their fathers. Presently there are at least two million people who constantly practice Kurash in Uzbekistan itself. The number of fans and amateur followers of this sport is simply indeterminable.

Approximately two decades ago Komil Yusupov, well known Uzbek Kurash, judo and sambo player and one of the activists of Kurash revival started research to learn the Kurash heritage, generalize techniques and draft the new Kurash rules which could meet international standards. In the beginning of 1990th he finished his research and aimed at bringing Kurash to the world. He presented the new Kurash rules developed by him to public discussion of Kurash specialists and fans. Later the IKA's Congress approved the rules by Komil Yusupov as the official International Kurash Rules. The new rules incorporated all the best features of the national sport with international sport standards like uniform, an action field, length of competition, etc. Sport experts acknowledge that the Kurash rules developed by Komil Yusupov fully correspond to all international sport requirements.

One of the advantages of Kurash rules is that they prohibit ground wrestling. Once the knee of one of the players touches the floor the referee stops the action and players should restart action from the initial upright standing position. It is also not allowed to grapple below the waist. This makes Kurash a truly speedy, dynamic and interesting to watch sport. Besides that the rules of Kurash strictly prohibit players to use any armlocks, chocking and strangling techniques. It helps players to avoid many injuries and makes Kurash one of the safest types of martial art to practice.

In 1991 after Uzbekistan first of the Soviet republics proclaimed independence from Moscow the new life of Kurash began. The new government headed by the first Uzbek President Islam Karimov aimed to restore national values and the traditions of the Uzbek people suppressed during the 70 years long Soviet regime. One of the priorities was to develop the native form of grappling, Kurash. In April, 1992 President Karimov met Komil Yusupov. They discussed ways to develop the national sport not only in Uzbekistan, but also worldwide. The initial goal was and is to make Kurash a truly international sport included to the Olympic program. From that day on the initiative group led by Komil Yusupov started Kurash promotional activity. They held dozens of Kurash tournaments in different parts of Uzbekistan. The success was overwhelming. Thousands of local Kurash players participated events watched by millions of fans filling the stadiums throughout Uzbekistan.

The activity of Kurash initiators was not limited by the borders of Uzbekistan. From 1992 they made a number of international Kurash presentations at different top level sport forums and meeting in South Korea, Canada, Japan, India, USA, Monaco and Russia. As a result the first large scale international Kurash tournament, held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan in September 1998, gathered sportsmen and specialists from almost 30 countries from around the world. The 30000 spectators who filled the open stadium in the heart of Tashkent city and millions of TV viewers in Uzbekistan and other parts of the world witnessed the event. The first international Kurash tournament was a success. The 30000 seats Jar stadium, where the competition was held could not manage to fit all the fans. The tournament was won by the well know athlete from Turkey, Salim Tatar oglu.

The first international Kurash tournament was accompanied by another historical event. On 6th September 1998 representatives of 28 states of Europe, Asia and America gathered in Tashkent to establish the International Kurash Association - the official international sport body to represent and coordinate Kurash in the world of sport. The first foundational Congress of the Association adopted the Statutes of the new international sport organization, approved International Kurash Rules, and elected the IKA's ruling body - the Directing Committee. Mr. Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan and one of the main supporters of the international Kurash movement was unainimously elected to the position of the IKA's Honorary President. Mr. Komil Yusupov, the author of the International Kurash Rules, was elected to the post of the IKA's President. There are 15 posts in the IKA's Directing Committee in total. The DC members are elected by the Congress of the IKA by majority of votes for years term with the right for re-election.

In the beginning of May, 1999 Tashkent witnessed another outstanding event - the first world Kurash championship, which gathered athletes from 48 states of 5 different continents - Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South Americas. It's a truly unprecedented number of participating states for the first world championship in the sports world. President of Uzbekistan and the Honorary president of the IKA Mr. Islam Karimov said at the opening ceremony of the first Kurash world championship that Kurash incorporated features close to the spirit and character of Uzbek people, namely courage, bravery, spiritual generosity, fairness, honesty and humanism. And sport with such features has all chances to enjoy support and love around the world.

The overcrowded stadiums in the capital of Uzbekistan witnessed the historical event. Hundreds of athletes from almost 50 states of the world competed for the top award in the world of Kurash. The championship was held in three weight categories - 73, 90 kg and open category. The competition was very tough. And it's quite symbolic that in all three categories gold medals were won by Kurash players from Uzbekistan.

Since then the IKA holds world senior championships annually on the regular basis. The second world championships was held for the first time beyond the borders of the Kurash's motherland. Mediterranean resort city Antalya in Turkey hosted the event on July 2000, and this time for the first time women competed at the championships as well. The third world Kurash championships were held in Budapest city, Hungary in August 2001.

Along with the world championships among seniors, the IKA from the year 2000 annually holds world championships for juniors as well. The Tver city in Russian Federation has become the venue for the first two world Kurash junior championships held in May 2000 and 2001.

The first international female tournament in Kurash was held in June 1999 in Russian city Bryansk. 25 teams from 9 states competed at the event. German player Gretta Muller won the competition. Two Russan and one German players came second and third.

The first continental championships in Kurash was held in December, 1999. It was the Minsk city, capital of Belarus to host the First European Championships. The first Asian championships, which included men and ladies categories was hosted by the motherland of Kurash - Uzbekistan, its capital city Tashkent in April 2001. The first African championships also among men and women were hosted by the South African Republic, the venue was the town called Hurtenbos in July 2001. The capital of Bolivia - La Pas city hosted the first Pan American Kurash championships in March 2002.

The IKA also regularly holds number of traditional international tournaments different IKA member states. Most importantly, the Islam Karimov international Kurash tournament annually organized by the British Kurash Association since the year 2000. The first tournament to honor the IKA's Honorary President and the President of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov was held in October 2000 in Bedford town of Great Britain. The second tournament was held in November 2001 in Dartford, Great Britain.

Since 2001 the IKA designates its best events and people in 12 different nominations like, "Best Kurash player", "Best referee", "Best tournament", "Best federation" and so on. Well known athlete from Brazil Alexander Katsuragi has become the first "Best male players of the year" by winning in the brilliant manner an international tournament in Uzbekistan. Dorota Sikora from Poland was designated as the "Best female player" by becoming the World champion in Budapest. "The best techniques of the year" were demonstrated by the young Kurash star from Uzbekistan heavyweight Abdulla Tangriev - the absolute winner of two international tournaments held in Uzbekistan.

Kurash has been accepted and cultivated virtually all over the world. From Bolivia, Canada and USA to Holland, Turkey, Russia and Japan. Presently the IKA unites five Continental federations and more than 70 national Kurash federations in Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania and America. The profile of the IKA as the international sport organization is growing as more meetings with the top figures in sport on international and national level are held by the President of the IKA and other members of the DC to ensure the stable and continuous growth of Kurash worldwide.

Kurash is one of the most ancient types of martial arts. But it is for sure the youngest international sport on the world arena as only in 1998 Kurash started its international journey. The journey which will not be easy or short. From the very beginning the ultimate goal of that journey was quite clear - to make Kurash - the national sport of Uzbekistan an international one.

Hope it Helps

Answer 2

There is some overlap bewtween the terms 'sports' and 'martial arts', but they are not one in the same. A martial art can be a sport, a self defense system, an exercise method, an art or all 3. A sport is not necessarily a self defense system, and exercise method, or a martial art. MMA has gone from being an early 90's 'tough man contest' to being a sanctioned sport with rules and weight classes.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

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