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One of the most exciting sights of the Janissary Barracks is the oil wrestling (Yağlı güreş), where the men don leather trousers and soak themselves in olive oil before clashing in unarmed combat.
One of the most exciting sights of the Janissary Barracks is the oil wrestling (Yağlı güreş), where the men don leather trousers and soak themselves in olive oil before clashing in unarmed combat.
Oil wrestling is believed to have originated in 4,000 BC somewhere in the Hellenistic states, but entered Turkey around the 12th century. It was so popular it is now the national sport of Turkey, with the Kırkpınar oil wrestling festival cited as the longest running official sporting competition!
How to Wrestle
How to Wrestle
Oil wrestling is very similar to freestyle/Olympic wrestling, but there are some key differences:
Oil
Oil
Firstly, the addition of olive oil. Before each bout, wrestlers (pehlivan) soak themselves in olive oil, to make it more difficult for their opponent to maintain their grip. The oil is also a great equaliser, as bouts are won with technique and raw strength.
The trousers (kispet)
The trousers (kispet)
In Turkish wrestling, the wrestlers wear a specially-made pair of trousers (kispet or kisbet) stitched from buffalo or calf hide. These trousers can be very heavy, but they must be durable, as wrestlers will grab hold and use them to try and flip each other.
Image by Isaac Cox
The time limit
The time limit
Traditionally, Turkish wrestling did not have a time limit, and bouts could run for hours. It was not unknown for two equally skilled wrestlers to commence on the first day of a tournament, and be forced to resume their match on the second day as neither could score the winning maneuver!
This was eventually changed in 1975, when a time limit of 40 minutes per bout was implemented, with a fifteen-minute tie break round to follow if the match is still a draw.
Image by Adrian Bell of AB Photography
Winning
Winning
To win a bout of Turkish wrestling, any one of four things must happen:
- A wrestler concedes by tapping twice the ground or his opponent;
- A wrestler is turned onto his back, with both shoulders on the ground and his belly to the sky;
- A wrestler lifts his opponent completely off the ground, and walks five steps; or
- A wrestler lifts his opponent entirely overhead.
The Janissary Barracks encourages all able-bodied men to look more into the sport of oil wrestling and are always willing to speak with new wrestlers about joining a demonstration. See our membership page for more information.
Title image by Adrian Bell of AB Photography
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