Oil wrestling

Origins and historical development

Forms of oil wrestling are linked in various sources to ancient communities in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Thrace, the Balkans, Greece, and Rome. Related folk wrestling traditions also exist in other Turkic-speaking regions under names such as Köraş, Khuresh, and Kurash. These similarities indicate a broad wrestling history, but do not prove that every modern form has a single uninterrupted origin.

In Anatolia, Yağlı Güreş was influenced by Karakucak Güreşi, a traditional form of freestyle wrestling associated with Seljuk and later Ottoman history. In the Ottoman Empire, wrestlers trained in tekke, facilities that could serve both physical and spiritual functions.

Kırkpınar

Kırkpınar in Edirne is the best-known Yağlı Güreş festival. Sources cite different starting years, including 1346, 1361, and 1362, depending on whether the legendary tradition, the first contest, or the tournament’s continuity is taken as the starting point. Therefore, the careful wording is that Kırkpınar is an ancient Turkish wrestling festival that has been organized continuously for centuries.

The well-known origin legend tells of forty Ottoman warriors who wrestled one another during a campaign. The name Kırkpınar is often explained as kırk pınar, “forty springs.” The legend is culturally important, but should be distinguished from documented competition history.

Kırkpınar is often described as one of the oldest continuously organized sporting events in the world. Yağlı Güreş has been on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.

Rules and competition system

A wrestler loses when their back touches the ground due to their opponent’s action, when they sit back on both hands, or when both elbows or one elbow and one hand touch the ground. A match can also be decided when a wrestler lifts their opponent, carries them for three steps, or spins them around.

The grip on the kıspet is distinctive. Inserting an arm through the opponent’s trousers and establishing control from there is called paça kazık. A kıspet that slips down far enough to expose the genitals can result in a loss under the rules. A good fit and respectful application of the rules are therefore important.

Historically, matches could last indefinitely and continue for hours or even longer. Modern formats use time limits, which vary by category and organization. The provided sources mention, among other things, thirty minutes for certain categories and forty minutes for the top division, with possible overtime or a decision on points. Always check the current regulations.

The winner of the main tournament receives the title başpehlivan, “chief or foremost wrestler,” and a cash prize. A pehlivan who wins three consecutive years may receive a golden belt. Lower placements and participation may also be rewarded.

Yağlı Güreş in Turkish Wrestling Culture

Güreş means wrestling and in Turkey can refer to a much broader landscape than oil wrestling alone. Çayır güreşi is folk wrestling on grass; minder güreşi is Olympic wrestling on the mat. Karakucak Güreşi and Yağlı Güreş are rural folk-wrestling styles, while Aba Güreşi, Aşırtmalı Aba, Kısa Şalvar, Kuşak or Tatar Güreşi, and Şalvar Güreşi are regional variants.

The different styles use their own clothing, surfaces, holds, rituals, and competition rules. Yağlı Güreş should therefore not be described simply as Olympic wrestling with oil.

Sport wrestling in Turkey

In addition to folk wrestling, freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling are practiced in Turkey. Turkish teams have achieved international results at world championships. Tournaments such as Yaşar Doğu and Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan are examples of the organized sport-wrestling calendar.

Famous pehlivans

Historical and modern names associated with Yağlı Güreş include Kel Aliço, Koca Yusuf, Katrancı Mehmet Pehlivan, Adalı Halil, Hergeleci İbrahim, Kızılcıklı Mahmut, Kurtdereli Mehmet, Bandırmalı Kara Ali, Tekirdağlı Hüseyin, İbrahim Karabacak, Ahmet Taşçı, Recep Kara, Ali Gürbüz, İsmail Balaban, Orhan Okulu, Fatih Atlı, Mehmet Yeşilyeşil, and Osman Aynur.

Some names also appear in sources with regional designations, such as Kızılcıklı Mahmut of Silistra, Katrancı Mehmet of Shumen, Kara Ahmet of Razgrad, Başol Yağcı of Sındırgı, and İzzet of Silivri. Duplicate entries from the supplied list have been merged.

Ağas

The ağas play a supportive and ceremonial role around Kırkpınar. The named ağas are Süleyman Şahin, Gazanfer Bilge, Alper Yazoğlu, Hüseyin Şahin, and Seyfettin Selim. The golden sash awarded to some ağas should be distinguished from the golden sash that a pehlivan can earn through successive sporting victories.

Competitions and awards

The başpehlivan is the winner of the highest category in the main tournament. In addition to the title, cash prizes, awards, and travel reimbursements may be granted. In some formats, second- and third-place finishers also receive a prize.

The exact categories, time limits, scoring system, and conditions for a golden belt depend on the current regulations. Historical rules and modern tournament rules should not be conflated without explanation.

Explore or get acquainted with Yağlı Güreş

Those attending an event can observe the peşrev, the music, the kıspet, the application of oil, and the way pehlivans show respect. A demonstration often highlights the ritual and cultural significance, while a competition also follows a strict technical and physical system.

For those interested in the Netherlands, it is advisable to request up-to-date information directly from a cultural organization, wrestling federation, or organizer. Check whether the event is an actual Yağlı Güreş competition, a demonstration, a workshop, or an entertainment activity.