| Wild weather in Edirne, on and off
the field! |
Kenan Simsek, the winner in 2003, made an oath
while the national
anthem was played by the 'Edirne City Fife and Drum Corps'. The
national
flag was hoisted, and fluttered in the strong winds.
Tens of thousands of spectators, who crammed the stadium, had
already begun to notice something unusual by this time.
The number of participating wrestlers in 2004 was
1,319 in all.
In the opening ceremony, it customary that all wrestlers gather in the
field, and stand according to the 12 event classes, to march in the
stadium.
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However, the march was done only by the boy
wrestlers of the
lower rank class, and ended within only several minutes. This was
because
the wrestlers of the higher ranking classes boycotted the opening
ceremony,
in protest of a new rule ( following ), which was adopted this year.
The rally returned nearly to normal by the 2nd day, because
of the encouragement of the fans gathered from all over the world, and
the hard persuasion, and leadership of the higher ranking wrestlers.
Nonetheless,
the forecast of "Wild weather in Edirne, on and off the field!",
seemed to estimate the trouble of the rally. |
| The Turkish national sport, oil
wrestling |
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| So-called modern wrestling, which is an
Olympic event, is extensively
practiced in Turkey. The existence of oil wrestling as the Turkish
national
sport, will always be related to Turkey. Because of it's traditional
wrestling,
Turkey will always win a lot of medals in modern wrestling events. To
distinguish
between modern wrestling, and tradition wrestling, oil wrestling has
the
adjective "historical" added. |
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There is not a ring, or framed area in oil
wrestling. The stadium
was originally a pasture, and is now surrounded with spectator seating.
The area is a bit smaller than a football field. The wrestlers may
fight
anywhere in the field, so spectator seats may not have the best view of
the wide ranging battles at all times. The wrestlers are returned to
the
center of the field by the judge if they move too far toward one of the
ends.
All matches of a competition class are done at the same time.
During the premiere of the rally, the field is crowded by the
wrestlers,
and the judges. It can be difficult for families to cheer for their
sons,
if they cannot find them on the crowded field. In the final game, it is
just the opposite, and the eyes of all the spectators are concentrated
on just two wrestlers fighting in the vast field. |
A wrestler wears black, tight trousers, called "Kispet", which
are made of buffalo skin. All wrestlers are bathed in a great deal of
olive
oil. These are the biggest characteristics of this combative sport. A
wide
range of skills and tactics, must overcome in the slippery oil, to
catch
hold of the opponent's body.
The grappling, and timing resembles the Greco Roman style of
modern wrestling. For example, a match is won, if an opponent's back is
forced to the ground. But, if an opponent's whole body is lifted from
the
ground for few steps, this is also a win. |
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The competition classes are separated into 12
classes, and the
wrestlers in them are matched by their heights, excluding the most
advanced
classes of Bas Pehlivan, and Bas Alti. These are some of the reasons
that
sport is so attractive.
The sport may seem to be classic and old-fashioned, but doping
inspections are commonly done. If a test is positive in the preliminary
inspection, an athlete cannot participate in the rally. If he is judged
to be positive in the inspection after the game, his wins are canceled.
Indeed, it is not uncommon that doping doubts are whispered around the
best placers. |
Partners are decided by drawing lots in the same
class, and
these opponents help each other pour the olive oil over their whole
bodies.
Next, they wait for the announcement calling their names. They then
stand
next to each other, crossing their arms in front of one another, and
clasping
hands. Then, the master of ceremonies, "Cazgir", appears.
The Cazgir has an extremely important role, moderating the
progress
of the event. He is dressed up in the finest clothes in Ottoman era. He
praises and encourages the wrestlers in the name of god, using a
peculiar
melody of speech, which was strongly in rooted in Islam. Moreover he is
the teacher who helps the mental growth of the wrestlers. |
| When Cazgir calls for the event to begin, the
wrestlers strides
together, to the accompaniment of the magnificent drums and pipes,
similar
to the traditional tsuzumi drum and pipe corps. This is the ritual for
the entering the field, which is called "Pesrev". The men slap their
thighs
with the palms, as they swing both arms up and down. They also squat
and
pray to god on occasion, and then praise and embraces each other. It is
the dance of brave men, filled with forceful confidence. The best
pesrev
prize is given, irrespective of the victory, or defeat to the wrestler,
who has shown the most solemn dance. This is an extreme honor. |
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| The most expensive ram in the world |
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Just before the semifinal, in the last day of
the 3 day rally
schedule, there is an event which throws the venue into a state of
feverish
excitement. This is the entrance, to the field, of the most expensive
ram
in the world. The entire place was filled with expectations, when the
showy
ram, which wore a beautiful turquoise necklace, appeared. This ram is
put
up for auction, and once sold, is probably knocked down at the highest
contract price in the world.
The host organization of the championship is
Edirne City, but
the expenses which are necessary to host a rally are provided by the
sponsor.
However, these are not advertisement expenses from the company, but
contributions
from just one individual.
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| The man who wins the bidding on the ram of
Kirkpinar at the
highest contract price is called "Aga" (the landlord, the boss). He
will
gain all the honors for the rally hosting in the following year because
of the compensation he provides from his monetary contribution at the
rams
contract price. One of the privileges is obtaining the seat next to the
republic president during the games. |
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This privilege is so attractive, that it would
make the president
of a major enterprise drool.
Aga wears luxurious clothing of the Ottoman era,
and is in the
most conspicuous spectator seat of all. If a foreigner who didn't know
the circumstances saw him, they might think that Aga were the King of
Turkey.
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The person who won the seat of Aga in 2005
is an industrialist
who manages the cigarette and beverage wholesale company, Mr. Aidem
Tuysuz
from Kelkit. The final price was 300 Billion Turkish liras
(approximately
230,000 dollars), which exceeds 3 times the contribution from the
previous
year! |
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| The crowd was exultant, because the scale of the
festival becomes
showier in proportional to the sum of the contribution. To the sound of
applause, Aga was paraded around the field, riding on shoulders of
local
celebrities. Believe it or not, he clenched a wad of money in his hand,
and scattered it suddenly! These were the largest denomination in
Turkey!
Notes of 20 Million Turkish liras danced in the sky, and the spectators
were thrown into a commotion, to say the least! |
| Tasci, the Master of Kirkpinar |
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Let's get to know the man who is acknowledged to
be the master
of traditional wrestling in Turkey. He appears, tossing his arms toward
heaven with a roar. With his physical toughness, and a mental prowess,
he is a valiant figure, suitable to be call a hero in Turkey.
One of the reasons for Ahmet Tasci being called a master, is
the fact that he is the first man to win two golden belts in
traditional
wrestling history. The golden belt of traditional wrestling is lent to
the champion for one year and he must surrender the belt to the latest
winner if he loses in the next year. However, if it is possible to win
the championship consecutively for 3 years, then the belt can be
forever
made the possession of the individual. Tasci has achieved twice of
three
consecutive championships, the first time since the rule of the golden
belt conferment was established. The total number of victories is nine
times.
If you examine the history of traditional wrestling, which spans
650 years, there is said to be a wrestler who won 8 continuous
victories,
and another wrestler who reigned for 26 years as the champion in the
past.
But, the modern rules of the event hosting are different from those
days,
so there is no uncertainty about the achievements of Tasci. |
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| It would not be too much to say that Tasci
deserves the belt,
but his last victory was in 2000. At that time, he declared, "I will
retire
if I won 1 more time, 10 times in all", but he had not achieved his
dream
readily, although he always earns a place on one of victory stands. It
was the rally in 2004, in which he shaved the excellent trademark
mustache,
where he was defeated by 22 year old Recep Kara. Rumors spread that,
"It
is retirement at last". |
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However, in recognition of his great
achievements, a plan to
build a bronze statue of Tasci in the open space of stadium in the
summer
in 2005 was finalized. Tasci, on hearing this news, said with a gleeful
smile, "I must be invited to the ceremony if my statue is built. I will
fight incidentally once again, if I must go to Kirkpinar after all."
Ahmet Tasci, the master, is 47 years old. His belief that,
"never
retire except in the status of champion", must be the standard because
he is the master. |
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Vedat Ergin is one of the wrestlers who are in
the higher rankings
every year. The battles are strenuous and steady, for a very popular
wrestler
in Turkey, but he had achieved a desirable first victory in 2001.
Ergin was defeated by Tasci in the semifinal in 2004, and placed
3rd, but this was a very confused match. |
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When a winner isn't decided within 40 minutes
from the beginning
of a game, the wrestlers walk to the head umpire, then they tie one
ribbon
to one of their ankles. One wears red, and the other, blue. Now the
match
is to be decided by points scored. At this time, the head umpire leaves
the field, and observes with the field glasses from a high position,
and
then tells the result of the judgment to the umpire in the field with a
transceiver. To sum up, it is difficult for spectators to tell how the
match is going. |
| The umpire in the field raised his hand, or
contacted the head
umpire with the transceiver. The timing of this is seemed unrelated to
the tense game progress. Then, the whistle was abruptly blown. A third
warning against Ergin was presented because he was not battling wasn't
actively enough, and Tasci's victory of was announced. |
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The spectators were at first stunned into
silence, and then
the booing became like a storm, shaking the stadium in the following
moments.
Ergin and his trainers protested loudly against this judgment,
while spectators threw water bottles into the field one after another.
Some of bottles struck and injured the press people who rushed in to
report
the uproar, and some of them were injured. |
| The modernization of the rules of
game |
A big change was added to the rules from the
rally in 2004.
This is the one rule which caused the boycotting of the opening
ceremony
by higher rank wrestlers, as mentioned above. "The modernization of the
rules" to put it simply.
Also, there were modifications of rules for smoother matches,
and for the safety of the wrestlers. However, these alterations are the
biggest since limiting game time to 40 minutes in 1975. |
| Introduction of the seed system
Grouping the top 16 wrestlers into "A" group, the
next 16 wrestlers
into "B" group (the showing order of each group) in each class, makes
it
impossible to be confronted in the same group. On the other hand, the
golden
belt holder, and the champions within three years will be seeded in
another
frame.
It was not so unusual that the higher rank wrestlers would
defeat
each other in the early stages, or the favorite was defeated by an
unknown
wrestler because an opponent was decided by drawn lot under the
previous
rule. This rule change seems to be rational if seen from that
viewpoint,
but it made it very difficult to attain a higher place by outnumbered
unknown
wrestlers.
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Reinforcement of the point system
The idea of a point system existed in the old
rule system, but
points were not deducted, there was no way of deciding a win except
basically
throwing an opponent onto their back so they did not get up. From now
on,
when a winner isn't decided within 40 minutes, the fight switches to
the
point system, and a victory or defeat is decided by the difference in
points
scored within 5 minutes.
This creates anxiety because the results are not immediately
apparent to the wrestlers, because both scored points and deducted
points
are decided subjectively by the head umpire, who observes with field
glasses
from a separate, elevated position. If the battle is judged to not be
active,
points will be deducted, so there is a fear that a defeat will be
declared
while a game still in progress. This is sadly, unlike the time-honored
style of traditional wrestling, in which fights can be long, herculean
efforts of stamina, and a "throw down" win is achieved by watching for
a slip on the part of a tired opponent.
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| In addition, a third place match was abolished.
The 3rd place
position will be shared by the two wrestlers from when they were
defeated
in the semifinals. |
| Does the statue of Venus need arms? |
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Recep Kara was only 22 years old when he won the
victory in
the rally of 2004, which was decided by the new rules.
Kara, who belongs to the National team of modern wrestling,
got special permission from the league chairman in Turkey, so that he
could
participate in this rally. Normally, it's not possible to be promoted
to
the higher rank classes without winning victories continuously in 3 of
the 40 of main tournaments hosted throughout the year in Turkey. Even
then,
a confrontation qualification can't be gotten.
The rule changes at this time, and the controversial win,
enhance
the viewpoint that this is an expression of the intention to usher in a
new phase in traditional wrestling on the part of the wrestling league,
and such supposition seems not to be a big mistake. |
The young wrestler who participated for the
first time in a
rally of Turkish traditional wrestling, won because the slight
inattention
of Ahmet Tasci, in only a 17 minute final. However, any of the tens of
thousands of spectators watching the game in progress, or even the fans
who were watching the close-up images of the game on TV outside, could
not be convinced of the moment of victory.
Finally, the decision of victory or defeat was fixed by a video
judgment on the part of the head umpire. This was based on the claim of
Kara, that the back of Tasci, who lost his balance, touched the ground
for an instant.
One could not hesitate to say that the facts were ambiguous
in the semifinals, and the finals that were won by a decision. |
A wrestler is sure he has won, when his opponent
realizes he
has lost. It is the pursuit of this moment that drives the wrestlers.
As
is the legend of the men who tested each other until they died, seeking
that moment of realization. The tradition of Kirkpinar originates in
that
moment. And the quest for that moment is what attracts fans of the
sport.
Many fans welcome the birth of the young champion, who appeared
like a comet, upon the rise of the curtain of new traditional wrestling
history. On the other hand, some persons criticize the modernization of
the traditional event, as being like installing new arms to statue of
Venus.
The incomplete thing is a part of the tradition.
The national sport of Turkey, the martial art which has the
longest history in the world, stands at the big crossroads now. Where
will
they try to go? |
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The Turkish traditional oil wrestling rally in
2005, is held
for 3 days, from June 24th to the 26th.
If this article has interested in this sport, I strongly
recommend
that you visit Edirne, and watch the game in person! |
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