Kures (wrestling)

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 425.

One of the ancient traditions of the Kazakh people is wrestling. The Kazakhs were proud of their famous singers, poets, folk singers, judges, batyrs (warriors) and athletes. Wrestlers would defend the honour of their clan for whom they wrestled. We are proud of our world-known wrestlers, like Baluan Sholak and Kazhymukan. Though there were few famous wrestlers remembered by name, the Kazakhs were eager to train their boys to be wrestlers from very young age. Wrestling took place in large celebrations, holidays, and fairs. There, clans would point to the wrestlers who would defend their honor. Among the Kazakhs, wrestlers respected and appreciated each other. Once Kazhymukan defeated Japanese, Turkish and wrestlers from other countries in an international event, and the world for the fist time knew that Kazakhstan had such competitors.

On his way home after a successful wrestling match Kazhymukan came to a kos (a small felt hut for travelling). When he opened it, he saw a giant man sleeping on his back. Kazheken (his pet name) admired the giant's body and greatly wanted to wrestle with him. So he waked him up and they began wrestling. It seemed to him that the larger man was very strong, and he was difficult to beat. Then Kazheken prayed and said: "Oh, my angel, Baluan Sholak help me, give me more strength." Hearing these words the giant released and kissed him, and Kazhymukan saw tears in his eyes. It turned out that Kazhekens competitor was Baluan Sholak himself.

In our childhood we saw several times wrestlers in chain and tomaga. During wrestling if they were not able to win, they might pray and mutter in an effort to acquire more energy. It could become very noisy in the steppe when they did so, for winners might be given a camel, a horse, a cow or a sheep. Nowadays wrestlers are selected according to their weight, and they are sponsored by different institutions and sports organizations. In earlier times, wrestlers were praised by people and sometimes sponsored by wealthy people who would take care of them since their success belonged to all the people.

The rules of wrestling included grasping the stomach or torso and lifting opponents overhead. Sometimes a match would last for long hours. They would tie their wrists with a girdle and have wide pants. According to the rules they could only hold opponents by the girdles. In ancient times old men would gather on a big hill to have a chat, and talked about information from "Uzun kulak" (long ears). Their grandsons usually were with them, and when the old men were free for a while, they'd wrestle their grandsons and admire the scene. Their grandsons usually this was because our forefathers always thought about future generations, and they wanted their offspring to be strong.

Vocabulary:

wrestling – борьба

to pray – молить (ся)

to grasp – схватывать

be eager to – гореть желанием

release – освобождать, отпускать

Ø Answer the questions:

1. Whose honour would the wrestlers defend?

2. Where did wrestling take place?

3. How did Kazhymukan meet Baluan Sholak?

4. By whom were the wrestlers sponsored in early times and by whom are they sponsored nowadays?

5. What are the rules of wrestling?

Ø Fill in the gaps:

1. One of the ancient traditions of __ is wrestling.

2. We are proud of our __ wrestlers, like Baluan Sholak and Kazhymukan.

3. During wrestling if they were not able __, they might __ and __ in an effort__ more energy.

4. The rules of wrestling included __ or torso and lifting opponents overhead.

5. In ancient times old men would __ to have a chat, and talked about information from "Uzun kulak" (long ears).

Ø Finish the sentences:

1. Among the Kazakhs, wrestlers ….

2. In our childhood we saw ….

3. Nowadays wrestlers are selected ….

4. According to the rules ….

5. This was because ….