Mongolian wrestling

[Jakusotsu]

Any chance we'd ever get a live feed from a naadam?

[Blue_Wolf]

[Asojima]

You have reallly tweaked my interest, Blue Wolf. I would really like to see a video taken of a nadaam. Is there any chance of you or one of your compatriots posting one in the near future? ;-)

[Coo-cook]

Few Mongolian online news companies tried the naadam live feed before but the quality was so poor (in other words they failed).

Probably, reason for failure was that naadam bouts were too long (requires large files) and it's difficult to follow a particular bout from the beginning to end (even on TV).

It's knock-out system (whoever looses leave the stage) and in early rounds there are 15-20 bouts taking place in given time.

Whole naadam wrestling competition starts with 512 wrestlers and takes two whole days (July11 &12) and takes place in a football type stadium. So the real fans prefer to go on site to the stadium.

But, still some internet companies trying to bring the most important bouts in live stream and working hard on it. Hopefully, we will see good quality live feed in near future.

Until then all the oversea's Mongolians have to give satisfied with VHS and DVD's recorded from TV at home.

[sumolady]

You have reallly tweaked my interest, Blue Wolf. I would really like to see a video taken of a nadaam. Is there any chance of you or one of your compatriots posting one in the near future? (Applauding...)

I have a video tape of Mongolian boke-style wrestling, only it was filmed in Tuva, a neighboring autonomous region. It includes all the eagle dances. Is there some way a video tape can be digitized? I would be happy to make it available if I could do this.

Stupid question, I know, but I'm severely tech-challenged.

Angie in Texas, US

[Blue_Wolf]

Here's one documentary movie about Mongolian national wrestling. (from 1925-1994) Asashoryu foundation has sponsored it.

http://www.on-air.mn/cinema/play.php?mId=141

second part: (from 1995-2004)

http://www.on-air.mn/cinema/play.php?mId=142

Edited March 29, 2006 by Blue_Wolf

[aderechelsea]

very interesting even though i cannot understand a word (nice sounding language by the way)

maybe the mods could split this thread into a separate topic about mongolian wrestling and leave Hakuho alone in his Ozeki success ....

[sumolady]

I guess we got a little off topic there, but thanks for those links, Blue Wolf. They're great!

[Asojima]

Many thanks Blue Wolf!! A new aspect of the sporting world has been opened. I now have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the sumo techniques used by the Mongolian rikishi and the comments and observations offered by our Mongolian forum members. (Applauding...) (Hugging...) (Sign of approval) (Sign of approval)

[Manekineko]

My thanks as well. Topic now split, as this interesting subject deserves!

[aderechelsea]

ok since we have a new topic i can ask anything on this subject.

- when does a bout finish?

- how long does a bout last (more or less)?

- Are the wrestlers professionals ? and how many money do they earn from this?

- Are they highly respected in Mongolia or athletes from other sports surpass them?

- Compared to Asashoryu,Hakuho,Kyokushuzan,Kyokutenho, Ama,Tokitenku etc ?

- Who are the current Ozekis or Yokozunas?

- any pics?

thanks i advance

[Andreas]

Im not an expert on Mongolian wrestling, but i did read a bit about it, so I can answer some of the questions. You better wait for a Mongolian forum member for exact answers, though.

1. The bout ends when a wrestler touches the ground with any part of the body except the feet (i guess there will be a foul/hansoku rule as well) so the bouts can take quite long and there is no "oshi" technique.

2. I think anybody can take part in the qualification matches, but some mongolians of course invest a lot more time into training and become famous as wrestlers as they win titles.

3. Wrestling is one of the 3 manly games in mongolia, the others being horse racing (where mostly children take part because of the weight so its hard to get famous) and archery (dont know much about that but i guess wrestling is more popular)

[aderechelsea]

horse racing (where mostly children take part because of the weight so its hard to get famous)

drifting away from the topic again but i recently saw a documentary on TV that had as a leading character a little girl from Mongolia who was doing her first horse race. It was a long run (don't remember how many kilometers) and it was quite hard for both the horse and the rider. A lot of horses fell and broke their legs and a couple of kids got hurt too.

tough country. I like it a lot .... (I am not worthy...)

[Asojima]

1. The bout ends when a wrestler touches the ground with any part of the body except the feet (i guess there will be a foul/hansoku rule as well) so the bouts can take quite long and there is no "oshi" technique.

Based on the video matches, hand touchdowns are definitely allowed.

[aderechelsea]

that's what i thought too but i am waiting for a mongolian member to clear everything up ...

it look like it resembles more the greek-roman wrestling rather than Sumo ...

[Hashira]

on youtube i found a couple videos which I assume is what were are talking about

and

i remember seeing some mongolian wrestling at the mongolian pavilion at the world expo. it seemed to me that once they got hold of each other, they wre always locked up, they never released their holds.

p.s.- i bought one of the pointy hats, and i can't remember what it's called, can one of the mongolian members please tell me?

Edited March 30, 2006 by Hashira

[aderechelsea]

a couple of nice kekaeshis, many kawazugakes and a lot of sotogakes.

no wonder the mongolians make leg techniques look so natural.

in the first clip there is also a moment when the Asashoryu-Kotonowaka match from Nagoya 2004 looked very familiar. Nice arching of the back to let your opponent hit the ground first.

[BuBa]

The answers to most of the questions could be found here as well as about culinary crimes committed in Japan.

[BuBa]

horse racing (where mostly children take part because of the weight so its hard to get famous)

drifting away from the topic again but i recently saw a documentary on TV that had as a leading character a little girl from Mongolia who was doing her first horse race. It was a long run (don't remember how many kilometers) and it was quite hard for both the horse and the rider. A lot of horses fell and broke their legs and a couple of kids got hurt too.

tough country. I like it a lot .... (Showing respect...)

In generally, I am quite proud about our traditions, but this little kids racing is actually not one of them. Imagine 5 years old boys and girls, sometimes even 3 years old, racing in open steppe on horse back without much of a saddle on the distances up to 30 km. Even if they claim that a Mongolian kid learns to ride before he walks, it is unjustified risk to childrens health. In recent years, new rules have been implemented in the traditional horse racing limiting the riders age to be above 9 years ( I believe, not sure) and requiring safety equipment. But still some idiot adults with overblown ego's manage to send the little "toughies" to race.

On side note, there is a common believe among horsemen that a racing horse will never run over child. So, dear SF members, do you know of a similar believe in your cultures?

[Asojima]

On side note, there is a common believe among horsemen that a racing horse will never run over child. So, dear SF members, do you know of a similar believe in your cultures?

I have heard the thought expressed in the U.S. that a man caught in a horse stampede would not be trampled. I don't think I would like to test that theory. (Showing respect...)

[Kishinoyama]

I have heard the thought expressed in the U.S. that a man caught in a horse stampede would not be trampled. I don't think I would like to test that theory. (Carried away on a stretcher...)

I remember hearing the same thing in an old John Wayne movie. One of the characters said he would dive in front of a horse and that the horse would jump over him rather than step on him. Amazingly it worked perfectly in the movie (Showing respect...). But you are right about not wanting to test the theory.

[Manekineko]

I also red somewhere (possibly a Karl May novel, so I'm not giving it much credit) that a horse wouldn't trample a prostrate man. But stampeding herd of horses? Even if the first claim was true, I doubt the herd has as much "presence of mind" as a lone horse.

Disclaimer: never been closer than 3 meters to a horse. Donkeys, yes. Docile ones... (Showing respect...)

[Erkhembulgan]

You have reallly tweaked my interest, Blue Wolf. I would really like to see a video taken of a nadaam. Is there any chance of you or one of your compatriots posting one in the near future? (In a state of confusion...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRh5wWpCgT8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGzNh-jzJY...ted&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-0Sc5fAt6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZdnAtzh_iM...ted&search=

[Fay]

You have reallly tweaked my interest, Blue Wolf. I would really like to see a video taken of a nadaam. Is there any chance of you or one of your compatriots posting one in the near future? (In a state of confusion...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRh5wWpCgT8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGzNh-jzJY...ted&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-0Sc5fAt6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZdnAtzh_iM...ted&search=

Thank you Erkhembulgan, certainly worth a visit one time - and nice backgound music too.