Kourach, or kurach, is a form of wrestling widely known across Central Asia. The word translates to "wrestling" in Uzbek. Deeply rooted in local culture, approximately two million people practice this traditional sport in Ouzbékistan. In this country, tournaments can draw up to 30,000 spectators. Kourach is comparable to traditional judo and sambo. However, it is distinguished by the fact that each wrestler grips their opponent using a towel.

A Sport Spanning Millennia

While kourach resembles judo, unlike this Japanese wrestling form which is only two centuries old, it is believed to be over 3,500 years old. This wrestling tradition is said to have originated in Ouzbékistan or in Tatarstan and Bashkiria.

Avicenna, a 10th-century Persian scholar, physician, and philosopher, wrote about this sporting practice in his works. He noted that it is a source of activity that maintains both physical and mental well-being. Traces of kourach also appear in the Uzbek epic Alpamych and in drawings and writings from the 14th century.

Komil Yussupov, a celebrated master of kourach, judo, and sambo, began studying this practice in the 1980s to establish clear rules. With support from the Uzbek government, kourach subsequently became a fully-fledged sport, and competitions began to be organized.

The first international tournament took place in 1998. Practitioners from more than 30 countries participated. The International Kourach Association (IKA) was also founded on this occasion. Tashkent had the honor of hosting the first world championship of this discipline the following year. Today, kourach is practiced in hundreds of countries, ranging from Japan to France, and even Bolivia.

The Rules of Kourach

Kourach is contested on a 5-centimeter thick mat. Each bout begins with a salutation ceremony called "ta'zim." Wrestlers strive to score points (and end the bout) by executing spectacular throws of great amplitude.

The point-scoring system is based on three types of throws: the halal, the yonbosh, and the chala. A wrestler who successfully executes a halal is declared the winner. To achieve this, the wrestler must throw their opponent onto their back with complete control, evident strength, and great speed.

The yonbosh is the throw most similar to halal. A wrestler wins the bout if they score two yonboshs.

The chala ranks below the yonbosh in throw quality. However, no number of chalas can be equivalent to a yonbosh.

Kourach features three penalties: the "tanbekh," the "dakki," and the "gʻirrom," which results in disqualification of the participant.

Kourach Competitions

You can watch a kourach bout at local traditional festivals. In Tatarstan and Bashkiria, this folkloric wrestling is an integral part of celebrations such as Sabantuy and Djien.

International tournaments, continental and world championships also showcase kourach. They are held regularly around the world.

Kourach is a future candidate for the Olympic Games. It is already featured at the Asian and African Games, as well as the World Nomad Games.