What is Oil Wrestling?

Oil wrestling, also known as grease wrestling or oily wrestling originates from Turkey. It's a part of the ancient Turkish tradition, and it is now a national sport in Turkey. The sports is known so because the wrestlers apply grease or olive oil on their body before a match. The game is immensely popular in the whole of Europe and some parts of Central Asia.

The first annual tournament was held in Edirne, Turkey. So far, the oil wrestling is the oldest running sanctioned sporting event in the world. Most recently, the popularity of the sport spread to the neighboring countries like Japan, and Netherlands.  

The most interesting fact about oil wrestling is, the sport, unlike Olympic Wrestling, had no set duration previously. However, in the year 1975, the length was capped to 40 minutes for the baspehlivan and 30 minutes for the pehlivan category. 

The Rules Of Oil Wrestling

#. Rule 1: Before the match begins, every wrestler has to oil their body with a liquid mixture. The oil used is usually a mixture of water and olive oil. The wrestlers are asked to do this, so they can endure the heat of the day while wrestling. Oil wrestling emphasizes on strength and endurance, unlike Olympic wrestling which is more focused on the use of clever moves.

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#. Rule 2: According to the ancient customs, each wrestler is supposed to wear a knee long kispet (kispet/kisbet is a hand-stitched leather trouser made of water buffalo hide, the recent one were made using calfskin). They also wrap coarse clothes around their knees to protect the opening of their cuffs against their opponents probing fingers. Also, there's no headgears or any other protecting gears in this game. Each wrestler has a metallic stud on their butts on which the name of the wrestler's hometown or the sponsor club is written.

#. Rule 3: Before the battle of the heroes begin, all the wrestlers stand in a line on one side of the field and are introduced by the announcer (Known as Cazgir in Turkey). The Cazgir summons them in the name of Allah to step in the field, and put up a great noble fight. Followed by this, the wrestling pairs join hands and initiate their heroes quest (a symbolic journey in the field) after the drum starts to beat.

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#. Rule 4: The last and an essential rule of the game: The parameters to decide the winner. The first wrestler whose umbilicus or the navel is exposed first loses the match.

There are certain pins (the victory conditions) which can lead to instant victory.

#1. The Crush 

#2. Submission

#3. Losing his kipset/exposing himself.

#4. Carrying Pin: Lifting the opponent and carrying him five paces in any direction.

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