Gennady Saakov

Timur Tanaschuk
Peter Ben Rozen
 Gennady Saakov
Timur Tanaschuk
Peter Ben Rozen

KURASH
UZBEK-BUKHARA WRESTLING STYLE

Basic Techniques Manual

with illustrated step-by-step instructions

2005

Gelendzhik

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УДК 769
ББК 75.715
C12

Gennady Saakov, Timur Tanaschuk, Peter Ben Rozen, KURASH (Uzbek-

Bukhara wrestling style), Basic Techniques Manual with Illustrated Step-by-
Step Instructions;March 2005; Gelendzhik, Russia.

Kurash is a traditional Uzbek wrestling style dating back to 1500 BC, a truly speedy,
dynamic and exciting sport to watch and participate. The book gives a concise
description of grips and throws practiced in this wrestling style, and proposes the new
wrestlers’ rating approach to be discussed.

ISBN 5-224-03325-X

© Timur Tanaschuk, 2005

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 Contents

Acknowledgements............................................................................................ 3

Preface................................................................................................................ 4

History................................................................................................................. 4

Age and weight categories of wrestlers ............................................................. 4

Bout duration ..................................................................................................... 5

Main Kurash terms.............................................................................................. 5

Ranks
(Proposition to be discussed) .............................................................................. 5

Part I – Grips....................................................................................................... 6

Part II – Throws .................................................................................................. 6

About the Authors............................................................................................ 19

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 Acknowledgements

With Gratitude To All Kurash Contributors of Past, Present, and Time To Come.

It would not be possible to develop Kurash into the worldwide passion without the
intuition, knowledge, and will of Islam Karimov, the Honorary President of the
IKA, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Thanks to Kurash Usta, the International Rank Judo and Sambo master
Komil Yusupov, whose esteem of Kurash and stubborn diligence resulted in the
creation and heading of the IKA as its President.

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 Preface
The growing popularity of the Uzbek jacket wrestling style Kurash, namely its
Bukhara style, and a number of Kurash training schools having been already
organized in different countries made it necessary to popularize its standard Basics
in the Manual proposed to the attentive international Kurash students.

History
Kurash is a traditional Uzbek wrestling style dating back to 1500 BC. It was enjoyed
at different gatherings and occasions by people in everyday clothes, hence the modern
kurashchi’s (wrestler) attire, consisting of a blue or green jacket, pair of loose fitting
white pants, and a belt.

Two decades ago Kurash was revived by a well-known Uzbek Kurash Usta,
International Rank Sambo and Judo master Komil Yusupov, who had started research
to learn the Kurash heritage and developed new Kurash rules which could meet
international standards of wrestling competitions.

Traditionally, Kurash rules prohibit ground wrestling. Once the knee of one of the
wrestlers touches the floor, the referee stops the bout and contestants should restart
their struggle from the initial upright standing position.
It is not allowed to grapple legs, use joint-locks, chocking and strangling techniques.

This makes Kurash a truly speedy, dynamic and exciting sport to watch.
It also helps players to avoid many injuries and, taken as a whole, Kurash is one of the
safest styles of martial arts to practice.

The International Kurash Association (IKA) was established in 1998

( web-site address: www.kurash-ika.com ).

Kurash has followers across the world — from Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Russia
through Great Britain, India, Japan and South Africa.

Presently the IKA unites four Continental Federations and more then 40 national
Kurash federations in Asia, Africa, America, Australia and Europe.

Age and Weight Categories of the Wrestlers

1. 1. Participants of competitions are divided into the following age and
weight categories:
2. Male:
a. Boys (12-13 years): 33, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 65, 70,
+70 kg.
b. Teenagers (14-15 years): 38, 42, 46, 50, 55, 60, 65, 71, 77, 83,
+83 kg.

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 c. Juniors (16-17 years): 42, 46, 50, 55, 60, 65, 71, 77, 83, 90,
+90 kg.
d. Adults (18-35 years): 60, 66, 73, 81, 90, 100, +100 kg.
e. Veterans - 36-45, 46-55, 56-60, 61-65 years and older - 60,
70, 80, 90, +90 kg;
3. Female:
1. Girls (12-13 years): 30, 33, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 57, +57 kg;
2. Teenagers (14-15 years): 33, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 57, 63,+63;
3. Juniors (16 – 17 years): 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, +70 kg;
4. Women (more than 18 years): 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78, +78 kg.
4. Irrespective of the weight category, all kurashchi over 16 years can
participate in competitions in absolute weight category, considering
the given sanction of the Chief Referee.

Bout Duration
1. For men – 5 minutes of pure time (time of wrestling);
2. For teenagers and wrestlers older than 35 years – 4 minutes of pure
time;
3. Children, wrestlers older than 56 years and women – 3 minutes of pure
time.

Main Kurash Terms

Kurash Uzbek-Bukhara – wrestling style originated in Uzbek region of Bukhara;
Gilam – wrestling mat on which Kurash is practiced;
Yakhtak – wrestler’s garment consisting of a blue or green jacket, pair of loose fitting
white pants and a belt;
Bilvok – belt;
Tazim – courtesy bow;
Tasha – body throw;
Kurashchi – combatant, wrestler independent of his/her sex;
Epchil – wrestler applying a throw, a thrower; attacker
Sust – opponent

Ranks (Proposition to be discussed)

White bilvok (belt) - Apprentice
Red bilvok - Master
Red bilvok with a violet left-end chevron - International Master
Red bilvok decorated with a violet left-end chevron
and a golden right-end chevron - Usta (Highest Honor)

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 Part I – Grips
Standard grip is described as for a right-handed wrestler, and can be mirrored by a left-
hander. Grips lock on the opponent’s jacket, not his body.

Sleeve – lapel grip - right sleeve (over, under, or above the elbow) is caught with the
left hand, and the opponent’s left lapel is gripped with the right;
Sleeve – collar grip - right sleeve (over, under, or above the elbow) is caught with the
left hand, and the opponent’s left side of the collar is gripped with the right;
Sleeve – shoulder grip - right sleeve (over, under, or above the elbow) is caught with
the left hand, and the opponent’s left shoulder seam is gripped with the right;
Sleeve – midback grip - right sleeve (over, under, or above the elbow) is caught with
the left hand, and the opponent’s belt in the middle of his back is gripped with the
right;
Double - lapel grip - both lapels of the opponent are gripped with the opposite hands
of the attacker;
Double - sleeve grip - both sleeves (rims, or over, under, above the elbow) of the
opponent are gripped with the opposite hands of the attacker;
Lapel – armpit grip – right lapel of the opponent is taken with the left hand, and his
left armpit is gripped with the right hand.
Same-side grip – attacker’s right or left hand catches correspondingly right or left
sleeve/shoulder seam/lapel of the other wrestler;
Opposing grip – attacker’s right or left hand catches correspondingly left or right
sleeve/shoulder seam/lapel of the other wrestler;
Overgrasp – a grip made over opponent’s arm or body;
Undergrasp – a grip made inside out of the opponents arms.

Part II – Throws
Standard throws are described as for a right-handed wrestler, and can be mirrored
by a left-hander.
Outer leg recoil

Holding a rim of the sust’s right sleeve with the left hand and pulling on the lapel, the
epchil unbalances his/her opponent to the right-upper corner by applying a complex
in-upward pulling motion.
After a short advancing step with the left leg, the epchil, keeping a body contact with
the sust, makes an advance with the right leg placing it behind the sust’s left heel.
(Fig.1)

Fig.1

In one continuous motion, while pulling on the opponent’s sleeve and lapel, the epchil
bends forward and twists to the left side. (Fig.2)

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 Fig.2

Leaning further forward, he makes an upward recoil with the stiff right leg (making a
springing back and upward directed leg jerk) (Fig.3),

Fig.3

catching the sust’s right leg and throwing the unbalanced sust toward own left toes
on the gilam (Fig.4).

Fig.4

Front ankle sweep

The epchil grips the opponent’s inner sleeves above the elbows. Making a forceful
hand jerk to the right-upper corner, the epchil unbalances the sust, and makes an
advancing step to the left with his left foot. This sudden jerk should shift the sust’s
balance to his right toes. (Fig.5)

Fig.5

The epchil prolongs his tug while leaning own body back and winding to the right. At
the same time, he makes a sweep with his right sole at the sust’s left ankle and pulls
him to the right-bottom corner with both hands. (Fig.6)
The sust makes a breakfall on the gilam.

Fig.6

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Side ankle sweep

The epchil grips the opponent’s sleeves above the elbows and pushes him to the left
corner, forcing the sust to balance on the right foot with his left foot without support.
The thrower makes a sweeping motion with a sole of his right foot inward, catching
opponents left ankle with the front part of the sole and driving it farther left-upward in
a swift close contact manner. (Fig.7)

Fig.7

At the same time the epchil makes a mighty jerk on the sust’s sleeves in the right-
bottom corner and throws him in a winding motion on the gilam. (Fig.8)

Fig.8

Inner heel sweep

The thrower grasps the sust’s right sleeve below the elbow with his left hand and the
left lapel with the right hand. Pushing the opponent to the left side, the epchil makes
him keep a balance on the right foot. (Fig.9)

Fig.9

Concurrently the attacker makes a sweeping motion with a sole of his right foot from
the inside out, catching opponents right heel with the front part of the sole and driving
it farther left-upward in a swift close contact manner. (Fig.10)

Fig.10

Dragging the opponent’s foot in a circular motion along the gilam farther backward,
the epchil continues own left-side winding momentum and throws the sust down on
the gilam. (Fig.11)

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 Fig.11

Front tripping

The epchil makes a sleeve – lapel grip and pulling the sust in the upper right corner,
makes him unbalanced and standing on the toes. (Fig.12)

Fig.12

Pivoting on the left heel leftward, and keeping the hold with the both hands, the epchil
places his right leg (bent in the knee) in front of the sust’s right leg. (Fig.13)

Fig.13

Popliteal part of the epchil’s leg should be in contact with the sust’s knee. (Fig.14)

Fig.14

Completing the winding motion of the body and pulling with both hands in the left-
bottom corner, the epchil trips the sust’s knee and throws him over on the gilam.
(Fig.15,16)

Fig.15 Fig.16

Outer sickle throw

The epchil grips the sust’s shoulder seams with the both hands and pushes him to the
left to make him balance on his right foot.
At the same time the epchil changes the position of his right foot a bit to the left and
forward with toes pointed at the sust’s right foot. (Fig.17)

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 Fig.17

With a left-upper stroke of the right foot instep, he catches the opponent’s left foot
on the heel tendon and undercuts it while continuing the right-downward pulling with
the hands. The sust makes a breakfall on the gilam. (Fig.18)

Fig.18

Inner sickle throw

The thrower makes a sleeve-lapel grip. With a hard out-downward push the epchil
forces his opponent to balance on the heels with toes in the air. Advancing with the
left leg slightly bended in the knee (like making a curtsy) the epchil entwines the
sust’s left leg with his right leg, from the inside outward, making a close contact of
the popliteal part of his knee, calf, and instep on the opponents shin and foot. (Fig.19)

Fig.19

With a mighty stroke of the right leg in a circular upward-to-the-right motion, the
epchil straightens his left leg, at the same time pushing the sust with both hands out-
downward on the gilam. (Fig.20,21)

Fig.20 Fig.21

Outer hip reaping

The epchil grasps the sust’s right sleeve with his left hand, taking hold of the left side
of the opponents collar with the right hand. Pulling to the left side makes the sust
balance on the toes of his right foot. (Fig.22)

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 Fig.22

Pivoting to the left, the epchil changes leg position to the opposite and makes a close
contact with the sust’s body. (Fig.23)

Fig.23

Bouncing with the right leg back-upward, the epchil undercuts sust’s thigh or shin and
continues the throw, controlling him with both hands to the left-bottom corner on the
gilam. (Fig.24-27)

Fig.24 Fig.25

Fig.26 Fig.27
Inner thigh reaping

The epchil grasps the sust’s right sleeve under the elbow with his left hand, taking
hold of the left side of the opponents collar with the right hand. Pulling to the left-
upper corner, he makes the sust balance on the toes.
Pivoting to the left on the right foot, the epchil changes leg position to the opposite
and makes a close contact with the lower part of the sust’s body while pulling him in-
and-upward. (Fig.28)

Fig.28

Having changed the balance from the right foot to the left one, the epchil bounces
with the stiff right thigh upward, (Fig.29)

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 Fig.29

undercutting sust’s inner left thigh to the left-upward. (Fig.30-32)

Fig.30
Fig.31 Fig.32
Pulling the opponent with the hands and body to the left-bottom corner, the epchil
throws him on the gilam. (Fig.33,34)

Fig.33 Fig.34

Carrying cross-back throw

Having made a sleeve – lapel grip the epchil pulls the opponent to the right-upper
corner to make him balance on his left toes. (Fig.35)

Fig.35

Pivoting to the left while holding the sust’s left lapel, the thrower puts his right
forearm under the right armpit of the opponent (Fig.36)

Fig.36

and pulls his body onto own back in a curtsey motion until a full contact. (Fig.37)

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 Fig.37

Stiffening the legs and making a jack up with the hip, the epchil undercuts the sust’s
outer hip and, pulling hard with the arms and body to the left-bottom corner, throws
the sust over the back on the gilam. (Fig.38,39)

Fig.38 Fig.39

Sleeves grip carrying cross-back throw

The epchil grips both sleeve rims of the opponent’s jacket (Fig.40)

Fig.40

and pulling with the stiff arms in the left-upper corner makes him balance on his toes.
(Fig.41-43)

Fig.41 Fig.42 Fig.43

Pivoting to the left while holding the sust’s sleeves, the thrower pulls his body onto
own back in a curtsey motion until a full contact.
Stiffening the legs and making a jack up with the hip, (Fig.44)

Fig.44

the epchil undercuts the sust’s outer hip and, pulling hard with the arms and body to
the left-bottom corner, throws the sust over the back on the gilam. (Fig.45)

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 Fig.45

Cross-shoulder throw

The thrower makes a forearm sleeve-lapel grip (Fig.46)

Fig.46

and pulls the sust to the right-upper corner to make him balance on the toes. Pivoting
to the left, the epchil lets free the lapel, ducks under the sust’s right armpit and makes
an undergrasp of the right shoulder-seam with the same hand while pulling the
opponent hard on the sleeve to make full right-side body contact. (Fig.47,48)

Fig.47 Fig.48

Straightening the legs and making a jack up with the hip on the opponent’s front hip,
(Fig.49)

Fig.49

the epchil undercuts it and pulling hard with the arms and body in a winding motion
to the left-downward corner, throws the sust over the shoulder on the gilam. (Fig.50,
51)

Fig.50 Fig.51

Cross-hip throw

The epchil grips the opponent’s right sleeve below the elbow with his left hand, and
overgrasps the belt/jacket on the sust’s back with the right. (Fig.52)

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 Fig.52

Pulling in the left-upper corner he makes the sust balance on the toes. (Fig.53, 54)

Fig.53 Fig.54

Pivoting to the left with the hips and changing the position of the feet to the opposite,
the epchil makes a full hip contact. (Fig.55,56)

Fig.55 Fig.56

Pulling hard in the left-downward corner, the thrower rolls the opponent over the right
hip and sends him on the gilam. (Fig.57)

Fig.57

Backward cross-chest winding throw

Making an udergrasp with both hands on the back side of the sust’s belt or jacket, the
epchil advances with the right foot and, placing it between opponent’s feet, pushes
him backward to make him balance on the heels. (Fig.58)

Fig.58

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The epchil hooks the popliteal part of the sust’s right knee with his left shin and,
springing back in a hard backward pull with the whole body, sends himself and the
opponent onto the gilam in a left winding throw calculated so, as to land on the
opponent’s back. (Fig.59)

Fig.59

Inner shin entwine throw

The epchil undergrasps the opponent’s armpit with his left hand and the belt or jacket
at the back with the right hand. (Fig.60)

Fig.60

Pulling the sust upward he makes him balance on the toes while entwining his left leg
with the own right leg from the inside out, till the instep locks on the sust’s outer
ankle. (Fig.61, 62)

Fig.61 Fig.62

Having advanced with the left toes pointing at the right foot of the opponent, the
epchil raises his right leg bending it in the knee and swiveling the body in the right-
backward direction.
A synchronously directed pull with both hands finishes the throw, which should end
on the gilam with the sust on his back and the thrower in the crowning position.
(Fig.63)

Fig.63

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 About the authors

Gennady Saakov – International Rank Kurash Referee;

Master of Sports of the USSR; Honored Coach of the
Uzbek SSR; the USSR National Judo Team Coach
(Olympic Center) in 1988-1991; Coach of the National
Judo Team of India in 1990;
gennadysaakov@mail.ru

Timur Tanaschuk – USSR Special Forces KUOS-

Vympel veteran; an expert in martial arts.
timurtan@mail.ru

Peter Ben Rozen - International Rank Kurash and Judo

Referee; European Kurash Association Referee-Director;
Master of Sports of the USSR; Honored Coach of the
Uzbek SSR;
benpeter1@bk.ru

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