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Kuresh

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description Kuresh Overview

Kuresh (also spelled koresh, kurash, or köräş) refers to a family of traditional belt-wrestling styles practiced across Central Asia and the Turkic world. Competitors grip each other's belts or towels and attempt to throw the opponent to the ground, with rules varying by country and region. The Uzbek form, kurash, was codified with standardized rules in the 1990s and has since held international championships recognized by the International Kurash Association.

help Kuresh FAQ

What is Kuresh, and why does it have several spellings?

Kuresh is a family of traditional belt-wrestling styles found across Central Asia and the Turkic world. Kurash, koresh, and köräş are regional spellings or related names for forms that use a belt or towel grip.

What are the basic rules of a Kuresh match?

Competitors grip each other's belts and try to throw the opponent onto the mat while remaining upright. In the international Uzbek-style rules, ground fighting, strikes, joint locks, chokeholds, and grips below the belt are forbidden. [International Kurash rules](https://kfu.kurash.org/kurash-rules/)

How is Kuresh different from judo?

Kuresh is centered on standing belt throws and does not allow the ground-fighting phase found in judo. The fixed belt grip also changes the setup and balance battle compared with judo's jacket grips.

When were international Kurash competition rules adopted?

The International Kurash Association says its rules were adopted at the First Foundational Congress in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on September 6, 1998. That created a common framework for competitions built from regional belt-wrestling traditions.

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