Erzurum, Turkey: Oil Wrestling

For 1500 years, the fortress town of Erzurum has stood like a breakwater, holding back wave after wave of armies from the East. Today, young Turks skilled in the combat sport of wrestling pay homage to history in the town's civic center, where battles of the past become a celebration of life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit http://www.ricksteves.com.

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Travel & Events

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• Rick Steves
• Steve Rick
• Rick Steeves
• pbs
• Travel
• Europe
• Turkey
• Erzurum
• Wrestling
• culture
• tradition
• sport
• Oil wrestling

[RichardPears]

Very Celtic, very tribal. I loved the start where they give honour to the Earth. We come from the Earth we go back to the Earth. Very interesting culture.

[erzurumoltu25]

i come from erzurum my town iam poud of you.

[TheRacistsMustDie]

This must be killer to do.

[unstr8turk]

@hellofaname ofcourse no. thyis is traditional . in history women didnt wrestle. it is masculine and a men job. and also muslim women cant show thier body in front of an audience including men.

[pasinlidadas]

yağlanma işi bozuyor kara kucak güreşinde yağ yok bunu her erzurumlu bilir

[Oyrad58]

great culture! we came from earth, we go back to earth.. im proud to be Turk

and greetings to you noble people of Erzurum!

[hellofaname]

is there a women's division?

[moominpic]

@miregrc In some villages the training is kept secret from outsiders so wrestlers from rival villages don't see it.

At least, this was the case in Macedonia, when i was doing research.

[kespec]

@RichardPears

yes, actually its a interesting notion, coming/returning to the earth.

it was actually a belief of shamanistic turks of central asia, yet islam they converted in have taught the same notion later on.

[AllochGs]

welcome in real old armenia

[SFFROGUNIT]

hakan OILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL