KURESH
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: Limited to Honorable alignments. Requires a minimum P.S. of 14 and P.E. of 14.
Skill Cost: 12 Years (10 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style)
Kuresh, also known variously as Gurassu (Azerbaidjani), Koshti (Persian), Kurash (Uzbek), Kures (Kazakh), Moussarrao (Arabic), Yaghliguresh, Yagli, Yagli Gures ('yaw-luh gresh,' literally "greasy wrestling" or "oiled wrestling"), and Yahgli Gures, is the national wrestling style of Turkey.
Turkish Oil Wrestling traces it's origin back to the Parthian Empire (238BC-224AD) in Iran, where the legendary Rostam was first named "Pehlivan" (likely the Turkish spelling of "Pahlivan"). The ceremonial opening dance of Kuresh, the Peshrev can clearly trace it's origin to the zurkhane (Zoorkaneh, Persian for "House of Strength") with it's ostad ("master") or Morshed (spiritual leader) playing the ritual music. National variation in this style of wrestling occurred during a 17^th century campaign launched by Ottoman Sultan Orhan Gazi in his bid to capture Thrace. After capturing a fort on the Greek/Turkish/Bulgarian border, the troops passed the time by wrestling. Two evenly matched wrestlers competed for hours, with neither being the clear victor. Suleyman Pasha (Gazi's brother) offered the winner a leather pant (kispet) if they would continue their match during the Spring Festival (May 6). The wrestlers competed at what is now Eridne, Turkey from morning to midnight, both becoming exhausted and dying and being buried under a fig tree. Years later, soldiers visiting the site noticed that many springs had sprung up and renamed the site Kirkpinar ("Forty Springs"). This became the location for annual wrestling tournaments in Turkey. The style became embraced as the basic conditioning method of the Ottoman Jannissaries. In 1640 an annual championship was established which continues to this day.
Turkish oil wrestling is more about endurance and strength than clever moves, and Pehlavani are renown for being extremely agile and strong as well as having exceptional endurance as a result of constant wrestling practice from an early age. The majority of throws and holds are very easy and simple to learn and few strikes or kicks are taught in the style. With few forbidden holds, matches are often won by grasping the kispet. Crushes, lifts, pins and throws are all used to ensure victory in a match. Open hand blows, typically to the opponent's neck or face, are also often seen.
The Turks have taken the ancient Muslim adage which states, "Men should be lifelong wrestlers from seven to seventy," to heart, making Kuresh the favorite pastime for centuries, and a wrestling club where the ogretmen (teacher) instructs ogrenci (students) in Oil Wrestling, can be found in nearly every community. Kuresh is so popular that there are roughly forty major wrestling tournaments held in Turkey throughout the year, culminating in the Annual event at Kirkpinar. Each tournament is like a big fair, with roasted lamb, belly dancing, traditional Turkish music played on the Davul (drum) and Zurna (flute) as well as singing. Each match is begun when the wrestlers line up on the side of the field to be introduced by the Cazgir (Master of Ceremonies) who recites the career and exploits of each combatant in a flamboyant manner to excite the audience and then pairs off opponents to begin the tournament with the cry of, "May Allah guide you to victory!" This signals the drummers and flutists to begin playing for the Peshrev ("Walk Forward"), a traditional ritual dance which symbolizes the heroic quest of the wrestler, allowing pehvalani to warm up and offer prayers to Allah. Unlike the more traditional weight categories of western wrestling, Kuresh has thirteen Boy (categories of wrestlers:; Bas Pehlivan (chief wrestler), Bas Alti (under chief), Buyuk Orta (big medium), K. Orta Buyuk Boy (small medium big size), K. Orta Kucuk Boy (small medium small size), Deste Buyuk Boy (supporting big size), Deste O. Boy (supporting medium size), Deste Kucuk Boy (supporting small size), Toz Koparan ("kickers up of the dust") Tesvik ("encourager"), Minik 2 ("small and sweet 2"), Minik 1 ("small and sweet 1"), and En Iyi Pesrev (best beginner). Pehvalani are categorized based on their wrestling record. Master wrestlers are expected to have a Cirak (apprentice) which he trains. When a master wrestler finally retires from the "arena of the brave," his apprentice is expected to continue the wrestling tradition. Tournaments are paid for by a sponsor known as Aga (lord) who is chosen by placing bids on a ram before the final match of a tournament. The Aga are primarily responsible for paying out the awards and Yolluk (travel expenses) of the various wrestlers in a tournament. Presidents as well as prominent politicians also give awards at the annual Kirkpinar tournament, including the Bas Pehlivan of the Year award (which includes roughly 100,000USD in cash and the title "Champion of Turkey"). A wrestler who wins this award for three consecutive years is also awarded the Golden Belt, which is 3 pounds (1.5 kg) of 14 carat gold.
Costume: Pehvalani only wear two key items. The first is the Kispet, 28.6 pound (13 kg) leather trousers which range from the waist to below the knees, made from 58 meters of hand stiched water buffalo hide. The kispet is carefully inspected and given great care, typically inscribed with the wrestler's name, and often with metal studs on the butt indicating the sponsoring club or home town. Coarse cloths are wrapped around the knees in order to block the opening cuffs from an opponent's grasp. In addition to this, olive oild is poured over each wrestler before a match, to signify "balance" in competitions and protect against the heat.
Stance: None. Each match is begun with the Peshrev dance and typically initiated with the Elense neck hold.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +2 to P.S.
Add +1 to P.E.
Add +4 to P.E.
Add +10 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Maintain Balance, Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: None.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Entangle, Parry
Advanced Defense Moves: None.
Hand Attacks: Punch (Human Fist), Palm Strike
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack, Tripping/Leg Hook (Elense Dis Tirpan).
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Pin/Incapacitate, Carrying Pin (NEW!), Crush/Squeeze, Lifting Throw (NEW! Paca Kazik), Rolling Sacrifice Throw (NEW!)
Holds/Locks: Arm Hold (Budamah), Leg Hold (Cift Dalmak), Body Hold (Ic Kazik Paca Ovundu), Clothing Hold (NEW! Kilcih Oynuna Girmeh), Neck Hold (Elense), Arm & Torso Hold (NEW! Ic Kazik), Arm & Leg Hold (NEW! Dalmah Haz Hanadu), Arm & Neck Hold (NEW! Goguz Caprazi).
Weapon Kata: None.
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Pull Punch
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: None.
Languages: Turkish.
Cultural: Dancing
Weapon Proficiencies: None.
Philosophical Training: Islam.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Pankration (8 Years), Varzesh-e Pahlavani (12 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Hold, +2 to Body Flip/Throws (all Throws)
2nd: +2 to Maintain Balance, +1 to Pull Punch
3rd: +2 to Strike, +1 to Dodge/Parry
4th: +1 Attack per Melee
5th: +2 to Hold, +2 to Body Flip/Throws (all Throws)
6th: +1 to Maintain Balance, +1 to Pull Punch
7th: +1 to Strike, +2 to Dodge, +1 to Parry
8th: +1 Attack per Melee
9th: +2 to Hold, +2 to Body Flip/Throws (all Throws, Throws do 2D6 damage instead of 1D6)
10th: +1 to Maintain Balance, +1 to Pull Punch
11th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Dodge, +2 to Parry
12th: +1 Attack per Melee
13th: +2 to Hold, Throws do 3D6 Damage instead of 2D6
14th: +1 to Maintain Balance, +2 to Pull Punch
15th: +1 Attack per Melee
Why Study Kuresh?
It tends to be very aggressive, and poor defensively. A powerful grappling style that focuses on power and intimidation. One great disadvantage of this style is that it does not do well when dealing with multiple attackers. On the other hand, there are few/no special powers or abilities, so it's pretty limiting in any other circumstances.