National sports of Khakassia

The role of sports in a traditional society was quite significant, and interest in them in the past was no less than today. The purposes of carrying out of sports competitions were various. First, it is the definition of who is the strongest, dexterous, courageous, fastest, not only among individuals, but also among genera and individual surnames. Secondly, the public significance - almost always sports competitions were timed to calendar and religious holidays. Thirdly, leisure, rest from everyday life, so everyone took part in them. Fourth, the transfer of traditions and customs from the older generation to the younger. Fifthly, the sacred component is the connection with higher powers. The most important part is the upbringing of the spirit of the winners.

Among the sports contests one can single out the struggle "kures", jumps "at charaki", archery, lifting of gravity (stone), Khakass checkers "tobit".

Photo from: http://www.nhkm.ru (kures)

The most respected among the Khakass men is a contest to this day - kures. Khakass wrestling is a belt: the participant puts on a cloth sash over the clothes - "hur". The participant's goal is to throw his opponent on the shoulder blades without taking his hands off his belt. When the fight was not taken into account the weight of wrestlers, there was no clear regulation - the winner struggled until the first defeat. During the fight, it was forbidden to kick, to cut above the knee, to put the footboard on. According to the Khakass rules, the enemy was considered defeated if he touched the ground with any part of his body or fell down on all fours. If after the throw the enemy landed on his feet, the fight continues. When both wrestlers fall, a draw was announced. The overall victory was awarded after three fights.

Photo from  All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Khakassia

In addition to the struggle, the horse race "charis" was a favorite kind of competition among the Khakass cattlemen. They were held either during major public events, or by agreement of the owners of horses. They gathered a large number of spectators, put in big bets, it came even to the loss of herds and flocks. In the historical legend "Odzhen-Pig" the races became the cause of the war between the Khakases and the Mongols.

Khakass checkers "tobit"

Archery in Khakassia