Oil wrestling
Traditional wrestling practiced among the Turks
油脂摔跤 · ヤールギュレシ · 야울 귀레쉬
- Country of origin
- Turkey
- Type
- wrestling, type of sport
Oil wrestling (Turkish: Yağlı güreş), also called Turkish oil wrestling, is the national sport of Turkey. Oil wrestling includes oil and traditional dress, and its rules are comparable to karakucak.
In Assyria, ancient Egypt, and Babylonia, oil wrestling was performed. It spread to Iran and Anatolia during the First Achaemenid conquest of Egypt. Oil wrestling was performed by ancient communities 4,500 years ago in Thrace and the Balkans. As the Ottoman Empire extended into Europe, oil wrestling competitions have been held ceremoniously until modern times.
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q296721 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.