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Wrestling
( 2005-09-13 )

Wrestling is popular among the ethnic minorities, especially the Mongols on occasions of theNadam Festival.

Mongolian wrestlingis different from bothChinese wrestlingand the sumo wrestling in Japan and is distinguished by its own rules, methods, uniforms, and fields.

The rules and methods for wrestling is: there is neither a separation of grade (no age and weight distinction) nor a fixed number -- any even number of 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 will do. All the wrestlers are matched by arrangement or by drawing lots; judges, who enjoy high prestige and command universal respect, start the matches.

There is a special uniform for wrestlers. Made of cowhide or canvas, a tight half-sleeve jacket is for the upper part of the body, whereas a pair of loose wrestling trousers is for the lower part of the body. With a pair of Mongolian boots are worn, as well as a colorful cloth chaplet around the neck. The field for wrestling is very small.

The game adopts single-elimination rules; the loser is not allowed to compete again. Half of the wrestlers will be eliminated every time. As soon as the judge gives an order to start, the opponents first shake hands to show respect to each other, and then begin to wrestle.

There is no limitation of time and the opponents can freely choose any ways or skills, such as ticking, pulling, kicking, tripping, pushing, holding, lifting, and so on. However, wrestlers are not allowed to hold their opponent's legs, nor kick arbitrarily, nor pull the other's trousers. Whenever any part of the person above his or her knees that touch the ground, he or she is the loser.

An area of lawn or soft space is used as the field, where audience can sit around on the ground and wrestlers face each other in the middle. Before the wrestling start, a challenging song will be sung in order to build up momentum and power by the person of each side. Moreover, whenever wrestlers enter or exit the wrestling ground, they have to imitate the action of a tercel, which is jump to go forward full of power and grandeur.