Chidaoba
ჩიდაობაGeorgian national wrestling in the chokha jacket, combining combat with music and dance. On a UNESCO list since 2018.
Quick Facts
GeorgiaCharacter & Origin
Training
Who It Suits
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Catalogs & Databases for Chidaoba
About Chidaoba
Chidaoba is a Georgian national wrestling that UNESCO inscribed in 2018 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. According to the nomination file, it had a combat function until the late Middle Ages and only then became a sport attractive to spectators. The Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo says that in the 13th century it was part of Georgian army training. As a folk tradition it has no founder or year of origin. It differs in origin and concept from Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling, which according to the Georgian Encyclopedia appeared in Georgia only in the early 20th century as a circus show. It is wrestled in a special garment called the chokha, and UNESCO estimates two hundred holds and counter-holds. Chidaoba is not just a contest: it combines wrestling, music, dance and a garment, and follows a chivalric code. Tournaments are opened by the zurna and the doli drum and are held in an open arena before a large audience. Young people learn by watching bouts and train outdoors from early spring to autumn. According to UNESCO, there are clubs in almost every village and town in Georgia, and a large part of the male population practises chidaoba.
History
According to the UNESCO nomination file, chidaoba had a combat function until the late Middle Ages and only then gradually became a sport attractive to spectators. The Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo says in an article on the inscription that in the 13th century it was part of Georgian army training and later turned into a festive community event. In 2018 UNESCO inscribed chidaoba on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under number 01371. This happened at the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Mauritius.
How it differs
Chidaoba differs from sport wrestling in that, according to UNESCO, it combines wrestling, music, dance and a special garment and follows a chivalric code of conduct. Its origin also sets it apart from Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling, which according to the Georgian Encyclopedia appeared in Georgia only in the early 20th century as a circus show.
Technique
According to UNESCO, wrestlers try to beat the opponent with special holds, and combinations of holds and counters express their creativity. UNESCO estimates two hundred holds and counters. They wrestle in a special garment called the chokha. According to daily Prothom Alo, deliberate kicks, striking attacks and attacks on a kneeling opponent are forbidden, and a bout lasts five minutes. We have not found the federation's official rules.
Training
According to UNESCO, young people learn by watching bouts and then train outdoors from early spring to autumn. Skills are passed on in families and specialised schools, according to Prothom Alo.
Ranks and progression
We have not found a grade system or federation competition structure in the sources. According to UNESCO, tradition is carried by young people, townspeople, sports clubs, educational institutions and amateur organisations.
Today
According to UNESCO, a large part of Georgia's male population practises chidaoba, with clubs in almost every village and town. Tournaments are held in an open arena before a large audience.
Did you know
According to UNESCO, tournaments are opened by the wind instrument zurna and the Georgian drum doli, whose music boosts the bout's dynamics. Wrestlers sometimes leave the arena dancing in Georgian folk style.
Frequently asked questions
Is chidaoba on a UNESCO list?
Yes. In 2018 UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under number 01371.
What is the chokha?
A special garment worn for chidaoba wrestling. It is also a traditional Georgian jacket.
How many holds does chidaoba have?
UNESCO estimates two hundred holds and counter-holds. It is an estimate, not a fixed number.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.