Gulesh
Traditional Azerbaijani folk wrestling accompanied by drums and dance.
Quick Facts
Country of OriginAzerbaijan
AzerbaijanRegionAsia
Primary FocusGrappling
Contact LevelFull contact
Belt SystemNo grades
Character & Origin
StatusLiving, informal
LineageFolk
Training
AttireTraditional dress
SparringFull contact
Role of WeaponsNo weapons
Role of FormsNo forms
Who It Suits
Kids ProgrammesKids groups common
Senior FriendlyNot suitable for seniors
Physical Demand4/5
Injury Risk2/5
Learning Curve2/5
Self-Defence Value2/5
Fitness Value4/5
Organisation & Competition
Grading SystemNo grades
Competition FormatPoint fighting
Weight ClassesNo
Olympic StatusNot Olympic
Estimated PractitionersUnder 10k
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Hand strikesNot used
KicksNot used
Throws & takedownsCore
Ground fightingMarginal
Locks & holdsNot used
WeaponsNot used
Catalogs & Databases for Gulesh
About Gulesh
Gulesh is a traditional national wrestling of Azerbaijan. Before the start, wrestlers perform a rhythmic warm-up and dance (Zorxana) to the sound of the Nagara drum and zurna. Wrestlers wear loose trousers (Tumban). Unlike Kurash, Gulesh allows leg attacks and ground fighting to roll the opponent onto their shoulders.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.