Naadam wrestlers

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.

Wrestlers at Naadam festival in Hovd Aimag and Hovd soum, Western Mongolia. The Naadam festival is a celebration of the building blocks of the ancient Mongol Empire - the strength of men, the speed of horses, and the accuracy of archers- dating back to the time of Ghengis Khan. Hovd Aimag, Mongolia. 11/07/2009.

The Naadam festival is held each year in communities throughout Mongolia. The ancient tradition celebrates the wrestlers, archers, and horsemen that once brought the Mongol tribes out of obscurity on the Asian Steppe and into power across the continent. Today, the festival is no longer a martial affair, but the events remain the same. The winning wrestlers gain considerable respect in the community.
Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes, no time limit, and no enclosed ring. The first to touch the ground with anything other than a hand or foot loses. The wrestlers wear a uniform consisting of colorful briefs and an open chested shirt, which legend says came into use after a woman, disguised as a man, entered and won the competition. Like sumo, there is a set of ritual motions that wrestlers must do before and after each match, including a stylized dance that mimics the flight of a bird, performed in front of the judges and the community's flag and spirit banners.