rest of the wrest

Behind every wrestling match lies a quiet yet powerful moment of preparation, hope, and rest.

This series captures the raw moments of renewal and stillness that precede and follow the intense battle. Step into a world where sweat and silence meet, as the body recharges and the spirit prepares. In moments of rest, strength is reborn, ready for the next challenge.

Oil wrestling (in Turkish: Yağlı güreş), also called grease wrestling, is a traditional Turkish sport, where participants, called pehlivan (wrestlers) wrestle while covered in oil. It was performed by ancient communities 4,500 years ago in Thrace and the Balkans, can be traced back to ancient Sumer and Babylon.

Oil wrestling -that was performed by ancient Sumer and Babylon- (in Turkish: Yağlı güreş), also called grease wrestling, “pehlivanlık” (wrestlerhood) in Turks is a general name for qualities such as strength, courage, honesty, chivalry, and a strong physique, and therefore, wrestlers have been valued by society. Not everyone who wished could earn the title of “pehlivan”. Besides defeating their opponents, they also needed the unanimous vote of the masters and referees. In this context, all wrestlers participating in the oil wrestling at Kırkpınar are also called “Pehlivan”.

Preparations serve a specific purpose: to make it exceedingly challenging for opponents to gain a grip on one another. This is where the oil comes into play. To render it nearly impossible for opponents to grab hold of each other, wrestlers meticulously cover their bodies with olive oil.

The duration of oil wrestling varies between 10 minutes and 40 minutes depending on the weight categories. During the continuous exercises lasting more than 10 minutes, the system providing basic energy gain is the aerobic (oxygen-dependent) system. These types of exercises are performed with less intense load intensity. Therefore, in terms of energy gain, mat wrestling and oil wrestling are completely different from each other. In other words, mat wrestling requires anaerobic endurance, while oil wrestling requires aerobic endurance. In mat wrestling, quick strength, speed, agility, and potential power are required, whereas in oil wrestling, endurance in strength, aerobic endurance, and resistance to fatigue are emphasized.

Oil wrestling lasts for a very long time, and endurance plays a crucial role. Wrestlers come from their cities after long journeys, and as they don’t have much time to rest, they try to rest and gather strength around the wrestling area, inside vehicles, or on the sidelines, stands, and during breaks. Oil wrestling is a sport deeply rooted in tradition, passing from father to son, through generations. Young wrestlers are on the same field with senior wrestlers, youngsters, and head wrestlers. They mature by encountering the wrestlers they idolize in the same area, in the dressing room, corridor, or by the fountain and progress towards their goals.