Learn about Bokh - Mongolian Martial Arts

Bokh is a traditional grappling martial arts that was practiced by Mongol warriors. It is better known today as Mongolian Wrestling.

This Mongolian martial arts has been practiced for hundreds of years and was part of tribal festivals called Naadam. At these events, Mongolian tribes would compete against each other in three traditional areas; archery, horse racing and wrestling.

According to Mongolia.Travel, "In Mongolian wrestling, one wins when the opponent’s elbow or knee touches the ground. Therefore, the Mongolian term for defeat is translated as ‘knee-dirtied’. However, touching the ground with the entire body or touching the ground with the head also counts as a defeat. While in judo, hands wrestle with hands and legs wrestle with legs, in Mongolian wrestling, the wrestler’s hands can touch everywhere—hands, torso and legs. But no one may grab the other’s head disrespectfully. In Mongolia, the head is the most sacred part of a person and even during wrestling contests one must respect the other’s head."

References

1. Mongolia.Travel, How To Appreciate Mongolian Wrestling, http://mongolia.travel/resource.html, Added - 12/15/14