Kokh is a traditional wrestling style of Armenia, possibly one of the oldest types of wrestling. The goal is to throw the opponent on the mat without boosting or turning him. The duration of a fight is usually around 5 to 10 minutes. Often the wrestling matches are accompanied by folk music and by folk dance by the practitioners. Sometimes wrestlers even dance during the fight.There are two main types of Kokh (Peopleofar, s.d.). Shirak kokh wrestlers are bare-chested, just waring traditional pants. Grabbing the legs of the opponent is allowed. In lori kokh on the other hand wrestlers the wrestlers wear traditional robes they can use to push and pull the opponent.
History/Development
Kokh is often a part of weddings and other festivities. It is also a way for men to show off their strength and possibly get the attention of their future wife.Kokh is probably one of the influencers of sambo, a martial art created in the Soviet Union (Green 2001, p. 508).There are efforts to create a fixed and systemized kokh while maintaining the important traditional features (music, dance etc.) giving Armenian kokh its unique character (Babayan & Nalbandyan 2017). The COVID-19 pandemic however has caused for a setback. Sources mention classes have been drastically downsized, both due to the public’s fear and the measures taken (Orona 2020). Unable to pass the tradition on to the younger generation the preservation has partially come to halt.
Transmission (Policies/institutions)
Relevant Organisations
- National Kokh Wrestling Federation (NKWF)
Additional Materials
“Hamlet from Kamo” is a video made in the Soviet-era (1983) by Studio Ekran (Творческое объединение) showing the daily life of Hamlet Alekayan and traditional cultural elements of the village Kamo, including kokh wrestling, sheep herding, lavash baking, folk music and dancing. The boys in the video take part in an entrance exam for a kokh school. The video targets children and was shown on television in the Soviet Union in order to promote the different cultures and traditions within the state.
References
- Peopleofar. (s.d.). Ancient Armenian Wrestling –“Kokh” https://www.peopleofar.com/2013/02/16/armenian-wrestling-kokh/ - Green, T. A. (2001). Martial arts of the world: an encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. - Babayan, H. & Nalbandyan, G. (2017). Wrestling and Celebration: Traditional Armenian kokh: https://sport.mediamax.am/en/news/articles/24488 - Orona, A. (2020). “With martial arts gyms closed, Armenians grapple with culture loss”, USC Annenberg Media http://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2020/08/06/with-martial-arts-gyms-closed-armenians-grapple-with-culture-loss/
