More Pahlavani plus Koshti wrestling

[Scott Sonnon]

Enjoy this clip of Pahlavani - the ancient Persian martial art - from which a major form of club swinging evolved, including a snip of Koshti, the indigenous grappling tradition of ancient Persia.

The British journalist was a culturally clueless, if not a bit ethnocentric, but the footage is interesting regardless.

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/270592 (http://www.ourmedia.org/node/270592)

[rtappan]

Excellent clip, Coach (and Mushtaq Jaan for posting it), despite the commentary!

I was disappointed to learn during my recent trip to Iran that the koshti/wrestling component is rapidly disappearing from the zurkhaneh. Even in conservative Qom, none of the pahlevan knew it nor trained in it. Maybe Isfahan is the last hold out?

By the way, does anybody know the approximate dimensions of the pushup board used in the zurkhaneh?

[David H.]

Just curious, what are the rules for this type of wrestling? Anybody know?