Zurkhaneh

Zurkhaneh, Zorkhana or Zourkhaneh (in Persian: زورخانه, literally "house of strength") is a traditional gymnasium of urban Persia and adjacent lands, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan etc.. The Iranian national sport, called Varzesh-e Pahlavani or Varzesh-e Bastani, is practiced in Zurkhane.

A Zurkhaneh early twentieth century.

Using exercise clubs.

Zurkhaneh and Community

Structure

The Zurkhaneh itself is an octagonal pit about 1m deep with a floor of clay soil in which athletes train for Pahlevan. In contrast to gymnastics practiced in the West, the exercises consist of team sports that combine tests of physical strength and flexibility, specific rituals, and respect for traditional moral and ethical rules. The game of Pahlevan changes to keep pace with the sound of a drum played by the morshed or guide, who is typically seated in an elevated position within the hall.

Roots and history

The zurkhaneh is more than just a place dedicated to physical exercise. The zurkhaneh and Varzesh-e Pahlavani have their roots in pre-Islamic Iranian culture. After the Arab conquest, its practice became illegal for a time, and was seen as representing a form of cultural resistance. Over time, however, the pastime adapted to fit in with Islamic culture. In addition, certain moral qualities and values came to be associated with pahlevans; such as courage, selflessness and, above all faith and absolute loyalty to the prophet and the imams.

The climax of the Zurkhaneh was in the Safavid dynasty, while twelver Shiism became the state religion. There has been renewed interest in the Zurkhaneh starting in the early 20th century, and it is now associated with nationalism.

One of the Inner City's (Baku) entertainment in areas was the Zorkhana. Baku's Zorkhana dates back to at least the 15th century and this underground vault was located just a few steps from the Bukhari and Multani caravanserais, towards the Maiden Tower. Men paid there an entrance fee to participate in various competitions, including weightlifting, wrestling and boxing. There were contests accompanied by a trio of musicians who performed traditional Eastern instruments like the kamancha, zurna and naghara (drum). Most of these melodies have long since been forgotten. But one by the name of "Jangi" (War) is still performed prior to the opening of Azerbaijani national wrestling competitions, called Gulash.

In Zorkhana young men could test their strength against professional wrestlers such as those who came from Tabriz, Ardabil, Sarab and other cities of Azerbaijan provinces. Huseyngulu Sarabski writes about one wrestler nicknamed "Altiaylig Abdulali" (Six-Month Abdulali) who took on all these youth. Before each match, the famous musician Haji Zeynal Agha Karim would perform a song glorifying the wrestler. Altiaylig Abdulali would untie his belt, toss his hat on the floor and come out onto the stage grinning. The young amateurs approached him one by one. When Altiaylig was finished wrestling, the spectators would give him various denominations of money such as three, five or even ten rubles, a considerable sum of money at the time.

The Zorkhana also functioned somewhat like a fitness club. When no competitions were taking place, men went there to do exercises and use sports equipment.

Today

The practice of Varzesh-e Pahlavani is still alive in the popular districts of Tehran, Esfahan, Yazd, or other cities in Iran.

There were held a national championships of Zorkhana (first was held in 2010) in Azerbaijan. And the first World championship in Zorkhana was held also in Baku in 2009 (15–16 March), where took part sportsmen from 12 countries, including Azerbaijan, Iraq, Germany, Afghanistan, Lithuania, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tajikistan, South Africa, Syria and Nepal.

See also

• Indian clubs, Exercise devices used in Pahlavani
• Köräş, Tatar National wrestling
• Koshti, Traditional Iranian wrestling and grappling
• Kurash, Upright jacket wrestling native to Uzbekistan
• Pahlavani, Official historical style of Iran
• Pankration, Ancient Greek Martial Art
• Pehlwani, Indian wrestling and grappling
• Sambo, Related modern martial art developed in the former Soviet Union
• Yağlı güreş, Turkish oil wrestling

References

• Zurkhaneh Entry at Encyclopedia Iranica
• International Zurkhane Sports Federation
• Luijendijk, D.H., 2006, Zoor Khane, Ancient Martial Art of Iran, Boulder, US