zoom_in Click to enlarge

Bokh

▲ ▼

description Bokh Overview

Bökh is the traditional style of Mongolian folk wrestling and a culturally significant martial art featured in the annual Naadam festival. Competitors wear a specific traditional uniform consisting of an open-front jacket, tight shorts, and heavy boots. The sport features no weight classes or time limits, and a match is decided when any part of a wrestler's body other than their feet or hands touches the ground. It is a physically demanding sport practiced widely across Mongolia to demonstrate strength, agility, and national heritage.

help Bokh FAQ

What clothing is worn during a Bökh match?

Competitors in Bökh wear a specific traditional uniform consisting of an open-front jacket called a zodog, tight shorts known as shuudag, and heavy traditional boots. This culturally significant attire is directly tied to the sport's history as a centerpiece of Mongolia's annual Naadam festival.

Are there weight classes in traditional Mongolian wrestling?

Unlike many international wrestling styles, traditional Bökh features absolutely no weight classes, meaning competitors of all sizes face each other in the same division. A match is won when any part of the opponent's body above the knee touches the ground.

How is Bökh culturally celebrated in Mongolia?

Bökh is one of the 'Three Games of Men' prominently featured during the annual Naadam festival in Mongolia. Winners of the tournament earn prestigious traditional titles, such as Falcon, Elephant, or Lion, depending on the number of rounds they win.

What are the basic rules for winning a Bökh match?

The primary objective is to force the opponent to touch the ground with their knee, elbow, or any other body part above the ankle. There are no time limits in traditional tournament bouts, so matches can last until one wrestler successfully executes a decisive takedown.

swap_horiz

Looking for Bokh alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward