Turkish Karakucak

Karakucak is wrestled dry, on grass or earth, with the use of oil on the body or clothing prohibited. Oil wrestling (yağlı güreş), by contrast, features wrestlers drenched in olive oil wearing leather kisbets, most famously at the historic Kırkpınar festival in Edirne.

It is practiced at outdoor competitions and regional festivals across Turkey, on natural grass or earth grounds rather than mats. Junior and youth categories associated with major wrestling gatherings, including events tied to Edirne's Kırkpınar tradition, are commonly held karakucak-style without oil.

Wrestlers typically wear sturdy trousers designed for grip, rather than the oiled leather kisbet of yağlı güreş. Because oil is banned, the clothing stays dry and matches resemble folk-style or freestyle wrestling more closely than the oiled Kırkpınar bouts.

Yes, it survives as one of Turkey's two principal traditional wrestling styles alongside yağlı güreş, contested at village festivals, weddings, and regional events. Many Turkish wrestlers historically crossed between karakucak and Olympic freestyle wrestling, and the folk style continues to be organized under Turkish wrestling bodies.