Varzesh-e Pahlavani

Varzesh-e Pahlavani ورزشپهلاونى , also called Varzesh-e Bastani ورزشبستانى , translated by " sport antique" or " sport traditionnel" ; is a national sport Iran IEN which consists of a series of techniques of Culturisme accompanied by Lutte. Moreover, this sport attaches a great importance to the chivalrous spirit, the courtesy and bravery. Varzesh-e Pahlavani is normally practiced in a Zurkhaneh where various accessories are used for the drive (e.g. Mīl , Kabbadeh , Sang and Takhteh Shena ). The practitioners of this sport are called Pahlavan (literally " athlète").

Varzesh-e Pahlavani was conceived at the origin like a kind of martial art in ancient Perse and played a great part in the resistance of the Iranians against the invaders during the history. Since its origins, it acquired the values morals, ethics, philosophical and mystics of Iranian civilization. Varzesh-e Pahlavani thus evolved/moved until becoming a single institution having incorporated the spiritual richness of the Soufisme, the ritual traditional ones of the Mithraïsme and the heroism of Iranian nationalism.

Many large Iranian fighters (e.g. Takhti) practiced this sport.

Origins and History

The Iranian were one of the first nations of the world has to attach importance to their health and with their force, they practiced exercises of body-building and involved their children to be made in the same way.

Hérodote, the Greek historian, said: Iranian develops three practices in their children between 5 and 20 years: horsemanship, the shooting with the arc and the exactitude. physical education and spiritual has a long story starting with the Mèdes until the time Achéménide.

The history of Iranian traditional martial arts can be divided into 4 major periods. There exist holes between these periods during which Varzesh-e Pahlavani is not mentioned (in particular time Achéménide and Sassanide. For these periods, the statute of the sport is dubious, although it is thought that the sport continued but like a factor not dominating in the national culture.

The Iran having been invaded many times during its history during the last two millenia, the Iranian patriots, enthusiast of independence and justice, were forced, for these periods of foreign invasions, to serve small rooms built in basement which one reaches by a small door (these rooms would become then the Zurkhaneh). These rooms were used meeting rooms for the patriots, who could thus prepare with the various techniques of combat which would serve during the day to them when they should fight against their enemies. The foreign invaders often destroyed these zurkhaneh (" house of the correction, the knighthood and the générosité"), but Iranian continued to build some.

Mythical origins

The mythical origins are based on the accounts Ferdowsi in the Shahnameh (" Deliver rois"). Pahlavans mythical of this time this beat against the forces of the evil. Sometimes, the result of a war, and possibly the destiny of the countries implied in the war, were determined by a combat with naked hands, were known under the name of Koshti gereftan (Lutte). The legendary pahlavan of this time is Rostam, which constantly saved Iran of the forces of the evil.

Parthian empire

The Varzesh-e Pahlavani would find its origins at the time of the Parthian Empire (250 av. J.C. - 224) during which this sport developed as a training of the warriors with the combat and their duties in general. The word Pahlavan comes from the Parthian one. The researchers noted similarities between ritual the mithraïques and those of the varzesh-e Pahlavani; even the mithraïques forms of the temples and the Zurkhaneh presents similarities. However, few traces remain of this time.

Islamic time

Until the arrival of the Islam in Iran, Varzesh-e Pahlavani was purely a form of physical exercise. However, with the introduction of Islam in Iran then of the adoption of the Shiism like religion of state under the Safavides a few centuries later, of new dimensions were added to Varzesh-e Pahlavani: the philosophy and the spirituality of Islam. The Soufisme in particular was the means by which these new dimensions were expressed. One can there too note similarities between certain ritual of Varzesh-e pahlavani and those of the Sufism.

Contemporary period

The varzesh-e Pahlavani reached its apogee during the dynasty Qajar E, and more particularly during the reign of Nassereddin Shah (1848-1896). At this period, many Zurkhaneh was built with Teheran and elsewhere in the country. The official Pahlavan of Iran, reminiscence of the national fighters of the Mythologie Persian was indicated during a ceremony taking place in front of the Shah on March 21st of each year, corresponding to the Iranian new year. To this occasion, the Shah gave the Bazou band (" bracelet") with the champion of the competition, Iranian national hero for one year. The Pahlavans (" lutteurs") most famous of all times appeared at the time contemporary (as from the 19th century); one can quote Pahlavan-e Bozorg Razaz, Pahlavan Boloorforoush, Pahlavan Toosi and Jahan Pahlavan Takhti.

The ascencion of the Dynastie Pahlavi made decline this sport. The new Shah of Iran, Reza Shah, wanted to transform Iran into a modern country, and thus saw any reference to the traditions passed like a conflict with his Western ideals. He then did not show any interest in this sport, which he saw as a relic of the ceremonies Qajar are.

His/her son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, become Shah in 1941, restored what there remained tradition pahlavani. The new Shah was itself an accomplished sportsman. It is during its reign that last national competitions were held of fight being used to indicate the official Pahlavan of Iran, with which it Shah would give the bazou band . Unfortunately, the tradition pahlavanie was very touched when the Shah named Shaban Jafari (which was regarded as a " voyou") with the head of the pahlavani federation.

It is in an effort made to break the bonds with the traditions, to popularize this sport and to increase Iranian nationalism that the Iranian government has famous the sport Varzesh-e Bastani ورزشبستانى . Following the revolution of 1979, the Islamic government started to look at the sport of an evil eye, moreover, the attraction of football and other Western sports for youth causes a decline in practice this sport.

Description

Particular exercises

Varzesh-e Pahlavani is very codified and the exercises practiced by the pahlevans follow an established order, under the direction of the Morshed . The various exercises practiced in the Zurkhaneh are described in the paragraphs which follow.

Pā zadan (heating)

At the beginning of a training session and this one, the pahlevans make movements of foot and arm, conistant in small jumps on the spot and circular motions of the arms. These movements are practiced at the same time as a heating or of stretching at the end of the meeting; but the purpose of they are also to improve the force of the legs and the arms, and to make better the cardiorespiratory functions.

Blood gereftan (shield)

The Pahlavans , after the heating, begin the exercise called Sang gereftan . The Sang consists of two hard pieces of wood of rectangular form (resembling a shield) heavy between 20 and 40 kilos (according to the age of the practitioner). Each piece of wood is 70-80 cm wide for 100-110 cm length. A handle is fixed in the middle of each blood . The exercise consists, for the pahlevans lengthened on the back and moving from right to left, with raising then to descend the blood , a hand after the other. The blood should never touch the ground. In the tournaments for young people and adults, the number of movements can reach 72 in 7 minutes, the strongest pahlevans newcomer to reach 115 movements. The goal of the blood gereftan is to develop the deltoïdes, the pectoral ones, the tricepses, the trapezoids and the muscles of the neck and the abdomen.

This exercise is not accompanied by the percussions, the Morshed sings poems then epic to encourage the pahlevans .

Shena raftan (pumps)

After the exercises of Blood Gereftan and Pā Zadan , the fighters begin a exercise of pumps. They then form a circle in the well of the Zurkhaneh , back with the wall and quite isolated legs. They lean then forwards and make rest their weight on the bar envisaged with this intention. This bar measures between 50 and 70 cm length for 10 cm thickness and is supported by two short feet. The movements of descent and increase on the arms are exerted in various forms and are accompanied by the percussions and the song of the Morshed .

The pahlavan the oldest begins this exercise in the center of the circle whereas the leader of the group leads the movements of " pompes" group.

The objectives of this exercise are to reinforce the tricepses, the pectoral ones, the muscles of the shoulders and the neck, the quadricepses and the abdominal ones. The exercise ends in another exercise of Pā Zadan .

Mīl gereftan (Mass)

The mass used for this exercise is made of wood and has a handle on a side whereas the other weighed down east coast. The weight of the instrument can vary from 2 to 50 kg.

This exercise comes following the precedents. At the origin, it was thought to involve the men to carry and handle masses of weapons in time of war. Each Pahlevan carries two masses, one in each hand, and poses the part weighed down on its shoulders. With the signal of the Morshed and while following the rate/rhythm of the percussions, it makes them turn around these shoulders. The most skilful fighters make sometimes more spectacular exercises, while acting as if they juggled with the masses.

This exercise is intended to reinforce the shoulders, the tricepses, the bicepses, the pectoral ones and the trapezoids.

Charkh zadan (spinning top)

This exercise is a particular movement of the exercises made in the zurkhaneh and consists in turning on oneself even the made-to-order of the Dancing dervishes during their dance called Sema.

With the beginning of this exercise, the pahlevans are laid out in circle around the well, back turned to the wall. It is the youngest fighter who starts by putting himself at the center of the circle and to turn, at the beginning gently, then more and more quickly. After him, the exercise is repeated by all the fighters who come to put themselves at the center of the circle and make the spinning top in their turn, by order of age. Oldest pahlevan present completes the exercise, which is continuously accompanied by songs and the rate/rhythm of the percussions. At the end of its turn - which can last up to 15 minutes without loss of control or étourdissment, the fighters face the Morshed , greet it and leaves the place to the following.

While they make the spinning top, the pahlevans extend their arms on each side of the body to horizontal, with the height of the shoulders. Each fighter having his own style, the spinning top can be only made in the center of the circle, or on the contrary to be held in various places of the circle formed by the participants.

The objectives of this exercise are to improve neuro-muscular coordination and the agility.

Kabbadeh zadan (arc)

The kabbadeh is a metal instrument having the shape of an arc, heavy between 7 and 10 kg - sometimes up to 16 kg lasting the competitions measuring between 1 and 1,5 m length.

Instead of the cord is fixed a large chain, discs of metal are sometimes fixed on this chain.

The exercise consists in raising the instrument to the top of its head, the arc in the right hand and the chain in the left. Pahlevan starts by embracing the kabbadeh then tightens its right-hand man, before left arm then forming an horizontal line with the top of its head. The exercise continues then with symmetry, with the sound of the percussions, the songs of the Morshed and tinklings of the metal chain.

The objective of this exercise is to reinforce the muscles of the shoulders, the tricepses and biceps, the trapezoids, the obliques

Koshti gereftan (fight)

Sometimes, after the Kabbadeh zadan , the Pahlevans are involved with the techniques of " fight héroïque" antique, which is the most fundamental part of the drive in the Zurkhaneh and is a exerice which goes back to antiquity.

The pahlevans are opposed two by two and use various techniques, offensives, defensives or of counter-attack. The sporting literature of antiquity describes more than 200 specific techniques and expressions. Various styles exist today in Iran like the styles traditional, Kurdish, turcoman or Gilaki.

The fight took such an importance that a combat was held in front of the Shah the day of Norouz in order to designate the national champion. It was rewarded by a bracelet called Bazou band , term which designated the winner of the championship of Iran under Mohammed Reza Shah.

Niāyesh (prayer)

The training session is always finished by a prayer ( Niāyesh ) carried out by the morshed . These prayers often refer to special mentality, the attitudes and the beliefs of the practitioners. Those unite with the morshed and request for the glory of the country, the health and the joy of its leader, the respectability of the practitioners and the veterans of the zurkhaneh , the power which enables them to help weakest, the grace of God in order to remain apart from the bad way and finally the improvement of justice and the good behavior among humanity. They leave then the well in a hierarchical way.

Institutions

The purpose of the international federation of the sports of Zurkhaneh , founded in 2004 and established since with Teheran is promotion and the development of the sports of zurkhaneh ( Varzesh-e Pahlavani ) and of Iranian traditional fight ( Koshti-e Pahlavani ) at the national and international level; as well as the establishment of rules shared by all the national federations.

Pahlevans famous

Gholamreza Takhti
Pourya-ye Vali

Values associated morals

Traditionally, this martial art promotes values ethical S and morals and the disciples of the various schools must observe certain codes of conduct. These values are humility, generosity, virtuosity, charity and pity. The respect of the law, the bravery and the safeguard of the national traditions are also important aspects of the values transmitted by this sport. The attitude of Pahlevan is called javānmardi .

Fraternity between the pahlavans encourages the values of mutual mutual aid between members of this fraternity, but also, while following the chivalrous ideal, to offer of the assistance to no matter whom when it was necessary. Consequently, Pahlavan of a Zurkhaneh often protected the district and possibly from the villages or the cities.

The pahlavans grant a large respect to the place where they practice their sport (the Zurkhaneh ), place where are pure and good hearts.

References

International federation of the sports of Zurkhaneh

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