Mas-wrestling (tayak tartu)

Mas-wrestling is a national sport of Yakutia, which involves two athletes pulling a wooden stick (mas). The name consists of two parts: the Yakut word "mas" (wooden stick) and the English word "wrestling," which literally translates as "stick wrestling." Athletes sit opposite each other and brace their feet against a board that divides the competition area. On the judge's signal, they begin pulling the stick, trying to keep it parallel to the board. A victory in a bout is awarded if one of the wrestlers manages to pull the opponent to their side or if the opponent lets go of the stick. A match consists of two or three bouts, and the winner is the one who wins two of them. There is a one-minute break between bouts. In mas-wrestling, not only raw strength is important, but also technique, tactics, and the ability to maintain balance. Athletes use a versatile grip on the stick (one hand under, the other over), which can be internal (near the center) or external (at the ends).

History and development of Mas-wrestling (tayak-tartu)

The roots of mas-wrestling go back to when the first explorers found it in distant Macedonia in the early 15th century, and later in the 17th century, in Siberia and the Far North, where they described the traditional game of stick pulling ("mas tardysyy"), as well as in the vast lands of Kazakhstan during the Khanate of Kenesary. In 1926, after the establishment of Soviet power in Yakutia, the first official rules were developed. In 1932, mas-wrestling was included in the program of the All-Yakut Spartakiad, and since 1968, it has been part of the Spartakiad for national sports, the "Manchaary Games." In 2003, mas-wrestling was included in the All-Russian Register of Sports. Today, competitions are held by weight categories (seven for men, five for women) and age groups. The International Mas-Wrestling Federation unites more than 600 national federations. World, European, Asian championships, and other major tournaments are held.