Mehmet TÜRKMEN*
Abdullah DOĞAN
ABSTRACT
In this study, we are trying to establish the state or nature of traditional wrestling in Western World and comparison with baggy trousers wrestling in Kahramanmaraş, the phases they have underwent within the historical process and finally their current situation. Old and new documents related to the subject matter have been obtained through nations living in Western World and Province of Kahramanmaraş in Turkey where similar wrestling and baggy trousers wrestling are done. Those gathered documents which are of distinctive and clear have been put in related sections in the study. In this regard, the information newly obtained and on the spot has been compared to previous one so that we could comment and ponder on the issue. Therefore, while baggy trousers wrestling , which was seen to be performed in Europe through similar or the same motives, was being done too much intensively around 30 years ago in Kahramanmaraş, it has recently been seen to be performed only once a year. The wrestling with baggy trousers was met to be performed in Township of Palu in Province of Elazığ in 1940s, however after this date it was never seen to be done anymore.The National wrestling of Canary Islands, Sweden resembles Kahramanmaraş wrestling with baggy trousers more than does Switzerland National wrestling. It has been understood that the wrestling with baggy trousers was brought to Anatolia and then to Maras in 12th to 13th century by Turkmen, who have acted as leadership in Turkish state tradition, and that it was a Bektashi tradition which is one of the traditional culture factors and folkloric features.
Key Words: Kahramanmaraş, baggy trousers, wrestling, traditional game, the Western World
* Yrd. Doç. Dr., OMÜ Yaşar Doğu BESYO, Samsun.
** Fatma Kemal Timuçin Anadolu Lisesi, Kayseri.
* **Gençlik ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü, Malatya.