Chidaoba, wrestling in Georgia

Chidaoba, wrestling in Georgia

Chidaoba is an ancient form of martial art practiced by a large percentage of the male population in all regions, villages, and communities in Georgia, where this tradition is practiced among young people and city residents and in sports clubs, educational institutions, and amateur organizations. Chidaoba wrestling is a complex phenomenon that combines elements of wrestling, music, dance, and special garments, and after having had a combat function until the late Middle Ages, today it is gradually becoming a spectacular sport.
Tournaments are held from early spring to fall in an open-air arena, surrounded by a large crowd, accompanied by wind instrument and Georgian drum music, after which the wrestlers try to defeat each other through special holds. The practice encourages a healthy lifestyle and plays an important role in intercultural dialogue, and the skills gained by watching matches are perfected as wrestling sections spread in every village and city across Georgia.

Chidaoba, wrestling in Georgia was inscribed in 2018 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Georgia.
by Gigla83, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Chidaoba, wrestling in Georgia

Date of Inscription

2018