"Mongolian wrestling is like going to war"

In nomadic communities, where the lives of 30% of the population of Inner Mongolia has preserved the ancient art of the particular struggle — without barilan. This sport symbolizes high status, and for many men the country, he becomes a major part of life — so when in a family a boy is born, family pray that he became a wrestler. Photographer Ken Hermann and art Director Gemma Fletcher went to the desert and captured the Mongolian wrestlers for the "beh".

According to the photographer, he is fascinated by Mongolia, and have long wanted to go there: "When I learned about these fighters, I realized that it's the perfect excuse for a trip. We and Gemma worked together on several projects, we made a pretty good team. She is very creative, and I'm technically savvy, these qualities are well complement each other".

The shooting came 10 days. During this time the sponsors were able to win the wrestling coach, and he introduced them to the models.

"We've learned a bit of our heroes and one particularly notable feature is the movement between past and present. They are passionately committed to centuries-old traditions of wrestling and at the same time interested in contemporary fashion and culture, even though I live far from the cities, no free access to the Internet".

"Fighters move as if performing a dance, each gesture carefully planned".

Even Genghis Khan forced its soldiers to do physical exercise, so they're always ready to do battle.

In Mongolian wrestling, the battle is in open space, each fighter has a "second" — zasuul. The second protects the interests of the ward in front of the judges, watching the fight, cheering of a fighter, holding his hat, and in the case of victory raises up his right hand.

When the fighters come onto the field, they reproduce the flight of the mythical Garuda birds: flap your arms, Crouch, Pat yourself on the thighs.

Weight classes in this fight, no. Earlier there was no time limit, but now they are added.

Defeated is the one who first touches the ground with any part of the body except soles of the feet and hands. After the match, it needs to pass under the raised right arm of the winner in a sign that acknowledges defeat. The winner takes the traditional eagle dance.

In Mongolian wrestling is used more than 400 receptions. Foot pegs are permitted, but are prohibited sweeps.

Opponents fight in special suits: they include national boots with curled toes — "Mongol gutal", the short "shuudag", a shirt with an open chest, the "sodah" and a hat with a picture of a "knot of happiness" — "ulsi".

In Mongolia there is a legend about why the wrestlers wear an open shirt. Though once in the desert appeared an invincible hero, who was not equal. The hero defeated all of the strongest fighters, and then found out that he is not a he, but a woman. Then one old man offered to fight in shorts and with exposed breast — that women "do not meddle in the Affairs of men".

From 11 to 13 July in the country there is a national celebration of sport — Nadom, competing in struggle involved from 512 to 1024 people. Nine or ten rounds they fight in pairs, shootout. For victory are awarded the special title "nachin" ("Falcon") — for winning five rounds, "Herzog" ("hawk") — for victory in six rounds, "Zaan" (elephant) — for the victory in seven rounds, "Garuda" ("the sacred bird") — for a victory in eight rounds. Winning in nine rounds called "Arslan" ("lion"), and ten when struggling 1024 fighter, "the enemy" ("giant").

Since 2002, the competition in the fight held under the new rules: the fight is limited, there was a monetary penalty, increased the bonus for each win, the judges took into account the discipline and level of training of fighters to compete. If previously titled wrestlers called themselves the enemy themselves, now that the Commission is responsible.

A massive passion for wrestling helps to develop other kinds of sport: classic and free-style wrestling, Sambo, judo, sumo.

Of the 69 kozun what they call the greatest sumo wrestlers of all four Napoca, and two of them — the Mongols.