Despite sub-freezing temperatures, a centuries-old tradition is thriving on college campuses in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Bökh, a uniquely Mongolian style of wrestling, is gaining popularity among students at Hohhot National University, where it’s both a required physical education course and a highly sought-after elective. The program not only preserves a vital aspect of Mongolian culture but is also fostering resilience and character growth in a new generation of athletes, as detailed in the following report.
中新网呼和浩特12月3日电 题：内蒙古高校搏克手 在传统竞技里找到青春的坚韧
中新网记者刘文华
December 3rd brought frigid temperatures to Hohhot, with lows dipping to -12°C (10°F), but the sounds of grappling and bodies hitting the mat filled the air at the Hohhot National University wrestling training ground. Students were fully engaged in practice, seemingly unfazed by the cold.
A 5’8” (1.72m) Aliyah stabilized her stance, battling a classmate. Her footwork was quick and precise, and with a sudden burst of energy, she took her opponent to the ground. The Mongolian athlete has been dedicated to Bökh, a traditional Mongolian wrestling style, for nearly a decade. “Bökh doesn’t recognize weight classes; it’s all about technique and willpower. When you step onto the mat, you forget everything else,” Aliyah said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Bökh, a centuries-old Mongolian wrestling tradition, is experiencing a revival on college campuses in Hohhot. As a signature course at Hohhot National University, it’s a required class for physical education majors and a consistently oversubscribed elective, with the 25-26 available spots filling up quickly.
Instructor Husler, who has been teaching the course for over ten years, explained that the curriculum focuses on the Bökh style of Ujumqin Banner, progressing from basic rolls to full-contact sparring. He also incorporates the cultural history of wrestling into his lessons. “Anyone with an interest can participate; the barrier to entry is low, but it builds character,” Husler said.
The intense competition on the mat is fostering growth and transformation in these young athletes. Geglegle, a finance major who stands just 5’ (1.58m) tall and weighs 106 lbs (48kg), is a Chinese National Traditional Wrestling Champion and a gold medalist at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Games. “I used to cry when I lost,” she recalled. Selected for the wrestling team in elementary school, she’s been training for ten years, even battling a partially dislocated shoulder. “Bökh has taught me not to fear challenges. I want to become a referee and coach, and carry on this sport.”
Hong’er, a freshman in the Foreign Languages department, trains in Bökh for two to three hours each day. “At first, my body ached all over, and I was covered in bruises. Now I’m used to it, and I appreciate the power of perseverance,” he said. “I’ve heard that wrestlers rarely suffer from depression, and I can see why. A good training session washes away all your worries.”
Chagsren, a senior, comes from a wrestling family. His father is also a Bökh practitioner. Influenced by his home environment, he began training systematically in college, refining his technique. “This summer, at the Naadam festival in my hometown, I defeated a well-known Bökh wrestler in his 40s. It felt like I became a celebrity,” he said. He added that training helps relieve academic stress and improves his sleep. “Bökh is an individual sport, and you improve through your own effort. That sense of accomplishment is invaluable.”
The appeal of Bökh lies in its blend of strength and finesse, with a simple yet strategic scoring system.
“It’s not just about brute force; you have to use your brain. The coordination between your hands and feet has to be perfect. That’s what fascinates me,” Aliyah explained. She’s witnessed competitors get injured during matches, and that danger only deepens her respect for the sport. “True strength is facing challenges with courage.”
Students at Hohhot National University have earned numerous honors, including a second-place finish at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region University Games and a championship at the Inner Mongolia Student Bökh Tournament, and have produced several national-level athletes.
“What makes me happiest is the change in my students,” Husler said. Many students show significant improvements in their willpower and physical fitness after just one semester of Bökh. Some wrestlers are now bringing the same competitive spirit they developed on the mat into their everyday lives.
“True strength isn’t about muscle; it’s about the refusal to give up, the courage to face anything. That strength is both in the body and in the heart, and that’s perhaps why Bökh has endured for a thousand years,” Husler concluded. (End)
