NATIONAL SPORTS

There is a well known saying: “A healthy mind in a healthy body” which means that a healthy body is essential for the development of an active intelligence.

National sports are part of traditional Sakha culture. The contests and games of the Sakha have been described in epic literature – OLONKHO.

KHAPSAGAI Khapsagai is the

Sakha form of wrestling, testing strength, will – power, speed and flexibility. The rules on this type of wrestling are very simple: as soon as any part of a wrestler’s body touches the ground or carpet, that is considered a fall.

STICK PULLING Stick pulling is a

national sport that tests strength. The Sakha played it everywhere: indoors, out – of – doors, on the floor, on the grass or in deep snow. Stick pulling is a very popular sport in the republic.

Jumping as a sport goes back to the old days, when the Sakha had to jump over fallen trees, meadows, water streams and snowdrifts simply in order to move around.

There are three kinds of Sakha national jumping sports.

Kylyy involves running and jumping on one leg, taking for ten leaps, then on the eleventh leap the jumper has to land on both legs.

KYLYY

YSTANGA Ystanga involves running and jumping on the right and left legs alternately for ten leaps, then on the eleventh leap the jumper has to land on both feet.

KUOBAKHKuobakh involves jumping on boyh legs at thr same time, eleven times without stopping.

JUMPING OVER A SLEIGH Jumping over a sleigh is very popular among the Chukchi, Evens and Evenks and has its roots in the tradition of reindeer herding.

THROWING THE CORD LOOP

NATIONAL TABLE GAMES

Khabylykh Khaamyska

KHABYLYKH

Khabylykh is played with simple wood splinters, like those which were used by families for kindling their fires (kamelyok). In the past the rules became progressively more and more complicated, but now there is an improved variation of the game.

KHAAMYSKA

In the 17th century, among the Sakha, a game called Khaamyska (pebbles) was very popular. It was brought to Yakutia by the Russian Cossaks who came to Yakut as part of Russian exploratory expeditions. Nowadays, the pebbles are made of cubes of wood, but the name “pebbles” has stayed.

These games develop flexibility of the body, especially fingers and hands, deftness, coordination and accuracy, as well as mental ability.

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