Thanks to Russians' creativity, quite a few sports have become popular worldwide. Some have their own national versions, like klyushkovanie, the Russian ice hockey, or kettlebell, which is becoming more, and more popular, developed from the Russian folk traditions. If you want to know more about your favorite Russian sports to bet on, keep reading!
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The essence of this game, which is a combination of bowling, golf, and horseshoe throwing, is to throw a large wooden stick and hit a group of wooden blocks arranged in different shapes. Among the 15 layouts, there are also cannon, fork, arrow, star, plane, and leaf shapes. The term gorodki itself means little towns and refers to the blocks, while gorod, town, refers to the area where the blocks are set up.
The gorodki mentioned in the old Russian chronicles was very similar to the modern version, developed in the 17th century. The game, which spread over time in Karelia, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia, was a favorite leisure activity of famous historical figures, such as the young Czar Peter I, Stalin, Pavlov, Tolstoy, or Gorky. The rules of the game were laid down in 1923, but from then on, it was officially considered a competitive sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60G0AOmC8TY
Gorodki still exists today, but mostly among very dedicated and enthusiastic players, and there are fewer and fewer places to find built-up pitches. In the 2000s, they tried to bring it back into fashion, so they even organized a world championship, but this unique form of throwing didn't really make an impression on other nations, apart from the Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians.
Sambo - Mixed Martial Art
The Soviet Union encountered several martial arts styles from the Japanese, Mongols, Tatars, and Vikings. A specific and particularly effective self-defense system, sambo, was formed from the combination of these during its early days. One of its founders was the Red Army karate and judo coach Vasily Oshchepkov, who, like most trainers, wanted to get the best out of his men.
The three characteristic elements of sambo are the takedown technique combining wrestling and judo maneuvers, the ability to control the opponent on the ground, and the leg lock.
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One of its subtypes, combat sambo, includes punches, kicks, throws, hold-downs, arm-locks, and weapon techniques. As soon as it was perfected, the new martial art style became popular among the Soviet police and military. From 1981, the International Olympic Committee included it in the Olympic competitions, and the FIAS organizes annual championships as well.
Klyushkovanie - Russian Ice Hockey
One of the most watched sports in the country is Russian ice hockey. Even though the English standardized the modern rules under the name of bandy, the Russians consider themselves the inventors since games similar to bandy existed centuries earlier.
However, the gear only became complete after Peter The Great brought skates from the Netherlands. Bandy is a winter team sport where players skate on ice and use sticks to get the puck into the opponent's goal. Here are the best Russian ice hockey teams!
Picture Source: Wikimedia Commons
Many rules are similar to soccer. For example, the field is the same size as a soccer field, there are two teams of 11 players, including a goalkeeper, and a standard match consists of two 45-minute halves. In 1955, when the Soviet Union and three Nordic countries founded the Federation of International Bandy, they agreed on a set of rules.
Russia is at the forefront of this sport since they never return home without a medal from the world championships. Since winter is around the corner, you can check out the upcoming winter sports events at 22bet Sportsbook!
Aquathlon - Underwater Wrestling!
Aquathlon is one of the favorite Russian sports to bet on currently. The goal of the underwater fight between two wrestlers wearing scuba masks and fins is for the opponents to get the ribbon from the other's ankles. The exciting wrestling match takes place in a ring with a diameter of 5 meters, in water 2-6 meters deep, fortunately not long. There are three, four in case of a tie, 30-second rounds. By the way, the tough Russian combat sport is not an old thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89usUkdc004
Igor Ostrovsky invented aquathlon in the 1980s. The coach of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology declared underwater wrestling an official sport in 1982, but he had to wait for the first international competition until 1993. Three years later, the International Aquathlon Federation was established with the cooperation of Russia, Ukraine, and Israel, and in 2008 the CMAS also accepted aquathlon as a new underwater sport that you can place bets on 22bet Sportsbook.
Girja - Favorite Russian Sports to Bet on
A girja is a weight similar to a ball made of cast iron or steel used for total body workouts. Training with girja and kettlebell has become popular in recent years because it works the entire body's muscles, and since the exercises do not shorten the muscles, as in weight training. The kettlebell is not only good for the heart and vascular system but increases endurance and strength, suitable for developing flexibility while also strengthening the core muscles, having a positive effect on posture.
In Russia, at the beginning of the 1700s, the term girya appeared in the dictionary, which referred to counterweights used to measure the grain and other goods. From their frequent use, farmers became so trained that they began to show off their strength at more and more fairs and festivals and held girya demonstrations throughout the country. Later, the kettlebell became part of the physical training of the Soviet army and the conditioning training of athletes.
In the 1940s, it became a competitive sport not only in Russia but also in Europe. The purpose of the girja sport was for the competitors to perform a certain technique as many times as possible in a given time. The kettlebell has a handle that allows safe swinging and gripping, thus simultaneously working the wrists, arms, and core muscles. The unique shape provides the effectiveness of the exercises. You can find kettlebell tutorials, tournaments, and odds at online sportsbook sites in the Netherlands!
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