A Wrestling Tradition in Turkey

Oil wrestling has a long history in Turkey. Kirkpinar, Edirne has been the host of this annual competition for over 650 years. Wrestlers from various regions of Turkey unite in Edirne to challenge each other and observe this wrestling tradition. The wrestling matches which are organized in tournament style last a week and are accompanied by various festivities. Fair competition and camaraderie have both been at the core of this long lasting tradition.

Kerim Can Ertug was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1975. His interest in photography started at an early age; and he began developing his own black and white photographs when he was 15. Growing up in a multicultural city, Kerim Can developed a fascination with the human condition, which continues to drive his photography to this day.