The Father of Strength – Kazhymukan

Kazhymukan Munaitpasuly was the first professional wrestler in the history of the Kazakh people. Having devoted his entire life to the art of wrestling, our ancestor Kazhymukan was the first to introduce his vast land and proud people to other nations, stepping on soil untrodden by his predecessors, seeing unseen countries, and being the first Kazakh to hang gold and silver medals around his neck. According to historical records, he was born on April 7, 1871, in the village of Karaotkel, Akmola district. Being the son of a poor peasant, Kazhymukan hired himself out to Russian wealthy men and affluent people. Along the way, he participated in wrestling, distinguished himself at festivities, and earned the title of young wrestler. He came from the Altybas clan of the Uzyn branch of the Kipchak tribe. A possessor of enormous strength, the first Kazakh champion who became world champion in several types of wrestling! Having traveled the globe with his unmatched skill, competing in 54 countries and winning 48 medals — such a mighty wrestler as Kazhymukan existed only among the Kazakhs among Turkic peoples at the beginning of the 20th century. It should also be noted that among the group of Russian wrestlers, no one surpassed Kazhymukan in strength. To compete alongside world champions such as Ivan Poddubny, Ivan Shemyakin, Alex Aberg, Ivan Zaikin, Georg Lurich, Georg Hackenschmidt, Paul Pons, and Weiland Schultz, defeating these wrestlers one after another on the mat and winning prizes — was a true feat for that era. At that time, the masters of Russian wrestling, fattened on imperial resources, truly looked down on the Kazakhs. Kazhymukan did not yield his honor in such an environment. He did not bow his head to anyone. He was not broken or humbled by the repeated injustices of wrestling masters and judges.

Kazhymukan's first appearance on the world stage was in 1906. At a world tournament in Germany, he became world champion. However, the Russian administration was not pleased with a wrestler who had glorified the name of an "alien" people. Therefore, Kazhymukan was forced to wrestle under Russian names. Various nicknames were given to him. According to the politics of the time, advertisements were created claiming that not only Russians but also Japanese competed, and Kazhymukan was made to wrestle under the nickname "Yamagata Mukhunuri." He also had nicknames such as Mukhan and "Ivan Cherny" (Ivan the Black). This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of our ancestor Kazhymukan. In this regard, employees of the Republican Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum "Monuments of Ancient Taraz" under the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan visited the Regional Sports Museum named after Kazhymukan. The museum is located in Temirlan village, Ordabasy district, South Kazakhstan region. This museum was opened in February 1976 as the Kazhymukan Munaitpasov House-Museum. By Resolution No. 78 of the Akim of South Kazakhstan region dated June 26, 2001, it was reorganized into the state institution Regional Sports Museum named after Kazhymukan. The dome of the museum looks like a vault from the inside, while from the outside it is pointed like the tent of commanders, khans, beks, and batyrs who defended the land and people from enemies. The designers conceived it like a circus arena, aspiring to embody the art of wrestling. In front of the museum stands a monument in honor of our ancestor. A helicopter model is also placed there. The reason is that during the war he purchased a helicopter with his own funds and sent it to the front. We can see that this man was a true patriot. This museum was created in honor of such a distinguished person.