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Buzkashi By Norman Finkelshteyn This is a quick summary I developed from very minimal research of the issue! Corrections, additions, and clarifications are welcomed and encouraged. Please write to the Editor's e-mail address provided. Subsequent to the overview of the "authentic" Central Asian game, ideas are offered for modified "foot versions". Background Buzkashi, meaning "goat grabbing", or Bozkushi, meaning "goat killing", is a game common among the peoples of Central Asia (ie: the Uzbeks, Turkmen, Pashtoon...) and is avidly played even in the turmoil of today's Afghanistan, and Afghani refugee camps outside that country. I have not been able to get an early date for it (I have not tried very hard), but there seems to be agreement that it is an early precursor to Polo -- certainly medieval, and possibly ancient (some date it to the Chingisid Mongol invasions, others take it back to the Vedic period). The Game as played in Central Asia Overview Buzkashi is played on horseback, either by two teams, or in a free-for all with one man to be the winner. The players are called "Chapandaz" in Afghanistan, "Chavandoz" ("Chavandozlar" plural) in Uzbekistan. The name possibly stemming from the common prize of a fancy "chapan", as the Central Asian coat is called in Afghanistan (other common prizes are turbans, money, or weapons). The headless carcass of a goat or calf (gutted and toughened to withstand the severe abuse of the contest and sometimes stuffed with sand), called Boz, is the usual "object of play" (the "ball" as it were). Points may be awarded for successfully completing the task of getting control of the carcass, and for getting it to the proper scoring area. The winner or winning team of each match receives prizes which have been put up by a sponsor. Competitions may run for over a week. There are little to no rules. Players may lash each other with riding crops, pull at each other... it seems that in an excess of sportsmanship even stabbings are known to happen. The sponsor of the game though can set forth rules to limit the degree of chaos allowed. The only rules that are always observed are that the carcass may not be fastened to a horse or rider, and that riders may not hit each other's hands to induce dropping the goat. There are several types of Buzkashi -- In Tudabarai and Qarajai, the goat-carcass is placed in the center of a circle, surrounded by the two opposing teams. The teams vie to get control of this prize, and bring it to the scoring area. Tudabarai In Tudabarai, a rider must obtain possession of the "prize" and then carry it away from the starting circle in any direction, avoiding the other riders. Qarajai In Qarajai, the rider must carry the prize around a marker, and then return it to his team's designated scoring area. A Third Version In this free-for-all version -- The Boz is placed in a hole just deep enough for the top of the carcass to be level with the ground. A circle is drawn nearby called Hallal ("circle of justice" in Turkmen). Two poles are set up, one to the right, one to the left of the Hallal at some distance (nowadays limited to about a mile apart). The riders start in a circle about the pit. At the signal, they make a grab for the Boz and ride out. The Boz must be carried around one pole, then the other, and then deposited in the Hallal. The winner is the rider who deposited the carcass in the Hallal, no matter how long before he had possession. Bringing the game to the often horseless wastes of Reenactment The game of Buzkashi requires a substantial amount of specialized training and dedication not often possible for the generalist "historic reenactor". Additionaly, many would-be "weekend-warriors of the Steppes" are in urban environments with little to no access to horses. In a general way, however, Buzkashi is easily adaptable to play on foot. Further, if one is looking for Eastern-appropriate answers to the European Tourney, what better than to adopt the rules of an existing and historically viable game? Interestingly, a foot version of the game (called "Juggers" and played with a dog's skull) was the background premise of a cult-classic post-apocalyptic gladiator film -- Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen The Blood of Heroes, 1988 (Australian Title: Salute of the Jugger). A foot version of the game, fitted to the safety requirements of "civilized" reenactment, seems to also be known in the SCA. Two Buzkashi versions worked out for Reenactor play on Foot Protective Equipment and Safety Rules: This game can theoretically be played under any set of foot combat rules. Standard weapons and protective equipment for the type of foot combat structure chosen shall be used. Standard group combat safety rules relevant to the type of foot combat structure chosen shall apply. It may be necessary to increase involvement of Marshals over the ordinary level in the standard group combat. The Boz: "the goat" -- some object approximating the shape of a goat carcass should be used. It should be taken into consideration that this game is on foot and the burden should therefore be somewhat lighter. On the other hand, this consideration is offset by the fact that the players are spared the issues on controlling a horse. A "goat" made by sewing two shaggy mats and stuffing them as an elongated fuzzy pillow, something around three by one foot after stuffing, seems pretty close. Teams: A team may consist of any number of people (all teams in one game should be of equal size). Any number of teams may play (limited by the number of participants and playing area). If teams are of more than one person, each team will wear an identifying color scarf (or turban, or coat). Taking Control of the Boz: Because of perceived safety concerns with free-for-all grabbing and shoving, the following is a suggested format for taking control -- The person carrying the Boz (or those competing over it) must be "disabled". The normal "disabling" rules for the given combat game style shall be used to "disable" in this game. Where the contestant would be fully "disabled" ("killed" in game parlance) or "disabled" in a way as to impede mobility (so called "loss of a leg") that contestant shall be taken out of play for an agreed upon period. The contestant shall leave the field, and then begin play again by entering from outside of the game field (if an outside Hallal circle is used, the contestant will begin from their team's Hallal circle). Where either of the contestant's arms is "disabled", the contestant must drop the Boz and refrain from interfering while it is picked up by someone else. Similarly, if the contestant was one of a number competing to gain control, the contestant must refrain from interfering while the Boz is picked up by another. The contestant may then continue and the disability is not kept. Modified Tudabarai on Foot The Playing Field: A square or circular area, somewhere at least the size of the narrow width of a Basketball field, is an ideal minimum. Of course, any larger area may be used -- limited only by the capacity of the players. The Boz ("goat") is placed in a four-foot circle in the middle of the playing area. If the situation allows, that circle should be somewhat dug out -- so that the top of the Boz is flush with the normal ground level. Hallal ("Judgement" - goal areas) are four-foot circles on the ground, marked equidistant from each other, just beyond the field perimeter -- one Hallal for each team playing. A team flag is placed to mark each Hallal for that team. Object of the Game: To place the Boz within the team's own Hallal. Game Play: All of the teams start, facing each other, ranged about the Boz circle -- two feet away from the circle. At the command to begin, the contestants may try for the Boz and attempt to carry it out to their respective Hallal. When the Boz is dropped in a Hallal circle, the game is over with the point to the team whose circle that was. Modified "Figure Eight" game on Foot The Playing Field: A rectangular area of a sufficient size to accommodate play should be used -- limited only by the capacity of the players. Two four-foot circles are arranged one next to the other in the middle of the playing area (widthwise on the rectangular field) -- the Boz ("goat") circle (which should ideally be somewhat dug out -- so that the top of the Boz is flush with the normal ground level) and the Hallal ("Judgement" - goal area) circle. Two markers -- flags or other objects - are placed equidistant from the middle circles lengthwise on the rectangular field. Object of the Game: To move the Boz around both markers and then place it within the Hallal. Game Play: All of the teams start, facing each other, ranged about the Boz circle -- two feet away from the circle. At the command to begin, the contestants may try for the Boz and attempt to carry it away.. The Boz must be carried around one marker, back to center, and then around the second marker, then returned to the center and dropped in the Hallal circle. The game is over when the Boz is dropped in the Hallal circle. The point goes to the team which dropped the Boz in the Hallal. Alternatively, a number of points are given -- one to the team which gets the Boz around a marker (ie: two points total -- one for each marker) and then two points to the team that drops it in the Hallal -- with a tie decided in some fun fashion (perhaps a melee battle).