Azerbaijani National Wrestling in Physical Education: Cultural, Physical and Psychological Perspectives – A narrative review

Abstract

Physical education (PE) is important for maintaining students' physical and psychological health. It is important to note that preserving and promoting national culture and sports traditions should also be a focus in the educational process. The sports taught within the PE curriculum in schools vary based on the standards and policies of each country's education system. Teenagers in some countries, most notably in Azerbaijan, have been observed to lack adequate knowledge of and interest in national sports. This study analysed the role of national wrestling in PE in schools and its possible contributions to students' overall development. As part of the study, the narrative literature review method was used to determine the importance of implementing national wrestling elements into PE and to identify its potential benefits. The results obtained from the literature analysis indicate that integrating national sports into school programs positively influences students' physical, psychological, and social development. In addition to improving students' physical abilities, Azerbaijani national wrestling helps them develop self-control, accountability, and teamwork. This sport is also important for transmitting cultural heritage and maintaining national identity. Experiences from other countries show that integrating national sports into the curriculum reduces stress and depression levels, improves social interactions, and increases motivation and interest in sports. Therefore, it would be beneficial to include national sports, particularly wrestling, in Azerbaijani schools' curricula. As a result of the study, it can be concluded that integration of Azerbaijani national wrestling into the PE curriculum may positively influence students' development of athletic abilities, preservation of national values, and their transmission to future generations. Nevertheless, it has been noted that there is a lack of scientific research on this subject. Future research should consider adopting experimental approaches and developing methods to facilitate broader integration of national sports into schools’ curricula.

Keywords

• physical education
• national sports
• national values
• Azerbaijani national wrestling

Beden Eğitiminde Azerbaycan Milli Güreşi: Kültürel, Fiziksel ve Psikolojik Perspektifler - Bir anlatısal derleme

Öz

Beden eğitimi (BE), öğrencilerin fiziksel ve psikolojik sağlığının korunması için önemlidir. Eğitim sürecinde ulusal kültürün ve spor geleneklerinin korunması ve teşvik edilmesinin de odak noktası olması gerektiği önemle belirtilmelidir. Okullarda BE müfredatında öğretilen sporlar, her ülkenin eğitim sisteminin standartlarına ve politikalarına bağlı olarak değişmektedir. Bazı ülkelerde, özellikle Azerbaycan’da, gençlerin milli sporlar hakkında yeterli bilgi ve ilgiye sahip olmadıkları gözlemlenmiştir. Bu çalışma, okullarda beden eğitimi dersinde milli güreşin rolünü ve bunun öğrencilerin genel gelişimine olası katkılarını analiz etmiştir. Çalışmanın bir parçası olarak, milli güreş unsurlarının BE’ye uygulanmasının önemini belirlemek ve potansiyel faydalarını tanımlamak için betimleyici literatür tarama yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Literatür analizinden elde edilen sonuçlar, milli sporların okul programlarına entegre edilmesinin öğrencilerin fiziksel, psikolojik ve sosyal gelişimini olumlu yönde etkilediğini göstermektedir. Öğrencilerin fiziksel yeteneklerini geliştirmeye ek olarak, Azerbaycan milli güreşi onların özdenetim, sorumluluk ve ekip çalışması geliştirmelerine yardımcı olur. Bu spor aynı zamanda kültürel mirasın aktarılması ve ulusal kimliğin korunması açısından da önemlidir. Diğer ülkelerdeki deneyimler, milli sporların müfredata entegre edilmesinin stres ve depresyon seviyelerini azalttığını, sosyal etkileşimleri geliştirdiğini ve spora yönelik motivasyon ile ilgiyi artırdığını göstermektedir. Bu nedenle, milli sporların, özellikle güreşin, Azerbaycan okullarının müfredatına dahil edilmesi faydalı olacaktır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, Azerbaycan milli güreşinin BE müfredatına entegrasyonunun öğrencilerin sportif yeteneklerinin gelişimine, milli değerlerin korunmasına ve bu değerlerin gelecek nesillere aktarılmasına olumlu etki edeceği sonucuna varılmıştır. Bununla birlikte, bu konuda bilimsel araştırmaların eksik olduğu görülmüştür. Gelecekteki araştırmalar, deneysel yaklaşımların benimsenmesini ve milli sporların okul müfredatına daha geniş entegrasyonunu kolaylaştıracak yöntemlerin geliştirilmesini dikkate almalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• beden eğitimi
• milli sporlar
• milli değerler
• Azerbaycan milli güreşi

Kaynakça

1. Ağralı Ermiş, S., Canikli Temel, N., Yıldız Öztürk, R., Dereceli, E. (2025). The Mediating Role of Positive Self-Perception on Psychological Distress, Empathy and Mental Toughness in Athletes. International Journal of Recreation and Sports Science, 9(2), 153-167. https://doi.org/10.46463/ijrss.1694950
2. An, J., & Nie, Z. (2023). Research on Integration and Application of Ethnic Sports, Folk Sports, and Traditional Sports in School Education among Minority Groups. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 29(4), 319–344. https://doi.org/10.52152/kuey.v29i4.957
3. Aydemir, A., Yavaş, Ö., & Yılmaz, O. (2025). An Investigation of the Sports Awareness Levels of Individuals Participating in International Sports Events in Terms of Various Variables: The Case of the Marmara Region. International Journal of Recreation and Sports Science, 9(2), 252-262. https://doi.org/10.46463/ijrss.1796995
4. Ayhan, C., Gümüş, H., Marcen, C., Çağlayan, B. (2023). Leisure Activity Type and Sustainable Health Status in Late Adolescents. Insan ve Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 6(2), 231-248. https://doi.org/10.53048/johass.1372057
5. Bernthal, M. J., & Medway, F. J. (2005). An initial exploration into the psychological implications of adolescents’ involvement with professional wrestling. School Psychology International, 26(2), 224–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034305052915
6. Bowles, R., & O’Sullivan, M. (2012). Rhetoric and reality: The role of the teacher in shaping a school sport programme. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 17(3), 303–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2012.690383
7. Cha, V. (2016). Role of Sport in International Relations: National Rebirth and Renewal. Asian Economic Policy Review, 11(1), 139–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/aepr.12127
8. Chaabene, H., Negra, Y., Bouguezzi, R., Mkaouer, B., Franchini, E., Julio, U., & Hachana, Y. (2017). Physical and physiological attributes of wrestlers: An update. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(5), 1411–1442. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001738

9. Chaeroni, A., Muspardi, Ahmed, M., Talib, K., Lani, M. N., Kurnaz, M., Astuti, Y., & Orhan, B. E. (2024). Sports as an instrument of nationalism and patriotism: a systematic literature review on the role of sports in shaping national identity in various countries [El deporte como instrumento de nacionalismo y patriotismo: una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre el papel del deporte en la formación de la identidad nacional en diversos países]. Retos, 61, 1038–1049. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v61.108752
10. Cheng, Z., Xu, Y., Zhou, M., Yin, Z., Xu, L., & Chen, W. (2024). Using the grounded theory to develop the theoretical model of Chinese school sports coaching competence. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12889-024-20649-9/FIGURES/1
11. Constantinova, I., & Bulgar, S. S. (2021). The effect of traditional wrestling and games on the protection and development of national identity in Gagauzia. In Applications of Traditional Wrestling in The World (pp. 237–251). Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
12. Deng, C., Liu, Y., & Cheng, L. (2024). Research on the focus of national traditional sports culture inheritance based on weighted function algorithm. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.2478/amns.2023.2.00543
13. Fatullayev, F., Abbasov, A., Aghayev, V., Gasimov, E., & Hajiyev, B. (2018). Physical education: Textbook for 11th grade.
14. Guliyev, E., Aliyeva, K., & Yolchiyev, J. (2020). Physical education: Textbook for 5th grade.
15. Gümüş, H., Yetim, A., Tortop, Y., & Işık, Ö. (2014). Bireyse temas gerektiren mücadele sporlarından muay-thai ve güreş sporcularının saldırganlık davranışlarının çeşitli değişkenler açısından değerlendirilmesi. Sportive Health and Medicine Sciences Journal, 12(4), 1-13.
16. Gurbanov, K., Jalalov, Y., Abdullayev, Y., Ojagverdiyev, F., Novruzov, D., & Mammadov, Z. (2016). Sport Wrestling. Araz.
17. Hananingsih, W., Isnaini, L. M. Y., & Irmansyah, J. (2024). The Role of Traditional Sports in Establishing Student Character through Physical Education, Sports, and Health Learning. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 12(3), 538–545. https://doi.org/10.13189/SAJ.2024.120310
18. Huseynov, F. (2016). Physical education: Textbook for 9th grade.
19. Huseynov, F., Baghirov, S., Aliyev, İ., & Abdurahmanov, S. (2018). Physical education: Textbook for 10th grade.
20. Huseynov, F., İbadova, B., Aliyev, A., Akhundov, N., Asgarov, A., Soltanov, O., Musayev, V., Allahverdiyev, B., & Qaybaliyev, E. (2013). Educational Curriculum on Physical Education for General Education Schools of The Republic of Azerbaijan.
21. Isik, O., and Gumus, H. (2018). Evaluation of effective demographic variables in competition performances of Turkish wrestling referees. J. Hum. Sport. Exerc. 13, 60–71. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2018.131.07
22. Kimura, M., Yoshinaga, S., Suzuki, K., & Yogi, Y. (2022). Developing educational tools that incorporate basic movements of judo into physical education classes for eight-years-old elementary school students. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 22(7), 1639–1645. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.07206
23. Kılıch, F. (2018). 11-15 Yaş Çocuklarda Temel Judo Eğitiminin Statik ve Dinamik Denge Üzerine Etkisi. Health Science İnstitution, Gaziantep University.
24. Knaus, M. C., Lechner, M., & Reimers, A. K. (2020). For better or worse? – The effects of physical education on child development. Labour Economics, 67, 101904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101904
25. Köroğlu, M., Yentürk, B., Çelik, N. M., Soyer, F. (2025). The Relationship Between Leisure Satisfaction Levels and School Commitment of Physical Education and Sports School Students. International Journal of Recreation and Sports Science, 9(1), 103-113. https://doi.org/10.46463/ijrss.1678273
26. Kurşun, E., & Gümüş, H. (2025). Examination of Generation Z’s Attitudes Towards Gender Roles and Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientations. Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science, 17(1), 135-156. https://doi.org/10.4314/mejs.v17i1.9
27. Li, Y. L. (2014). Study on the folk games used in physical education curriculum of school. Computer, Intelligent Computing and Education Technology - Selected Peer Reviewed Papers From 2014 International Conference on Computer, Intelligent Computing and Education Technology, CICET 2014, 2, 843–845. https://doi.org/10.1201/b16698-183
28. Makarova, E. V., Shilova, M. V., Putilina, V. Y., Sviridov, B. A., & Brilenok, N. B. (2024). Features of physıcal condıtıon of judo athletes of dıfferent age groups. Teoriya i Praktika Fizicheskoy Kultury, 2024(7), 96–98.
29. Mosston, M., & Ashworth, S. (2008). Teaching Physical Education: First Online Edition. Nicholas, D. M., Mugampoza, D., Nankwanga, A., … Nahwera, L. (2025). Research Designs in Sports and Health Science. International Journal of Recreation and Sports Science, 9(2), 168-178. https://doi.org/10.46463/ijrss.1712571
30. Order of the Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan on approval of the curricula of general education institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year | Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (2024). https://edu.gov.az/az/esas-senedler/umumi-tehsil-muessiselerinin-2024-2025-ci-tedris-ili-ucun-tedris-planlarinin-tesdiqi-haqqinda-azerbaycan-respublikasi-elm-ve-tehsil-nazirinin-emri
31. Pavlyutina, L. Y., Emmert, M. S., & Fadina, O. O. (2024). A framework for incorporatıng national sports into the physical education and sports curriculum at a technical university. Human Sport Medicine, 24(3), 94–100. https://doi.org/10.14529/hsm240311
32. Romanova, E., Botagariуev, T., Kolokoltsev, M., Tissen, P., Ustselemova, N., Tonoyan, K., Bayankin, O., Kubiуeva, S., Mambetov, N., Stepanova, L., & Tretyakova, N. (2021). Original Article National and regional component of physical education curricula for schoolchildren in Kazakhstan and Russia. Journal of Physical Education and Sport ® (JPES), 21(2), 860–867. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2021.02107
33. Seçer, E., Tozoğlu, E., & Uçan, İ. (2025). The Effect of Mindfulness on Moral Decision-Making Attitudes in Athletes: Moderated Mediation Control of Moral Metacognition and Emotional Intelligence. International Journal of Recreation and Sports Science, 9(1), 66-81. https://doi.org/10.46463/ijrss.1630014
34. Setiawan, M. N. A., Suherman, W. S., Suharjana, Widiyanto, & Hardianto. (2024). Revitalizing Traditional Sports in Physical Education Curricula: A Literature Review on Cultural Heritage and Educational Philosophy. Ibero-American Journal of Exercise and Sports Psychology, 19(2), 141–146.
35. Simon, R. L. (2018). The coach as moral exemplar. In The Ethics of Coaching Sports: Moral, Social and Legal Issues (pp. 9–17). Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429496578
36. Sirojova, Z. N. (2024). The impact of physical activity on the physical health and psychological well-being of students. BIO Web of Conferences, 120, 01054. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202412001054
37. Stamenkovic, A., Manic, M., Roklicer, R., Trivic, T., Malovic, P., & Drid, P. (2022). Effects of Participating in Martial Arts in Children: A Systematic Review. Children, 9(8), 1203. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9081203
38. Stover, D., & Peterson, A. R. (2023). Wrestling. In The Youth Athlete: A Practitioner’s Guide to Providing Comprehensive Sports Medicine Care (pp. 989–999). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99992-2.00089-X
39. Topic, M. D., & Coakley, J. (2010). Complicating the relationship between sport and national identity: The case of post-socialist Slovenia. Sociology of Sport Journal, 27(4), 371–389. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.27.4.371
40. Türkmen, M., & Şener, O. A. (2020). Traditional Wrestling of Gagauz Turks And its Role in Strengthening of Nation’s Cultural Traditions. Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise, 22(3), 438–443. https://doi.org/10.15314/tsed.792987
41. Umarov, A. A. K., Akhmedov, A. O., & Julagov, S. M. M. (2024). Freestyle wrestling in sections of a school sports club. Perspektivy Nauki i Obrazovania, 68(2), 278–294. https://doi.org/10.32744/pse.2024.2.17
42. Vorozheikin, A., Glukhov, A., Sushchenko, V., Bakayev, V., Kraynik, V., Davidenko, I., Konovalov, D., Purtova, G., Bondin, S., Tyupa, P., Gubanov, M., Mungalov, A., & Seredinskaya, L. (2024). The educational and training program at the preparatory stage for young Sambo athletes. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 24(10), 1376–1383. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.10261
43. Yarımkaya, E., Akandere, M., & Altunkuş, S. (2017). İnvestigation of the effect of wrestling training on depression levels of children between the ages of 11-14. International Refereed Academic Journal of Sports, Health and Medical Sciences, 1(19), 300–310. https://doi.org/10.17363/SSTB.20161919751
44. Yogi, Y., Kimura, M., Matsui, T., Kubota, H., Ishikawa, Y., Inoue, K., Suzuki, K., Nose, S., & Hashimoto, S. (2022). Developing teaching materials that integrate judo games for physical education lessons targeting lower elementary students (7-year-olds). Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 22(2), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.02041
45. Zhang, J., & Fang, W. (2022). Study on the Role of College Sports Games and Taekwondo Teaching Based on Information Health. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 2022, 2873759. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2873759