Kazhymukan Munaytpasov (1871-1948)

Kazhymukan Munaytpasov is a legendary Kazakh wrestler, multiple prize winner of international competitions in French and freestyle wrestling. The first Kazakh who glorified the Kazakh wrestling school all over the world.

According to archival data, Kazhymukan Munaytpasov was born in April 1871 in the village of Zhadik (Karaotkel) of the Akmola region.

Kazhymukan performed in various types of wrestling. He succeeded to embrace most of the famous sports arenas of the world at that time. In total, he won 48 medals and awards among heavyweight athletes in 54 countries. He wrestled with the most famous athletes in the world. Among them, it is enough to mention Ivan Shemyakin, Ivan Poddubny, Alex Aberg, Ivan Zaikin, Paul Pons and Georg Lurich.

For several years, Kazhymukan studied the art of classical wrestling at the famous St. Petersburg Wrestling School.

In 1908 in Cologne, he won the world champion title for the first time, which he has held for many years.

Wide fame and glory came to Kazhymukan after the victory in 1909, at the World Championship in Riga. In 1910 he won a gold medal at the international championship in Warsaw. In 1914 he became the world champion in Paris.

Kazhymukan performed under the pseudonyms «Japanese Yamogata-Muhanura», «Mukanov-Muhanura». After the victory over the Turkish wrestler in Istanbul, he received the title of «Kazhy» and became a «Kazhymukan» for the rest of the life.

Kazhymukan also wrestled with world-famous athletes of the national Japanese jiu-jitsu wrestling in Japan and China.

Kazhymukan made a significant contribution to the formation and development of wrestling in Kazakhstan, including the national wrestling kazaksha kures.

There were legends about Kazhymukan among the people. Kazhymukan was a real giant. While being 195 centimeters tall, he weighed over 150 kg. He was not only a skilled wrestler but also a versatile and talented person. He had a wonderful voice, performed folk songs wonderfully, masterfully played the dombra, and performed in circus performances.

There is a legend about his battle with a pack of wolves, when he defeated six predators at a time.

Streets, squares sport palaces and schools in Kazakhstan are named after the Kazakh hero. Documentaries and feature films have been made about Kazhymukan. A memorial house-museum has been opened in the village of Temirlan in the Turkestan region.