Nirooshadi Zoorkhaneh in Tehran
Nirooshadi is the oldest Zoorkhaneh in Tehran, founded in 1926. This recently renovated site is located in Mollavi street, near the Imam Houssain Mosque in southern Tehran. Every day, except Thursday, men come to train and practice early in the morning and after evening prayer. Allthough Zoorkhaneh is for men only, women are recently allowed to come to Zoorkhaneh games, but only if the are dressed in proper Hejab (full Chador). For the first time in history Nirooshadi is planning on organising Zoorkhaneh for women in the near future.
Zoorkhaneh (house of power) is the Iranian traditional form of power training. Zoorkhaneh consists of 7 main exercises practiced using special tools which are shaped after ancient weapons such as sword, mace, shield & bow. Its birth dates back to more than 800 years ago, when Persia was invaded by Mongolians and Iranian patriots gathered together and created secret groups to fight against the occupiers. According to the "Yassa" (The Mongolian law) defeated nations were not allowed to practice any martial exercise; so Iranian men began to exercise secretly in abandoned underground places far from cities. For this purpose, body building tools which were made in the shape of their weapons. They also practiced wrestling. Through wrestling competitions, the strongest man, or "Pahlevan", would be selected.
Besides fighting against the intruders, the other job for Pahlevans was to help the poor & the oppressed classes of the society. So gradually a Zoorkhaneh school was not only a gymnasium, but also a place to learn chivalry, manliness, forgiveness & other moral qualities.
April 22 2007
Credit: © Guido Van Damme/ 2007