Khridoli
Officially Khridoli (Georgian: ხრიდოლი — 'Combat / War')
TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN MARTIAL ART + COMBAT SYSTEM developed over CENTURIES in the CAUCASUS mountains — an umbrella term for Georgian combative arts encompassing WRESTLING (CHIDAOBA / KRIVI — fist-fighting), STICK FIGHTING, ARCHERY, SWORDSMANSHIP, and HORSEBACK COMBAT. Practiced historically by the FEUDAL KNIGHTS of Georgia + preserved through folk tradition + royal court patronage. Chidaoba wrestling (a Khridoli subset) was inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 2018. Governed by GEORGIAN KHRIDOLI + CHIDAOBA FEDERATIONS. Signature drum-and-flute music accompanies bouts.
What is Khridoli?
KHRIDOLI (Georgian: ხრიდოლი, literally 'combat/war') is TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN MARTIAL ART + COMBAT SYSTEM developed over CENTURIES in the CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS — an umbrella term encompassing MULTIPLE COMBATIVE ARTS practiced by GEORGIAN PEOPLES from ancient times through the medieval feudal kingdom + into the modern era. HISTORY: Khridoli's roots trace back to at least the 3RD-4TH CENTURY CE with references in early Georgian chronicles + church iconography; formalized during the GEORGIAN GOLDEN AGE (11th-13th c CE) under QUEEN TAMAR + KING DAVID THE BUILDER when Georgian knights ('AZNAURI') developed sophisticated combat training. Suppressed during Russian imperial + Soviet eras but preserved as folk tradition; REVIVED post-Georgian independence (1991). Considered a national heritage symbol. COMPONENT ARTS (Khridoli umbrella): (1) CHIDAOBA (ჭიდაობა) — TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN WRESTLING; the most prominent + globally recognized subset; wrestlers wear traditional CHOKHA (long belted coat) + attempt to throw opponent onto BACK on grass or padded surface; performed to LIVE MUSIC by DUDUKI (drum) + DOLI (flute); INSCRIBED ON UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST (2018). (2) KRIVI (კრივი) — FIST FIGHTING / traditional Georgian boxing; bare-knuckle striking with focus on close-range combat + head strikes. (3) LELO BURTI (ლელო ბურთი) — related folk village team ball-carrying sport played with a stuffed leather ball. (4) STICK-FIGHTING with wooden staves. (5) ARCHERY on foot + horseback (KHRA). (6) SWORDSMANSHIP with GEORGIAN SABER (KHMALI). (7) HORSEBACK COMBAT + LANCE work (ISINDI — related lance-throwing horse sport). RITUAL + CULTURAL: All Khridoli forms open with GEORGIAN POLYPHONIC SINGING + DUDUK + DOLI MUSIC; wrestlers + fighters wear TRADITIONAL CHOKHA (long belted coat with cartridge holders) + PAPAKHA (fur hat) for ceremonies. RESPECT + HONOR CODE is central — includes bowing to opponent + audience + traditional oaths. MODERN GOVERNANCE: GEORGIAN NATIONAL KHRIDOLI FEDERATION (2003); GEORGIAN CHIDAOBA FEDERATION separately governs the wrestling subset. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS annually; INTERNATIONAL CHIDAOBA CHAMPIONSHIPS growing with Georgian diaspora participation. CHIDAOBA RULES SPECIFICS: 2 wrestlers on grass or mat; standardized starting grip; win by throwing opponent onto BACK (all-shoulders + upper back touching); 3-round matches; weight categories. INFLUENCE: Chidaoba techniques strongly influenced SOVIET SAMBO (created 1930s by Georgian + Russian wrestlers); many Olympic Georgian wrestlers (multiple gold medals in freestyle + Greco-Roman) came through Chidaoba training. LEGENDS: LEVAN TEDIASHVILI (Chidaoba + freestyle Olympic champion 1972, 1976); LEVAN NASIRIDZE; SHOTA CHOCHISHVILI (Olympic judo gold 1972). CULTURAL: Featured at Georgian festivals + national holidays; important in Georgian cultural revival post-independence; UNESCO recognition of Chidaoba boosted global awareness.
Quick facts
Category
Traditional & Cultural Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1–2
Duration
~15 min
Where played
both
Field / court
Grass or padded mat (wrestling); open ground for other arts
Country of origin
🇬🇪 Georgia
Estimated origin
3rd-4th century CE (early Georgian chronicles); formalized medieval; revived post-1991
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Throw opponent onto back (wrestling); KO or points (fist-fighting); other objectives per sub-art.
Rules
Basic rules
Chidaoba: throw opponent onto back (both shoulders + upper back)
Wrestling win condition.
Standardized chokha grip on collar + sleeve
Wrestling grip.
Live duduk + doli music accompanies all bouts
Ritual + cultural essential.
Ceremonial opening: bow to opponent + audience
Honor code.
Chidaoba: 3 rounds × 3-5 min
Modern format.
Weight categories in modern competition
Standardized matchmaking.
Scoring
Chidaoba: point-based for throws + control; sub-arts have their own scoring.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Chidaoba: perfect back throw (all-shoulders down) | Ippon-equivalent (match won) |
| Chidaoba: partial throw with control | 3-5 pts |
| Chidaoba: takedown without back-throw | 1-2 pts |
| Krivi (fist-fighting): points per clean strike; KO decisive | Judged rounds |
| Georgian National Chidaoba Champion title | Annual honor |
| UNESCO Cultural Heritage recognition (Chidaoba, 2018) | Global heritage status |
Win condition · Sub-art specific; Chidaoba: ippon-throw or highest points in 3 rounds.
Playing area
Called
Grass or padded mat (wrestling); open ground for other arts
Dimensions
~7-9 m diameter circular area for wrestling; larger for horseback
Traditional venues include village greens + monastery courtyards + modern arenas.
Equipment
Chokha (long belted Georgian coat with cartridge holders)
Traditional Georgian dress + wrestling grip garment
Papakha (fur hat)
Ceremonial attire
Duduk (Georgian drum) + Doli (flute)
Live music accompaniment
Khmali (Georgian saber — for swordsmanship subset)
For sword training
Traditional wooden staves + bow + horse gear
For respective sub-arts
Strategies
Master chokha grip control — foundation of all Chidaoba
Sport-specific.
Cross-train with sambo + freestyle for international pathway
Georgian wrestlers dominate at Olympics via this route.
Feel the duduk-doli rhythm — Georgian bouts have musical flow
Cultural + tactical.
Multi-sub-art Khridoli builds well-rounded warrior
Traditional path.
Terminology
- Khridoli (ხრიდოლი)
- 'Combat/War' — umbrella term for Georgian martial arts.
- Chidaoba (ჭიდაობა)
- Traditional Georgian wrestling (UNESCO 2018).
- Krivi (კრივი)
- Traditional Georgian fist-fighting/boxing.
- Chokha
- Long belted Georgian coat worn for wrestling + ceremonies.
- Duduk / Doli
- Georgian drum + flute — live music at bouts.
- Aznauri
- Medieval Georgian knight class — historic Khridoli practitioners.
- Khmali
- Georgian saber (for swordsmanship sub-art).
- Isindi
- Related horseback lance-throwing sport.
- Lelo Burti
- Related folk village ball-carrying team sport.
- Papakha
- Traditional Caucasian fur hat.
Major competitions
Georgian National Chidaoba Championship
annual · Georgia · since 2005
Khridoli National Championship
annual · Georgia · since 2003
International Chidaoba Championship
biennial · Georgia (host) · since 2010
Tbilisoba Festival (Tbilisi city festival demonstrations)
annual · Tbilisi · since 1979
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Georgian National Khridoli Federation
Founded 2003 · Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgian Chidaoba Federation
Founded 2005 · Tbilisi
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (Chidaoba, 2018)
Founded 2018 · Global
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Levan Tediashvili — Chidaoba + Olympic freestyle wrestling gold (1972, 1976)
- Shota Chochishvili — Judo Olympic gold (1972), Chidaoba background
- Levan Nasiridze — Multi-time Chidaoba champion
- Multiple Georgian Olympic wrestlers with Chidaoba roots
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Join a Georgian Khridoli or Chidaoba federation club
Concentrated in Georgia + diaspora.
- 2
Start with Chidaoba wrestling basics + traditional music appreciation
Foundation.
intermediate
- 1
Compete at regional Georgian championships
Structured pathway.
advanced
- 1
National + International Chidaoba championships; Olympic freestyle crossover
Elite pathway.
Frequently asked
What is Khridoli?+
TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN MARTIAL ART + COMBAT SYSTEM developed over CENTURIES in the CAUCASUS mountains — an umbrella term for Georgian combative arts encompassing WRESTLING (CHIDAOBA / KRIVI — fist-fighting), STICK FIGHTING, ARCHERY, SWORDSMANSHIP, and HORSEBACK COMBAT. Practiced historically by the FEUDAL KNIGHTS of Georgia + preserved through folk tradition + royal court patronage. Chidaoba wrestling (a Khridoli subset) was inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 2018. Governed by GEORGIAN KHRIDOLI + CHIDAOBA FEDERATIONS. Signature drum-and-flute music accompanies bouts.
How did Chidaoba influence Sambo and Olympic wrestling?+
CHIDAOBA + related Caucasus wrestling traditions (Armenian KOKH, Azerbaijani GULESH) directly INFLUENCED THE CREATION OF SAMBO in the SOVIET UNION (1930s). Soviet sport scientists gathered techniques from Georgian, Armenian, Russian, Mongolian, and other Soviet wrestling traditions to create SAMBO (SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya — 'self-defense without weapons'). Many top SOVIET + LATER GEORGIAN OLYMPIC WRESTLERS came through Chidaoba training: LEVAN TEDIASHVILI (freestyle gold 1972, 1976), SHOTA CHOCHISHVILI (judo gold 1972). Modern Georgia produces disproportionate Olympic wrestling talent per capita — a legacy of the CHIDAOBA + KHRIDOLI training pipeline. UNESCO recognition (2018) helped preserve + globalize the tradition.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Chidaoba— Wikipedia
- UNESCO Intangible Heritage — Chidaoba— UNESCO