Genghis Khan considered wrestling to be an important way to keep his army in good physical shape and combat ready.

The court of the Qing dynasty (1646–1911) held regular wrestling events, mainly between ethnic Manchu and Mongol wrestlers.

Cave paintings in the Bayankhongor Province of Mongolia dating back to Neolithic age of 7000BC show grappling of two naked men and surrounded by crowds.

[citation needed] The art of Bökh appears on bronze plates discovered in the ruins of the Xiongnu empire (206 BC–220 AD).

[citation needed] Originally, Bökh was a military sport intended to provide mainly strength, stamina and skills training to troops.

Wrestling became a key factor when deciding the candidate rankings in imperial martial exams plus outstanding wrestlers were entitled to high distinctions.

[4] The Secret History of the Mongols (written in Mongolian in 1240 AD) in Chapter 4, Paragraph 140 records a wrestling match between Buri the Wrestler and Belgutei that took place in Eastern Mongolia on the Year of the Monkey (1200 AD): One day Genghis Khan had Buri Bokh and Belgutei wrestle each other.

Belgutei managed with great effort to press Buri Bokh down at the shoulder and proceeded to sit on his belt area.

Belgutei understood the meaning of this, held Buri Bokh firmly, jerked him at the chest and buttocks and broke his back.

They had their chests, legs and arms exposed and advanced doing most comic dances, certainly to ensure the elasticity of their muscles during the last minute.

Ten days later there was to take place a horse race in a steppe close to Urga, wherein a thousand racers would participate, but we couldn't wait until then.

A 1967 Mongolian painting shows an old Urga wrestling match in detail, with the wrestlers wearing the same "Zodog" and "Shuudag" as they do in the present-day games (1924–present).

Sharavjamts was invited to take part in the state Naadam of 1945 (footage still exists) and succeeded in defeating three wrestlers at the age of nearly 70.

Although the modern wrestling codes since 1980 stipulate that a lot drawing method be used, this is usually only done at major cross-regional Naadams and championship matches.

[7] If a wrestler secures five or more wins in a Naadam but doesn't surpass their previous record, they are honored with a title (Mongolian: чимэг) instead of being promoted.

The fourth all ethnic Mongols' wrestling tournament held in 2011 was organized in Tuva republic, Russia, where ulsin khartsaga (State Falcon) A. Byambajav was declared as the winner.

Sanjaadamba won the tournament in +85 kg weight category, where ulsin nachin (State Falcon) Erdenebileg Enkhbat was runner-up.

There are also smaller scale tournaments throughout the year that take place at the Wrestling Palace in Ulaanbaatar, usually in October, November, May and June with 64 or 128 wrestlers.

Government organizations or sometimes even big companies also host smaller scale competitions between 32 and 64 wrestlers to celebrate like anniversaries or special occasions.

Ordos, Alagshaa/Shalbur and Oirad wrestlers begin a match locked together, while the Ujumchin, Halh and Hulunbuir styles start a bout without physical contact.

A Hulunbuir wrestler may kick his opponent directly in the legs but that technique is not sanctioned by the other styles and is banned in the official code.

For example, when a wrestler's clothes get loose or entangled, his opponent is expected to stop attacking and help the former to re-arrange them—even though it might mean giving up a good winning opportunity.

Whether winning or losing, good manners dictate that the two opponents shake hands and salute each other and the audience, both prior to and after a bout.

The standard gear of a wrestler includes: A tight, collarless, heavy-duty short-sleeved jacket of red or blue color.

It is fastened at the back with a simple knotted string, and the front is cut away, leaving the wrestler's chest exposed.

According to legend, on one occasion a wrestler defeated all other combatants and ripped open the zodog to reveal her breasts, showing to all she was a woman.

One of the defining features of bökh is a dance wrestlers perform as they enter the contest field and exiting at the end.

In Inner Mongolia, the dance is supposed to be a mimicking of lions or tigers prancing (magshikh)--as represented by the Üjümchin version.

Another major variation, popular among Mongols of Inner Mongolia's northeastern Khülünbüir region, resembles deer bounding (kharailtaa).

Mongol wrestling dance has its original forms in shamanistic rituals where people imitated movements of various animals.