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Iran 1960s. Middle East. Body building for men. Zurkhaneh power work out ritual is carried out by a group of very muscular, strong men. Type of Iranian martial arts or ancient sport. The training ritual begins with men swinging heavy clubs over their shoulders in circular movement. A drummer keeps beat. The men are bare chested. A man joins the group later and lifts two heavy Indian clubs in his hands. One man whirls around and around in the centre of the sunken octagon shaped arena, akin to a bath house setting. Drummer rings a bell. Another man swings a iron bow above his head, a kabbiida. Another now throws smaller clubs into the air, with a view up to the mosaic domed ceiling. At the end one man walks towards the camera and closes sliding doors.
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