They've put in the reps. The unglamorous, repetitive, back-aching reps that nobody posts about. They've made the mistakes - most of them more than once - owned them, and came back sharper. They know what they're capable of, because they've tested it — in the real world, under real pressure, with real consequences.
Excellence isn't a destination for these people. They’re just wired that way. It's a habit they can't shake, and at this point they've stopped trying.
Skill Seekers.
Excellence on the outskirts.
Er Enish
(Horseback Wrestling)
Horse wrestling in Kyrgyzstan, locally known as Er Enish or Oodarysh, is a traditional equestrian martial art where riders attempt to pull each other from their mounts.
Originating centuries ago as combat training for nomadic warriors, it evolved into a celebrated cultural spectacle and competitive sport.
Horseback wrestler and
U.S. Kok Boru team competitor,
Father, MMA fighter, surfer,
veteran and volunteer and
ForgeLine's Head of Customer
Engagement, Nick Willert.
“It’s the Western Frontier meets the Nomadic Steppe, reminiscent of the American “Wild West,” and exemplifying the shared values of horsemanship, rugged individualism and resilience”.
THE CENTRAL ASIAN STEPPE
Military Training: Er Enish originally developed as a practical combat and survival skill among Central Asian nomadic tribes. In close-quarters tribal conflicts, dismounting an enemy warrior was a primary tactic.
Historical Rules: In ancient times, the "rules" were essentially the laws of survival. Warriors used whatever brutal tactics were necessary— including arm holds and leverage-to force an opponent to touch the ground.
WARRIOR TRAINING
The "Nomad Pentathlon": The sport evolved alongside other equestrian disciplines designed to train warriors, showcase strength, and foster the deep bond between the Kyrgyz people and their horses.
MODERN NOMAD GAMES
Often described as the "Olympics of nomadic culture," this international event features hundreds of athletes from nearly 90 countries competing in traditional sports, including horseback wrestling, archery, and Kok-Boru (a polo-like game played with a goat carcass).
Meet
Nick Willert -
Captain,
US Horseback
Wrestling Team
A resume that reads
like an action movie.
Q&A W/ NICK WILLERT
But wait,
there's more...
Much more.
