Anthony Hunter‘s seven day journey to Dagestan to train at some of the region’s most prestigious gyms provided a rare glimpse into the reality of training in the home of combat sports names.
Hunter booked his trip through MK Wrestling and stayed at an athlete hotel in Makhachkala while training at various local gyms. Unlike typical training camps where everything happens on site his experience immersed him directly with Dagestani athletes.
“I was only training with Dagastanis. There was not a single foreigner there whilst I was there,”
Hunter explained. This meant training alongside some of the region’s elite wrestlers including a European silver medalist.
The journey was not straightforward. Dagestan is not a destination where travelers can simply arrive and sign up at a gym.
“You can’t enter Dagestan alone. It’s not Thailand where you just book a flight,”
Hunter noted. Entry requires arrangement through a respectable gym coach or training camp. Authorities want to prevent mass tourism and ensure visitors understand local customs and traditions.
Hunter’s guide Murat is a master of sports and head wrestling coach. He proved essential to his experience.
“When I came there, especially with a camera as well, they know they could trust me,”
he said. This trust allowed him unprecedented access to film his training sessions despite the language barrier since he met only one English speaker during his stay.
The practical challenges were significant. With Russia under international restrictions accessing money was difficult.
“You can’t access your bank cards. Everything is blocked,”
Hunter explained. He had to bring cash and exchange it locally. Internet connectivity was unreliable electricity outages happened and most countries classify Dagestan as a restricted travel zone advising against trips there.
Despite the obstacles Hunter found the training exceptional and the people welcoming. The wrestlers he trained with showed remarkable restraint and respect.
“Everybody was extre mely respectful to my skill level in wrestling,”
he observed. Even when being dominated technically his training partners ensured a safe ego free environment.
Daily life was surprisingly normal and affordable. Hunter spent time at local coffee shops and restaurants including Khabib‘s establishment Papaha where dinner cost around €20. Breakfast was roughly €3 which showed how affordable the region is compared to Western destinations.
Hunter’s total costs included about €800 for flights from Europe and €75 per night for accommodation and training with food paid separately. Other all inclusive camps can cost several thousand euros depending on duration and activities.
The experience left a lasting impression.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was something that I had never ever experienced before,”
Hunter reflected. However he noted that Dagestan is not for everyone.
“You need to plan it for a couple of months. It’s not something that you book in the spur of a moment,”
he advised.
