He is passionate about hunting, fishing, and hardening his body.
“I was born on June 12, 1984, in the village of Korul, which is located in the Alaï district of the Osh region. My family has been living in Karaganda for a long time. We have eight sons, whom I take to school and kindergarten, and I actively engage in their upbringing,” Nurlan shares.
He received his education at the schools named after Jeenaly Orozov and A. Bektashov, which are located in the villages of Korul and Birinchi Mai. However, unfortunately, he was unable to obtain higher education, as his family moved to Kazakhstan in search of work in the 1990s.
Later, his parents returned to their homeland, while Nurlan stayed in Kazakhstan, where he married a Kazakh girl. They met when he rented an apartment in her family's house. In 2002, they got married after two years of dating. Now they have been together for almost 26 years,” he said.
Nurlan had his first experience of winter swimming about 15 years ago in Yekaterinburg. At that time, he could not do it regularly, only occasionally immersing himself in cold water. However, over the past three years, he has started swimming every day—both in summer and winter, even when the temperature drops to -40 degrees. Considering that Karaganda is one of the coldest cities in Kazakhstan, this requires considerable effort.
“I feel like a person who is closely connected with nature, especially with water. I fish at any time of the year—both in summer and winter. There have been unpleasant situations: the ice cracked, and I fell into the water three times, but I managed to get out each time. Over time, I developed a real attachment to this activity,” Nurlan shared.
His passion for hunting and fishing has brought him success: in 2021, he took first place in the regional fishing competition and second place at the national level. In the future, he hopes to represent Kyrgyzstan well at international tournaments and raise the flag of his country,” he added.
Nurlan noted that his family supports his hobbies. “My father is 64 years old, and he swims in the Ailai River every morning. My sons in Karaganda have also started immersing themselves in the water with me for the past two years. I believe that winter swimming gives the body a powerful boost of energy and helps to harden it. It is important to do this gradually and wisely, considering your well-being,” said Nurlan Jumabaev.
He is confident that hardening contributes to strengthening the immune system and helps with various health problems, such as dizziness, stress, and other diseases.
“Every year, more and more people in Karaganda, both Kazakhs and representatives of other nationalities, are interested in winter swimming: they ask questions, come to learn, and practice with us. Last year, there were only a few of us, but this year there are noticeably more, as people begin to understand the benefits of hardening.
Unfortunately, many people now rely too much on medications and chemical substances. Pharmacies have filled the streets, and this is our fault, as we unconsciously support their business. I urge everyone to avoid medications whenever possible. Thank God, there are many natural remedies, such as honey, ginger, turmeric, and others, that can help in the treatment and prevention of diseases. However, vegetable oil, premium flour, and yeast are our main enemies. So please choose sourdough bread instead of yeast bread,” he added.
“I have many plans for the future. I want to return to Kyrgyzstan and take my parents on a pilgrimage. Together with my eight sons, I intend to do everything to glorify Kyrgyzstan and develop in various fields,” concluded Jumabaev.
