The combative arts practiced in ancient hermitages were based on a comprehensive and interrelated body of knowledge.
This article attempts to provide a bird’s eye view of the various systems and weaponry still in practice today.
Intentional body throws are practiced to learn to fall properly without injury.
Pushes and strikes against the opponents body with legs, shoulders, forearms and various other parts is practiced for conditioning.
Various push-up on fingers and knuckles are practiced.
It is not unusual for an expert in mallayuddha to perform one thousand repetitions of Dands and Baithaks during a practice session.
Therapeutic healing practices and massage therapy is usually practiced by the master.
Vajra-Mushti is an off shoot of Mallayuddha practiced mainly in the north.
Punches and kicks in addition to Mallayuddha techniques are practiced.
Gatka started with Har Govind Guru in late 1500’s AD. Gatka has mainly been practiced in India by the Nahang Singhs, who believe in the importance of preserving the type of dress and weaponry as was worn by the Sikh Gurus.
It is practiced in circular motions, simple forward and backward motions and also more complex motions such as star shapes.
Kalaripayat is the martial art that is practiced in the southern tip of India in the state of Kerala.
In 1793 Kalaripayat was outlawed by the British and became almost extinct, however its practices and traditions were saved by few masters.
In fact the highest stage of Kalarippayat is the Marma Adi, which is a near extinct science, practiced partially by a few masters.
At one point the practitioner were called Agasthiyars or Siddha Yogis referring to the fact that they were expected to practice a highly esoteric form of yoga meditation.
Therapeutic treatment of Marmans with piercing needles was practiced by Ayurvedic practitioners, however the finger and hand treatment is the most common usage today.
Silambam is another martial art practiced in south India in the area of Tamil Nadu.
In summary, the numerous Indian martial arts practiced today and cataloged in this article are derived from the Kshatriya Vidya that was practiced in ancient India.
However the methodology of warrior training as well as the practices that leads one to enlightenment is as unified and alive today as it was in the India’s ancient past.
The study of Indian martial arts enriches one’s own practices and attitudes regardless of the martial art that one may be practicing today.
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