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you cannot use suresh p.r. as a source - he is a travel agent and his website is the one that his this supposed history come from
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[[Image:Balarama9.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Martial arts have been associated with [[avatars]], such as [[Balarama]], in ancient [[Hindu mythology|Hindu mythological]] texts]]
[[Image:Balarama9.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Martial arts have been associated with [[avatars]], such as [[Balarama]], in ancient [[Hindu mythology|Hindu mythological]] texts]]
==History==
==History==
[[Image:Matemple.jpg|left|thumb|130px|Statues in an ancient [[hindu temple]], showing [[warriors]] in combat]]
[[Image:Matemple.jpg|left|thumb|130px|Statues in an ancient [[Hindu temple]], showing [[warriors]] in combat]]
[[History of India|Ancient India]] was one of the centres of several martial traditions and practices. Most of the centers were in the Southern region, including present-day [[Kerala]] and the ancient Kingdom of [[Tamilakam]]. Some of the older traditions include organised martial systems as practiced by the [[Kshatriya]] caste of [[Hinduism]], these systems include armed and unarmed combat and aspects such as meditation, conditioning etc. Many ancient [[hindu temple]]s have statues of [[deities]] and warriors in various postures related to combat.
[[History of India|Ancient India]] was one of the centres of several martial traditions and practices. Most of the centers were in the Southern region, including present-day [[Kerala]] and the ancient Kingdom of [[Tamilakam]]. Some of the older traditions include organised martial systems as practiced by the [[Kshatriya]] caste of [[Hinduism]], these systems include armed and unarmed combat and aspects such as meditation, conditioning etc. Many ancient [[hindu temple]]s have statues of [[deities]] and warriors in various postures related to combat.


Revision as of 18:34, 22 November 2006

The Indian subcontinent is home to a variety of martial arts, including Kalarippayattu, Pehlwani, Vajra Mushti, Gatka, and Dravidian martial arts.

File:Balarama9.jpg
Martial arts have been associated with avatars, such as Balarama, in ancient Hindu mythological texts

History

File:Matemple.jpg
Statues in an ancient Hindu temple, showing warriors in combat

Ancient India was one of the centres of several martial traditions and practices. Most of the centers were in the Southern region, including present-day Kerala and the ancient Kingdom of Tamilakam. Some of the older traditions include organised martial systems as practiced by the Kshatriya caste of Hinduism, these systems include armed and unarmed combat and aspects such as meditation, conditioning etc. Many ancient hindu temples have statues of deities and warriors in various postures related to combat.

Organised martial arts in India include the ancient martial art of Malla-yuddha (more commonly known as Mallayuddha), a form of combat wrestling codified into four forms, [1] which is described in the ancient Indian epics as the fighting style of warriors such as Bhima. The art is supposed to have gained maximum prominence in ancient India at the time when the oral tradition of the Mahabharata epic was conceived. The Mahabharata was compiled in textual form around the 5th century BC, while the epic's setting has a historical precedent in Vedic India, where the Kuru kingdom was the center of political power in the late 2nd and early 1st millennia BCE. It is believed that Malla-yuddha was regarded as a prominent martial art in that era.

Organised martial traditions were studied as part of the dharma by the warrior Kshatriya in Hinduism

Early forms of boxing are mentioned in Buddhist sources. In the Lotus Sutra (Chapter 14), Gautama Buddha (563-483 BC) refers to pugilists while speaking to Manjusri. The Lotus Sutra also refers to a dancing martial art called nara. Another early Buddhist sutra Hongyo-kyo describes a "strength contest" between Gautama Buddha's half-brother Prince Nanda and his cousin Devadatta.[2]

Records from around 500 BC describe martial arts which include combat techniques in which a fighter seizes or reverses holds on an opponent's joints, strikes with his fists, or grapples and throws his adversary. These three activities developed in conjunction with, as well as independantly of, each other.[3]

The martial art of Vajra Mushti was described in the Buddharata Sutra, written down by the 5th century,[3] though the art can be traced back to the early Kshatriya caste.[2]

Martial arts of the Indian subcontinent are diverse in nature and have origins of different times from various different ethnic groups. A number of ancient and sophisticated Dravidian martial arts were developed in South India, including Kuttu Varisai (empty hand combat), Varma Kalai (the art of vital points) in Tamil Nadu, Kalari Payattu (way of the arena) and Adithada (Hit And Block), in Kerala.

Influence of Indian martial arts

Further information: Indian influence on Chinese martial arts
See also: Bodhidharma, the martial arts, and the disputed India connection

The martial arts of India have influenced the martial arts of other countries, particularly within the Indosphere, those regions outside India influenced by Indian culture. Examples of such arts include Bando, [4] Silat, [5][6] Escrima [7] and Muay Thai. [8] [9]

File:Ricksongraciechoke.jpg
Rickson Gracie during a Yoga session

The Indian wrestling form of Pehlwani has influenced both catch wrestling and it's derivative system of shoot wrestling. Karl Istaz travelled to India to train with Indian wrestlers and incorporated their training methods in shoot wrestling, wrestlers like Yoshiaki Fujiwara have applied these methods to train shoot wrestlers around the world. [10] [11]

The conditioning methods of Indian martial arts have also been applied to contemporary mixed martial arts. [12] [13] [14]

India has also influenced the Portuguese martial art of Jogo do Pau. Tamil immigrants to Malaysia brought with them the staff fighting art Silambam. [15] [16]

K. Voroshilov travelled to India, under the employ of NKVD physical training center, "Dinamo", to observe its native matial arts. The collection of techniques from martial arts of various countries — including India — formed the basis of the Russian martial art Sambo. [17] [18]

In addition, modern martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu credit India to be the origin of their fighting principles. [19]

Indian martial arts under colonialism

Indian martial arts declined as Western colonialism disrupted the livelihoods of India's martial castes.

Rajputs who sought service with rulers as their ancestors had done found their sources of patronage limited by British restrictions; unable to find employment in their traditional line of work, some joined the Pindari.[20]

Kalarippayattu underwent a period of decline after the introduction of firearms and especially after the full establishment of British colonial rule in the 19th century.[21]

More European modes of organizing police, armies and governmental institutions, and the increasing use of firearms, gradually eroded the need for traditional martial training associated with caste-specific duties.[22]

The British Raj banned kalarippayattu in 1804 in response to a series of revolts.[23]

The resurgence of public interest in kalarippayattu began in the 1920s in Tellicherry as part of a wave of rediscovery of the traditional arts throughout South India which characterized the growing reaction against British colonial rule.[24]

Various Indian martial arts

File:Staff clip.gif
Stick fencing in Silambam Nillaikalakki
  • In the television series, Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena is shown carrying the "chakram of darkness". Xena also gets a new chakram in the second episode of the 5th seson called Chakram
Xena, holding her Chakram
File:Sadhu03 cvr(c).jpg
James Jenson, from The Sadhu comic book, in front of the hindu goddess Kali

See Also

References

  1. ^ Mallayuddha
  2. ^ a b Bruce A. Haines (1995). Karate's History and Traditions (p. 23-25). Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0804819475.
  3. ^ a b Cezar Borkowski (1998). Complete Idiot's Guide to Martial Arts.
  4. ^ [1] Women in martial arts
  5. ^ [2] The Malay Art Of Self-defense: Silat Seni Gayong
  6. ^ [3] Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia
  7. ^ [4] Filipino Martial Arts: Cabales Serrada Escrima
  8. ^ [5] Enter the Dragon ? Wrestling with martial arts phenomenon
  9. ^ [6] Thamizhar Martial Arts
  10. ^ [7] My Christmas with Karl Gotch by Jake Shannon
  11. ^ [8] Victory Goes over a bridge
  12. ^ [9] Hindu training methods
  13. ^ [10] Frank Shamrock's warrior Yoga
  14. ^ [11] Club Swinging:An Ancient Restorative Art for the Modern Martial Artist
  15. ^ [12] Jogo do Pau: Origins and Evolution
  16. ^ [13] Jogo Do Pau
  17. ^ [14] Sambo:Soviet System of Sport and Combat
  18. ^ [15] The History of Sombo
  19. ^ [16] History of Jiu-Jitsu
  20. ^ Bayly, C.A. (2002) [1988]. Indian Society and the making of the British Empire (Sixth printing ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 103. ISBN 0521386500.
  21. ^ Zarrilli, P. (1992). "To heal and/or harm: The vital spots (marmmam/varmam) in two south Indian martial traditions--Part I: Focus on Kerala's kalarippayattu". Journal of Asian Martial Arts. 1 (1).
  22. ^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. (1998). When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  23. ^ Luijendijk, D.H. (2005). Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art. Boulder: Paladin Press. ISBN 1581604807.
  24. ^ Zarrilli 1998
  25. ^ [17]
  26. ^ [18]
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