Fighting back

Chennai: India is known for its rich heritage and diverse culture. But do we cherish and practice ancient martial art forms? As times changed so did our lifestyles and our likes. We were in a hurry to move forward without thinking much about the cost. “Changes in the lifestyle of people pushed them to switch to new things and forget traditional practices,” Tamil, a Chennai-based Silambam coach, told this Correspondent.

Many States in India have unique martial art forms that traces back thousands of years. For example, Adimurai and Silambam are self-defense practices that originated in Tamil Nadu, in Kerala people practice Kalaripayattu, Mardani Khel has its roots in Maharashtra, and so on. “Adimurai is one of the ancient martial art forms in Tamil Nadu. Earlier, as there were no weapons, people practised this to protect themselves using their hands and legs. The martial art was on the brink of extinction before it got represented in the Tamil film, ‘Pattasu’. Now people living in urban areas are getting exposed to this art form and have started to practise the same,” said Kavin, an Adimurai trainer at Silambam and Adimurai Training Academy, Chennai. “Mardani Khel is a weapon-based self-defence art form practised from the time of Marathas. The martial art was on the verge of extinction when even the native people stopped practising it,” Aniket Dumbre, Mardani Khel trainer said. “Mardani Khel faced its first hurdle after 1857 when the British government banned the use of weapons. After that, the art form was practised as a folk game in villages using bamboo sticks with comparatively less dangerous moves to ensure its survival,” he added.