In Puducherry, This Man Teaches The Ancient Martial Arts Form Of Mallakhamb

Sports are a significant part of Indian culture, and the history of sports dates back thousands of years as a part of entertainment, culture and tradition. Similarly, Mallakhamb is a form of an ancient martial art that was used to teach ancient warriors and wrestlers. It may look like an aerial yoga or gymnastic exercise done on a vertical pillar.

As per studies, Mallakhamb is considered a unique game that helps develop all organs of the body. In Tamil, the word also means “wrestler’s pole”. The history of Mallakhamb dates back to almost the first half of the 12th century, and later the Marathas gave importance to the sport.

To keep up the tradition of the sport and not let it become extinct, a man named Ganesh runs a Kshatriya academy in Murungapakkam, Puducherry, to promote the sport. He trains individuals from the age of three to thirty for participation in national or state-level competitions.

Talking to News18, Ganesh said, “Mallakhamb should be taught to students in schools and help them participate in several national and state-level competitions. The government should also conduct such competitions and reward the participants in return. This might help us save the sport.”

Following this, he added that the government should not just include clubs in the school but also promote traditional art forms and games so that it helps the students grow and learn and also promotes traditional art forms. He said, “This is a request on behalf of our athletes.”

Mallakhamb helps individuals get a flexible body, an attentive mind and a focused mind. Playing the game also improves one’s coordination, reflexes, quickness and focus. The training of Mallakhamb also includes wrestling, judo, gymnastics, horseback riding, athletics and many other forms.

There are three types of mallakhamb that are practised: pole mallakhamb, hanging mallakhamb and cane or rope mallakhamb. This sport helps to make the body lean and powerful, as it is highly effective for the stomach, back, arms and thighs. This sport also helps to strengthen the spinal cord and promotes the lifespan and activation of all body parts.