Hiyaaaa!
June 20, 2007 9:05 PM Subscribe
Ooops, sorry about that boo_radley.
I find Indian Martial arts quite fascinating too, but don't know too much about them, or where to find suitable links to them. They are a great art from though, from what I've seen on TV.
posted by hadjiboy at 9:23 PM on June 20, 2007
I find Indian Martial arts quite fascinating too, but don't know too much about them, or where to find suitable links to them. They are a great art from though, from what I've seen on TV.
posted by hadjiboy at 9:23 PM on June 20, 2007
Wasn't the silver-haired (anti-)hero in the movie Hindustani supposed to have studied some Indian martial art or other? At the time, I thought, "Indian martial art?!? That's gonna be some kooky esoteric shite!" (shite meaning cool or intense, i use it in the non-perjorative sense).
On reflection, the Indian kshatriya (warrior) caste would surely have had all kinds of training methods & fighting techniques, as I imagine them doing little else, all day, every day, up until very recent times. In that light, it makes perfect sense for the subcontinent to have its own martial arts (strangely much unknown to the outside world, and, I suspect, barely known in India, either).
Another part of me sticks to the kooky interpretation. I can't help but think that the training involves things like breathing in through the ears & out through the belly button, or drinking fermented cow urine every morning.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:06 AM on June 21, 2007
On reflection, the Indian kshatriya (warrior) caste would surely have had all kinds of training methods & fighting techniques, as I imagine them doing little else, all day, every day, up until very recent times. In that light, it makes perfect sense for the subcontinent to have its own martial arts (strangely much unknown to the outside world, and, I suspect, barely known in India, either).
Another part of me sticks to the kooky interpretation. I can't help but think that the training involves things like breathing in through the ears & out through the belly button, or drinking fermented cow urine every morning.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:06 AM on June 21, 2007
afterthought: i remember ashram-style wrestling academies in Benaras...
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:09 AM on June 21, 2007
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:09 AM on June 21, 2007
Allow me to point you in the direction of a suitable Indian Martial Arts link: Dhalsim has the power to suspend himself in midair, stretch his extremities in ways beyond the average human, read minds, and sense evil.
posted by lazymonster at 1:37 AM on June 21, 2007
posted by lazymonster at 1:37 AM on June 21, 2007
When I was in Pakistan, I stayed at the home of the director of their National Judo League. He was also the leader of the Lahori branch of the Special Police Forces. He, like many of the men whose judo competitions he organized, was denied a visa to compete in European judo matches, because he was in constant possession of a lethal weapon (he said.) But they were all very doughy, and seemed out of shape, but didn't drink cow urine.
posted by DenOfSizer at 4:02 AM on June 21, 2007
posted by DenOfSizer at 4:02 AM on June 21, 2007
It's always interesting to see martial arts that are not of a Japanese or Chinese origin. The truth is that every pre-modern culture developed or adopted martial arts of some kind. It seems obvious when you think about it, but we've been bombarded with ninjas for so long that it's easy to overlook. These are some good, informative links; thanks hadjiboy.
posted by Edgewise at 12:54 PM on June 21, 2007
posted by Edgewise at 12:54 PM on June 21, 2007
It's always interesting to see martial arts that are not of a Japanese or Chinese origin.
There is a theory that the root of most of what we think of as codified "Martial" Arts (out side of tribal arts) arts actually started in the west with the Greeks and Persians and migrated east with Alexander and then sprouted into India and from there came north with Buddhism into China.
India seems to be the place where it all came together.
In each place the arts gestated and evolved with local esthetics, needs and traditions.
posted by tkchrist at 4:12 PM on June 21, 2007
There is a theory that the root of most of what we think of as codified "Martial" Arts (out side of tribal arts) arts actually started in the west with the Greeks and Persians and migrated east with Alexander and then sprouted into India and from there came north with Buddhism into China.
India seems to be the place where it all came together.
In each place the arts gestated and evolved with local esthetics, needs and traditions.
posted by tkchrist at 4:12 PM on June 21, 2007
Always thought Kabaddi looked like group combat training. Almost like counting coup for the American indians.
posted by Smedleyman at 4:17 PM on June 21, 2007
posted by Smedleyman at 4:17 PM on June 21, 2007
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