The Martial Arts of India

[bigred389]

Originally Posted by Tom Yum

I read up on Pehlwani (Indian Wrestling) on wikipedia, with a particular focus on training, diet and anything on technique.

In addition to training in yoga-like excercises and calisthenics, they used some crude forms of weight training to develop the neck muscles and crude forms of kettle bells. Add to that, the old-schoolers would train in the mud pitts (talk about 'suck') moving through mud is hard work.

The diet forbids tobacoo and alcohol (as expected) and even tries to avoid spicy foods. I found this strange as I've sampled Noth & South Indian cuisines and found them to be relatively spicy for a western palate. But why forbid spicy foods?

As far as I could tell, spicy food has more positive health benefits than negative, including: lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and warding off strokes and heart attacks, speeding up metabolism, treating colds and fevers, preventing cancer and pain control.

Karl Gotch, one of the big boys in Catch Wrestling, sent several of his top wrestlers to learn this style of Indian wrestling - there's something to be said about that. Are the submission techniques in this style native to it or were they added on by Indian practitioners of judo/jujitsu?

I'm curious to know where you got all that...

And any particular kind of "spicy food" or all of them?

For example, I really don't think eating a diet of chili could possibly be a good thing.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by bigred389

I'm curious to know where you got all that...

And any particular kind of "spicy food" or all of them?

For example, I really don't think eating a diet of chili could possibly be a good thing.

Well, spicy food can cause ulcers - an obvious negative, but I'll see if I can find the sources for the positive benefits for you.

Most of the benefit comes from consuming enzymes and substances found in chilli peppers, jalapenos and what not.

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

no spicy food. has more to do with "astheticism". that is something like "denial of the worldly".

spice MIGHT be regarded as exciting, or flamboyant. you get the idea.

this same attitude can be seen in that at many of the camps, the fighters are forbidden to marry or have girlfriends.

no sex, no excess, no frivolity. resembles the stoics of roman empire.

as far as submissions, they are indigenious, insofar as any culture has such moves. the idea of twisting and arm or choking is as old as civilization itself. now, due to armaments, religions, terrain... some tended to specialize in certain areas of technique.

the situation in the time of frankgotch and gamabaksh probably resembled the one between america and brazil in the 60s to 80s. the techniques are pretty much the same (they contain the same moves) but the degree to which they had honed was higher in brazil. frankgotch was an american catch wrestler. there was a long period in which the "hookers" were carnival attractions. it is easy to imagine that "carnie life" is not conducive to proper training. it is easy enough for a relatively unskilled grappler to dominate "joe average".

in india, submission fighting at that time was a well developed sport. quite popular. think muay thai in thailand today. naturally, a lot of the techniques were honed to a high level. frankgotch noted this and learned from it.

granted, this is a highly abbreviated account, but it is intended to give you the "general idea".

hope this helps.

thanks.

[Tom Yum]

I'd make a terrible Indian wrestler - I love spicy foods and dating hot chicks (despite the high failure rate).

I put tobasco or sambal on about everything I eat.

[lorenzodamarith]

Originally Posted by Tom Yum

I'd make a terrible Indian wrestler - I love spicy foods and dating hot chicks (despite the high failure rate).

I put tobasco or sambal on about everything I eat.

hello,

oh well, problem solved... just stop putting tobasco sauce on them and they will probably show up for a second date......

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

thanks.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by lorenzodamarith

hello,

oh well, problem solved... just stop putting tobasco sauce on them and they will probably show up for a second date.

Ahright someone was awake.

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

the watchful eyes of lorenzodamarith (lsd for short) see all....

except when sleeping. or at work. or at other forums. or at the mall. or training.

but other than that.... lsd sees all....

thanks.