ASKiIMAN™ REALM 57 / TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS
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The Art of Combat

Kalari, Silambam, Kushti & The Ancient Dhanurveda Traditions

REALM 57 — TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS

MICRO-REALM 01

Dhanurveda

  • Ancient Indian treatise on the science of archery and warfare.
  • Considered an Upaveda (applied knowledge) attached to the Yajurveda.
  • Detailed the training of infantry, cavalry, and the ethical codes of combat (Dharma Yuddha).
MICRO-REALM 02

Ritual & Discipline

  • Martial arts are deeply spiritual, practiced in sacred spaces (Akhara/Kalari).
  • Initiation begins with the Guru-Shishya Parampara.
  • Involves Ayudha Puja (worship of weapons) and strict physical/dietary celibacy (Brahmacharya).
MICRO-REALM 03

Kalaripayattu

  • Origin: Kerala. Often called the "Mother of all martial arts."
  • Incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, and healing systems based on Ayurveda (Marmam).
  • Famous for the Urumi , a deadly, flexible sword worn like a belt.
MICRO-REALM 04

Silambam

  • Origin: Tamil Nadu. Patronized by the Chola, Chera, and Pandya kings.
  • Primary weapon is the bamboo staff (Silambam).
  • Emphasizes intricate footwork (Kaaladi) and stances inspired by animals (tiger, snake).
MICRO-REALM 05

Thang-Ta

  • Origin: Manipur. Formal name is Huyen langlon .
  • "Thang" means sword, "Ta" means spear.
  • Integrates physical combat with the Meitei spiritual cosmology and ritual dances.
MICRO-REALM 06

Gatka

  • Origin: Punjab. Traditional martial art of the Sikhs (Nihangs).
  • Practiced using wooden sticks (Gatka) and a small shield (Phari).
  • Characterized by continuous, fluid, circular spinning movements.
MICRO-REALM 07

Mardani Khel

  • Origin: Maharashtra. Developed heavily during the Maratha Empire.
  • A weapon-based art suited for the hilly terrain of the Western Ghats.
  • Notable weapons include the Patta (gauntlet sword) and Madu (horn shield).
MICRO-REALM 08

Kushti (Pehlwani)

  • Traditional mud wrestling, developed during the Mughal era.
  • A synthesis of indigenous Malla-Yuddha and Persian Varzesh-e-Pahlavani.
  • Wrestlers (Pehlwans) train with heavy wooden maces (Gada) and follow a strict dairy/nut diet.
MICRO-REALM 09

Vajra-Mushti

  • "Thunderbolt Fist". An ancient, brutal form of armed wrestling/boxing.
  • Fighters wield a knuckleduster (Vajra) made of ivory or animal bone.
  • Referenced in the 12th-century text Manasollasa ; survives in small pockets today.
MICRO-REALM 10

Pari-Khanda

  • Origin: Bihar (Rajput tradition).
  • "Pari" means shield, "Khanda" means sword.
  • Highly acrobatic; the martial techniques form the foundational steps of Chhau dance.
MICRO-REALM 11

Kathi Samu

  • Origin: Andhra Pradesh. Ancient sword-fighting skill.
  • Historically patronized by the royal armies of the Vijayanagara Empire.
  • Involves leaping, somersaults, and dual-sword wielding (Gareja).
MICRO-REALM 12

Malla-Yuddha

  • The ancient, indigenous form of combat wrestling in India.
  • Predates Persian influence; heavily referenced in the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
  • Categorized into four types, ranging from submission grappling to lethal striking.