Vajra-Musti
Vajra Mushti, which means grasping a thunderbolt in Hindiu, is a martial art with a combination of grappling and striking techniques. Vajra Mushti may also mean the weapon used for this martial art. The weapon is also called Indra-mukti which means Indra's fist.
The weapon is made of ivory, and it looks like a knuckleduster. Vajra Mushti dates back to the 5th century, it is related to the Tibetan martial art called Lion's Roar.
On match day, the heads of the competitors are shaved. They leave a small tuft of hair to which neem leaves are tied, this is for good luck. There is a ritual right before every game. A branch of the neem tree is temporarily planted in the middle of the wrestling pit for the competitors to pray.
Usually the weapon is placed in the right arm next to the waist. Some allowed strikes are to the knees and elbows, takedowns are also allowed. Just like some martial arts, strikes below the waist are not allowed.
Similar Sports
- Kalaripayattu — an ancient martial art from Kerala, India.
- Kurash — folk wrestling style from Central Asia in which wrestlers use towels to hold their opponents, and their goal is to throw their opponents off the feet.
- Pehlwani — a form of wrestling from South Asia. A win is achieved by pinning the opponent's shoulders and hips to the ground simultaneously.
- Boli Khela — a form of wrestling that is practiced in Bangladesh and India.
Related Pages
- About Types of Wrestling
- Martial Arts — list of martial arts sports
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
- About sport in India
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