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angampora A Nation’s Legacy in Pictures Creative Brief A Nation’s Legacy in Pictures Sri Lanka’s stunning landscape, its fertile earth, and its awe inspiring natural monuments inspired and gave birth to the art of Angampora. Our ancestors drew inspiration from the land and the life it created to create an art of self-defense that incorporated hand to hand combat, melee, projectile, and ballistic weapon ghting, meditation, medicine, astrology, and spells. Taking as long as 20 years to master, the art of Angampora is a closely guarded discipline which is passed down by lineages of teachers that trace back their origins to kingdoms and legends of the distant past. The teachings of this ancient art have survived to the present day because of this element of secrecy and mystique. Images are a powerful medium of communication, and we hope to capture and compile thought provoking illustrations of the art of Angampora in hitherto unexplored ways. Our project aims to delve into this ancient art with the eye of the camera and recreate stunning and evocative scenes of the art of Angampora, the richness of its traditions, the sophistica- tion of its techniques, and the mystique of its darker and enigmatic elements. The subject of Angampora warrants the attention of the worldwide scientic community and also the imaginations of our own citizens. The art of Angampora is an important and unique article of our cultural heritage. There is a disheartening lack of knowledge about the subject in the present and we hope to create a book of thought provoking images that can help revive greater interest in one of Sri Lanka’s noblest arts. With the advancements in the spheres of photography, printing, social media and information technology, we hope to take the art of Angampora to the attention of an international audience with this project. In a time where Sri Lanka is at a unique position in its history, we have an opportunity to showcase our rich cultural assets to the world and once again regain our reputation as a fertile land with a cultured and sophisticated people. 1 Content 1. Origins, Evidence, and History Angampora’s remains are scattered throughout Sri Lanka. Never seen by the world before, these vestiges of the past point to an exotic history where Angampora was held in high esteem in the times of Sri Lanka’s ancient ancestors. Artifacts forged in steel, ivory, wood, and fabric have been painstakingly brought together from all around Sri Lanka to present a compelling narrative of an art that was a prominent part of the nation’s culture. This chapter will also include a sub-section on Angampora’s distant relative: the Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu. 2. Surviving by Adaptation After being banned by the British in 1818, the art of Angampora spiraled into a steep decline. Yet, committed practitioners kept the art alive in secret, and Angampora maneuvers were transmitted to traditional Sri Lankan dances and other arts such as whip wielding and reball twirling. These practices can be seen to this day in events such as Peraharas, and an untold story of how some of the most iconic cultural practices of Sri Lanka received inuence from Angampora will be discussed in this chapter. The Leopard Dance, a near extinct art, will be showcased for the rst time with portraits of its last remaining practitioner 2 3. Keepers of the Art The art was preserved and kept intact to this day due to the eort of committed practitioners and secretive ghting lineages. While much of the original lineages of Angampora practitioners have slowly become a thing of the past, a few families such as the Korathota Aarachchi’s remain, keeping an ancient legacy of Sri Lanka from dying out. Much of the age old knowledge of this fascinating art remained intact in secret for centuries, and this chapter will feature the people who helped keep it alive for future generations. 4. The Training of a Lifestyle Angampora is not merely an art of combat. It is a deep philosophy that seeks to develop mind, body, and spirit to its fullest potential. Taking anywhere between 5 to 20 years to complete, Angam training is extremely demanding and full of dicult challenges. From the tender years of a child to the advanced years of a master, the spectrum of training in Angampora is diverse and unique in its own right. This chapter will explore the rituals, traditions, and exercises that mold Angam students into deadly ghters. 3 2. Surviving by Adaptation After being banned by the British in 1818, the art of Angampora spiraled into a steep decline. Yet, committed practitioners kept the art alive in secret, and Angampora maneuvers were transmitted to traditional Sri Lankan dances and other arts such as whip wielding and reball twirling. These practices can be seen to this day in events such as Peraharas, and an untold story of how some of the most iconic cultural practices of Sri Lanka received inuence from Angampora will be discussed in this chapter. The Leopard Dance, a near extinct art, will be showcased for the rst time with portraits of its last remaining practitioner 5. A Sublime and Deadly Art Angampora is primarily an art of self-defense. Unarmed and armed combat in this discipline holds a range of techniques, maneuvers, and strategies. From sprightly ips and jumps to inescapable locks and grapples, and wielding unique and deadly weapons in combat, the art of combat in Angampora is a testament to the ghting prowess of Sri Lanka’s ancient warriors. This chapter will feature secret combat practices for the rst time in Sri Lanka in stunning detail, and the hallmark of a groundbreaking work of photography will be evident to those who ip through its pages. 4 6. Instruments of Devastation Sri Lankans used to manufacture world renowned weapons and technologies such as Damascus Steel throughout its remarkable history. A dying art in Sri Lanka, weapon craft was bound to a strict system of ritual and instruction through traditional lineages of craftsmen. In this chapter, we will feature photographs of never before seen ancient weapons that were used by Angampora ghters for centuries as well as one of the last remaining traditional weapon makers in Sri Lanka. 7. The Deadly Art of Pressure Points One of the dening features of Angampora is its sophisticated knowledge of human anatomy that is not found in many martial arts in the world. The art of pressure point attacks is closely guarded by teachers and passed down to the most trusted pupils. It is a deadly system of combat that identies 108 dierent vital points of the human body that enables ghters to deal devastating and fatal blows to opponents. In this chapter we will explore one of the most intimate secrets of Angampora, from the tradition of training pupils in the art of pressure points to the traditional chest of pressure point tools that has never been seen by the world. 7 8. Maya Angam: The Secrets of the Unknown Angampora is an ancient art, and its primeval origins can be seen in some of its most secretive practices. Seeped in esoteric arts such as astrology and mysticism that goes beyond the scope of science, the ancients of Sri Lanka developed a system of combat that embraced the unseen forces of nature, and used this knowledge to create devastating and inexplicable eects that have not yet been witnessed by the modern world. 9. The Art of Healing – Medicine One of the core aspects of Angampora is non-combative in its nature. The art of healing is a teaching that is passed on to all students of Angampora. Medicine in Angampora was highly advanced, and can be seen in practices such as nerve treatments. Based on a sophisticated knowledge of plants and herbs, Angam practitioners learn how to heal a wide range of ailments by using organic materials and secret spiritual exercises that are used to this day. This chapter will explore the rituals of the art of healing and the application of herbal and massage therapies that have been used for centuries. 10. Keys to the Spirit – Meditation Meditation is a key aspect of the art that enables ghters to develop patience, focus, wisdom, and inner strength. There are dozens of meditation techniques in Angampora that involve yogic exercises and mystical practices that are used to enhance the physical and mental dimensions of ghters. From eye meditations and yogic postures to awakening Kundalini energy, meditation in Angampora was used to enhance combat abilities and physical and mental tolerance to pain. In this chapter, the deeper aspects of spirituality that encompass the philosophy of Angampora will be shown in breathtaking photographs captured from some of the most scenic locations in Sri Lanka. 8 7. The Deadly Art of Pressure Points One of the dening features of Angampora is its sophisticated knowledge of human anatomy that is not found in many martial arts in the world. The art of pressure point attacks is closely guarded by teachers and passed down to the most trusted pupils. It is a deadly system of combat that identies 108 dierent vital points of the human body that enables ghters to deal devastating and fatal blows to opponents. In this chapter we will explore one of the most intimate secrets of Angampora, from the tradition of training pupils in the art of pressure points to the traditional chest of pressure point tools that has never been seen by the world. 11. Of Man and Beast Throughout Sri Lanka’s history, domesticated animals were used for combat and exercise.

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