May, 2019 Grapplin’ Gorillas, Style of the month: Pehlwani
A style of wrestling from the Indian subcontinent, developed by the Mughal Empire, is Pehlwani. Also referred to as Kushti, it is believed to have derived from both the Malla-yuddha (the traditional form of combat wrestling), with influences from varzesh-e bāstāni, a traditional system of athletics originally used to train Persian warriors. Techniques used in this style include locks, throws, pins, and submission holds. Striking is not allowed.
NAME: Pehlwani (Kushti) COUNTRY: India SURFACE: Dirt. Buttermilk, oil, and red ochre are sprinkled to the ground, giving the dirt its red hue. UNIFORM: Tight shorts OBJECTIVE: There is no point scoring system; a win is achieved by pinning the opponent's shoulders and hips to the ground simultaneously. Stoppage by submission is also possible.
Several Pehlwani wrestlers have crossed over to international styles, including Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling:
§ Bronze by Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav in 1952, § Bronze by Sushil Kumar in 2008, § Silver by Sushil Kumar in 2012, § Bronze by Yogeshwar Dutt in 2012, § Bronze by Sakshi Malik in 2016.
Pehlwani Wrestling. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved on May 13, 2019 (last edited on February 21, 2019). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pehlwani
Deepak. (2018, September 13). Retrieved on May 13, 2019. https://www.sportzcraazy.com/kushti-game/
May, 2019
I enjoy teaching people about something I am so passionate about. Beyond empowering kids through wrestling, it is the mission of Grapplin’ Gorillas to educate the community and foster a greater appreciation of the cultures involved in this sport. Part of the summer camp experience will include discussions about the different types of wrestling around the world.
Registration for our June camp is open: http://grapplingorillas.com/2019-summer-camp/
Best Regards, -Glenn