Silambam – South Indian Martial Arts
Ranked #1,663 in Sports & Recreation, #47,016 overall
The Martial Art form from Tamil Nadu
Silambam or Silambattam - The martial art of staff fencing originated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu around 5000 years back. During the Sangam period (3rd century BC till 3rd century AD) of the southern Dravidian kings, ruled by the Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras, Silambam fencing was actively promoted as a sport and a form of self-defence. The Tamil Epic of Silapathikaram, dating back to 2nd century AD, mentions about the sale of silamabam staves, swords, and other armaments to foreign traders. Many European traders who frequented the Southern trade cities of Madurai, Trichy etc. took the Silambam with them. Comparatively, the modern day sport of fencing did not evolve much until the 12th century AD and could well have evolved from the early south Indian sport of Silambam. Etymologically, Silambam is a combination of 'silam' meaning 'hill' and 'bambu' meaning bamboo to form the meaning as 'Bamboo from the hills' to denote the best among the bamboo staves. And the practitioner of this sport is called 'Silambattakaran', meaning 'one who plays with a bamboo stick'. Well, it can be a mesmerizing play indeed and you are welcome to learn a few things about this ancient martial art form.
Image feature from:
chennaisilambam.wetpaint.com
Image feature from:
chennaisilambam.wetpaint.com
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The Evolution of Silambam
Records can be traced for the origin of this ancient art to a divine source, namely Lord Muruga and some sources cite Sage Agasthya with the genesis of Silambam. In the Vedic age, young men were trained to defend themselves with long staves and mock-fights were a ritual during festivals. Silambam was also used for self-defence against wild animals and against dacoits who waylaid travellers. As a performing art and as a form of self-defence, it flourished widely during the Sangam era as mentioned earlier and was actively propagated by the Tamil settlers in the South-Eastern countries like Malaysia, where it is now a popular recreational sport. It is also avidly taught and practiced by many, even today in many parts of Tamil Nadu.
Image Courtesy:
mardb.com - Silambam Fighters
Indian Martial Arts Resources from eBay
The Silambam weapons of choice
Silambam refers to a staff of wood made of bamboo, about 1 ½ inches in thickness and about 5 ½ feet long. The height usually varies with each individual and the common benchmark is for a staff to reach up to the height of the forehead from ground up.
Other weapons such as the deer horn, knife (kathi), sword (vaal), dagger (kuttaruval), knuckle duster (kuttu kattai) and flexible metallic blades (surul pattai) are also used.
Many different types of staves are used in this activity and some are selected to produce a swishing sound. Another popular form involves cloth tied at the ends of the staves and ignited with fire, called 'torch Silambam'. Short and powerful staves that produce a clattering sound are also used.
Other weapons such as the deer horn, knife (kathi), sword (vaal), dagger (kuttaruval), knuckle duster (kuttu kattai) and flexible metallic blades (surul pattai) are also used.
Many different types of staves are used in this activity and some are selected to produce a swishing sound. Another popular form involves cloth tied at the ends of the staves and ignited with fire, called 'torch Silambam'. Short and powerful staves that produce a clattering sound are also used.
Silambam on Amazon
Silambam Techniques & Rules
Perfecting the techniques of Silambam can take years of practice and training usually starts at a young age. Basic training starts with footwork movements (kaaladi) and in the next phase the trainees are taught to fight with bare hands and with the same graceful moves called kuttu varisai. Only after the aspirant has had a feel of the stick movements, coordinated with his foot movements, he is allowed to touch the stick. The staves wielded by the trained fencers are usually given unique names and are always was treated with respect and reverence.
Both hands can be used to wield the staff and by swift foot movements and by control over the precision of body and arm movements, force and momentum can be developed at head, shoulder, hip and leg level. An exponent in this martial combat would be able to ward off stones hurled by a mob and can fend off a group of attackers using a range of strikes called 'monkey hits', 'snake hits', 'hawk hits' and 'spring hits'.
For more reading on the techniques used - Follow the below link:
Silambam Techniques
Competition Rules - WORLD SILAMBAM FEDERATION
Both hands can be used to wield the staff and by swift foot movements and by control over the precision of body and arm movements, force and momentum can be developed at head, shoulder, hip and leg level. An exponent in this martial combat would be able to ward off stones hurled by a mob and can fend off a group of attackers using a range of strikes called 'monkey hits', 'snake hits', 'hawk hits' and 'spring hits'.
For more reading on the techniques used - Follow the below link:
Silambam Techniques
Competition Rules - WORLD SILAMBAM FEDERATION
Silambam Stick Art!
See it to believe it if you have never seen one before!
automatically generated by YouTube
Silambam News
- Octogenarian's fear helps him make the cut
- The former teacher, factory technician and assistant manager started practising Brazilian jujitsu and Chinese kung fu in the 1950s before taking up Indian silambam some years later. Despite his slender frame, Lee proved to be a skillful practitioner, ...
- Quick fix: Paneer pasanda roll with tomato gravy
- Chef Balasuramaniyan. M is working as Commi II in Hotel Sangam. With six years of culinary experience, he has specialised in Indian cuisine. During free time, he likes to play cricket, silambam and kabaddi. Paneer pasanda roll with tomato gravy .
Silambam Tweets on Twitter
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- mustaqimdie
- RT @azizinasir: Sok ade class silambam lagi....Haisshh xda relaks langsungg aku dlm bidang ilmu silambam neh..
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- azizinasir
- @s0feaLawren Dah follow kowt..nak ajak dier be silambam pulakk..Hahaha
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- Mia_Ajira
- :O.... RT @mustaqimdie ade org kena sepak dgn aku tadi!! Pasal buat lawak bodoh depan member aku, dier tak tahu aku ade silambam
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- mustaqimdie
- ade org kena sepak dgn aku tadi!! Pasal buat lawak bodoh depan member aku, dier tak tahu aku ade silambam
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- Mia_Ajira
- hahaha.... RT @azizinasir RT "@Mia_Ajira: untunglaaaaa RT @mustaqimdie Saturday night? I got party silambam tonight with @Mia_Ajira !!"
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- azizinasir
- RT "@Mia_Ajira: untunglaaaaa RT @mustaqimdie Saturday night? I got party silambam tonight with @Mia_Ajira !!"
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- azizinasir
- "@fakhrizi: Why you don't trust yourself but why u trust me !!!" Coz u are the GURU Silambam
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- azizinasir
- RT @fakhrizi Tok guru lame xlentik RT @azizinasir Oii RT @fakhrizi Rasa hari ini hndak keluar mau pergi cari tok guru silambam yg baru ;D
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- fakhrizi
- Hahhaa mcm sial RT "@azizinasir: Oii RT @fakhrizi: Rasa hari ini hendak keluar mau pergi cari tok guru silambam yg baru ;D"
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- azizinasir
- Oii RT @fakhrizi: Rasa hari ini hendak keluar mau pergi cari tok guru silambam yg baru ;D
automatically generated by Twitter
Other Silambam Resources & Training Centers
Your Artful & Delightful Words and Suggestions Please!
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A-Redneck
May 21, 2012 @ 10:09 pm | delete
- I had not heard of Silambam martial arts before today. Perhaps it is where the American SlamBam saying originated from? Very interesting.
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sukkran Dec 31, 2011 @ 6:56 am | delete
- silambam is believed to have travelled from tamil nadu to malaysia, where it is now a popular sport and also a mode of self - defence. great work charles.
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lucky_izan
Nov 14, 2011 @ 9:34 pm | delete
- this martial art is very old, nice to know it, thanks
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fugeecat
Nov 11, 2011 @ 4:53 pm | delete
- That torchfire is really cool. This is an interesting lens about something I knew nothing about.
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Hi, My name is Charles - author of the book Karma in Christianity. I write on theology, theophilosophy, personal development & healthy living. I welcome... more »
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