Feb 28, 2010
Wrestling Training with Guru Chand Roop
In this video clip, wrestlers are practicing single-leg takedowns at Guru Chand Roop's akahara in Azadpur. One of the wrestlers isn't executing the move properly so not only does he get a scolding, Guru-ji beats him with his cane. But the wrestler stands and takes his punishment. It's an example of the extreme discipline that is part of a pehlwan's life. While Guru Chand Roop is around 80 years old and can barely walk, what he says goes and wrestlers hang on his every word. They have come to his akhara to be champions and the former military officer has turned out plenty over the years.
The following excerpt from an article in the Tribune lists some of Guru Chand Roop's achievments:
Captain Chand Roop’s credentials are impeccable. He has produced a number of Olympians, other international and national-level wrestlers, from his famed Chand Roop akhara in Delhi. Ombeer Singh (Asian Games and Asian Championship silver medallist, Olympian, six-time national champion, gold medallist in the Commonwealth Games), Ashok Kumar (two gold and as many silver medals in the Commonwealth Games, two times Asian Games participant and winner of medals in other international meets) and Rohtash Singh Dahiya (fifth in the Los Angeles Olympics, two gold medals in the SAF Games and a bronze in the Asian Championship), are some of his most famous products. Olympian Dharambeer, Bharat Kesari and Commonwealth silver medallist Netra Pal, Bharat Kesari and Bharat Kumar Vijay Kumar, Hind Kesari Krishan Kumar, Hind Kesari Sonu and Junior Asian Championship bronze medallist Sanjay are some of the other notable grapplers to have come out of the Chand Roop akhara.
Delhi Akharas- the ‘gripping’ capital
DELHI LIVE
Submitted by manika garg
There’s certainly more to being active than just hitting the treadmill. Delhi, the capital of India, teems with all sorts of physical, ‘outdoorsy’ stuff such as wrestling, riding, and similar sort of gripping games. If one is a fitness freak with a pugnacious streak, and wants to try out some good ol’ Indian style wrestling, well, Delhi certainly doesn’t disappoint. There are many traditional akharas here that can provide the perfect workout for those who don’t mind dirt and grime.
Near the banks of the Yamuna, is Hari Nagar where a multitude of akharas can be found. These look like factory sheds, all set about with trees and adorned with many pictures of Lord Hanuman. Also adorning the walls are pictures of regular ‘pahalwans’, who are supposed to be ‘Brahmcharis’- celibate, single men.
The pride of the place is the wrestling pit where all the action takes place. If one turns up at an akhara at any day of the week, excluding Tuesday (the day of Lord Hanuman), between 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., one can surely hear the grunts of a wrestling match in progress. It is pretty amazing to see the six feet and above pahalwans, that comprise the majority of the crowd, as well as others that vary between five to seven feet.
Akharas don’t use wrestling mats to cushion the ‘pahalwans.’ Instead, there is the soft soil of the fertile banks of Yamuna. The common feature of each akhara is a ‘guru’ for all the budding ‘pahalwans’. The akharas charge a fee and conduct tournaments. The prize money can vary- from a few thousands to even fifty grand. The “Kushti Kala Kendra” akhara doesn’t charge any fee, and anyone can join this akhara. The founder and ‘guru’ of this esteemed akhara is Hukumi who’s been a trainer for last thirty years. Before that, he had been a wrestler for fifteen years. Retired now, he maintains a very well disciplined akhara.
“It takes two years just to come to grips of the techniques”, said one ‘guru’. There is no age bar in any of these akharas and admission is open even if any one wants to join at a mature age. The practice sessions take place between 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on all days except Tuesday. Before a match, the pahalwans/combatants/wrestlers pay obeisance to the wrestling pit every single time- and even rub some soil on their bodies for luck.
Our Olympic representatives like Sushil Kumar and Ashok Kumar were the products of these humble ‘akharas’. Rather than leaning ‘westward’, we should learn to take pride in them. Do go for a ‘dekko’ at these wrestling arenas, who knows, even you might be tempted to join up.
Submitted by manika garg
There’s certainly more to being active than just hitting the treadmill. Delhi, the capital of India, teems with all sorts of physical, ‘outdoorsy’ stuff such as wrestling, riding, and similar sort of gripping games. If one is a fitness freak with a pugnacious streak, and wants to try out some good ol’ Indian style wrestling, well, Delhi certainly doesn’t disappoint. There are many traditional akharas here that can provide the perfect workout for those who don’t mind dirt and grime.
Near the banks of the Yamuna, is Hari Nagar where a multitude of akharas can be found. These look like factory sheds, all set about with trees and adorned with many pictures of Lord Hanuman. Also adorning the walls are pictures of regular ‘pahalwans’, who are supposed to be ‘Brahmcharis’- celibate, single men.
The pride of the place is the wrestling pit where all the action takes place. If one turns up at an akhara at any day of the week, excluding Tuesday (the day of Lord Hanuman), between 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., one can surely hear the grunts of a wrestling match in progress. It is pretty amazing to see the six feet and above pahalwans, that comprise the majority of the crowd, as well as others that vary between five to seven feet.
Akharas don’t use wrestling mats to cushion the ‘pahalwans.’ Instead, there is the soft soil of the fertile banks of Yamuna. The common feature of each akhara is a ‘guru’ for all the budding ‘pahalwans’. The akharas charge a fee and conduct tournaments. The prize money can vary- from a few thousands to even fifty grand. The “Kushti Kala Kendra” akhara doesn’t charge any fee, and anyone can join this akhara. The founder and ‘guru’ of this esteemed akhara is Hukumi who’s been a trainer for last thirty years. Before that, he had been a wrestler for fifteen years. Retired now, he maintains a very well disciplined akhara.
“It takes two years just to come to grips of the techniques”, said one ‘guru’. There is no age bar in any of these akharas and admission is open even if any one wants to join at a mature age. The practice sessions take place between 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on all days except Tuesday. Before a match, the pahalwans/combatants/wrestlers pay obeisance to the wrestling pit every single time- and even rub some soil on their bodies for luck.
Our Olympic representatives like Sushil Kumar and Ashok Kumar were the products of these humble ‘akharas’. Rather than leaning ‘westward’, we should learn to take pride in them. Do go for a ‘dekko’ at these wrestling arenas, who knows, even you might be tempted to join up.
Feb 27, 2010
Feb 23, 2010
Wrestlers training in Kolhapur
Kolhapur is one of the centers of traditional wrestling in India. At Motibag Akhara, wrestlers also train in freestyle wrestling. The ground floor has a pit for kushti but upstairs there are mats.
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