From Mitti to Modern Wrestling
Kushti Glossary
The words behind the tradition — akhara, dangal, pehlwani and more, explained in one sentence each.
- Kushti कुश्ती
- Kushti is the traditional form of wrestling practised across the Indian subcontinent, contested on a prepared earth surface rather than a mat. All India
- Pehlwani पहलवानी
- Pehlwani is the discipline, training system and way of life of a kushti wrestler, covering diet, celibacy, conditioning and daily akhara practice. North India
- Akhara अखाड़ा
- An akhara is a traditional wrestling school and training ground where wrestlers live, train and compete under a guru. North India
- Talim तालीम
- Talim is the Maharashtrian term for a wrestling gymnasium, most famously the historic talims of Kolhapur. Maharashtra
- Garadi Mane गरडी मने
- Garadi mane is the Kannada term for a traditional wrestling house, central to the wrestling culture of northern Karnataka. Karnataka
- Dangal दंगल
- A dangal is an open wrestling competition, usually held on earth over one or two days, where wrestlers are paired by weight and reputation and winners take a cash purse. All India
- Mitti मिट्टी
- Mitti is the prepared clay-and-earth surface of an akhara, treated with ghee, turmeric and buttermilk to keep it soft, cool and antiseptic. All India
- Langot लंगोट
- A langot is the traditional cotton loincloth worn by kushti wrestlers, providing support and a grip point during bouts. All India
- Gada गदा
- A gada is a weighted mace swung in training to build shoulder and grip strength, and awarded as the traditional trophy to a dangal winner. All India
- Mallakhamb मल्लखंब
- Mallakhamb is a companion discipline in which a wrestler performs aerial postures on a fixed wooden pole or hanging rope to build grip, core strength and balance. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
- Daaw दाँव
- A daaw is a wrestling technique or hold; a wrestler's repertoire of daaw distinguishes a skilled pehlwan from a merely strong one. All India
- Kesari केसरी
- Kesari is a championship title awarded to the leading wrestler of a region, as in Maharashtra Kesari and Hind Kesari. All India
- Ustad उस्ताद
- An ustad, or guru, is the master wrestler who runs an akhara and takes responsibility for the training, diet and conduct of its wrestlers. All India
- Jori जोड़ी
- Jori are paired wooden clubs swung in training to develop shoulder endurance and rotational strength. North India