Silambam - an Indian martial art
Silambam is a weapon-based martial art from the Tamil Nadu region in India, but also traditionally practised by the Tamil community of Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
The name derives from the Tamil word silam meaning "hill" and the Kannada word bambu from which the English "bamboo" originates.
Silambam battleThe sport mainly uses a bamboo staff, which the word silambam refers to. The participants attempt to defeat their opponent using the sticks, which are about the same length as the participant's height.
It is a very ancient sport - there are references to it in the epic Silappadhigaram. It is very popular in southern India. It is closely related to Keralan kalaripayat and Sri Lankan angampora.
Similar Sports
- Stick-Fighting — a type of martial arts which uses a hand-held long slender wooden stick for fighting. Includes variations such as singlestick and canne de combat.
- Kalaripayattu — an ancient martial art from Kerala, India.
- Kendo — a form of Japanese martial art that originated from kenjutsu, using bamboo swords and armor.
- Singlestick — a martial art that uses a wooden stick, which began as a way of training sailors in the use of swords.
- Canne de Combat — a French martial art in which opponents battle each other inside a ring with a cane in one hand.
Related Pages
- Silambam at the Commonwealth Games (demonstration sport)
- About Martial Arts
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports — a list of every sport from around the world.
- Sport in India
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