Description
Silambam is one of the world’s oldest martial art forms which is now being practiced as a sport, fighting technique and performance art. Silambam is a weapon-based Indian martial art from Tamil Nadu. It is also traditionally practised by the Tamil community of Sri Lanka and Malaysia and is closely related to KeralanKalaripayatu. Silambam is not to be regarded as just a weapon used in self-defense. It had played an integral and very important role in the festivals and cultural events of Tamil Nadu. During temple-festivals men used to display their skill in “Silambam” in front of the chapparam (temple-car- in which the idol of god would be placed and taken around in a procession.The word “Silambam” means either a mountain or merely to sound (as verb-. While the Silambam fencers are fighting, the weapon makes sound. This might have been the cause for its being named as “ Silambam”. At the same time a number of ancient Tamil Palm Leaf manuscripts refer to the art “Silambam”. There are verses that describe the techniques of staff fencing.Silambam is the oldest Martial Art of the world, it is the Mother of all Martial Arts and it is one of the Traditional Martial Arts of Tamilnadu. Silambam is the most spiritual Martial Art. It is familiarly known as Silambattam. Traditional martial arts training is not to be confused with the competitive fighting skills that are glorified in popular culture and are increasingly taught in many eclectic martial arts transmitting desirable values and over time, indoctrinates students with the idea of respect, a sense of consequence, a sense of personal responsibility, and a sense of connection to the self through a strong mentor / student (i.e., the sempai / kohai in Japanese martial culture) relationship.
