Mallakhamb

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. WikiProject India or the India Portal may be able to help recruit one. If a more appropriate WikiProject or portal exists, please adjust this template accordingly.

Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs poses and feats while hanging from a vertical wooden pole or rope. Mallakhamb also refers to the pole used in the sport.

The word Mallakhamb is comprised of Malla, which denotes a gymnast or a man of strength, and khamb, which is a pole. Mallakhamb, therefore, can be translated as a gymnast's pole.

Contents 1 Mallakhamb as a Competitive Sport 2 Mallakhamb as a form of Exercise 3 Types of Mallakhamb 3.1 Pole or Fixed Mallakhamb 3.2 Hanging Mallakhamb 3.3 Rope Mallakhamb 4 Sources

[edit] Mallakhamb as a Competitive Sport

Of the states in India, 29 participate in Mallakhamb competitions at the national level.

[edit] Mallakhamb as a form of Exercise

Mallakhamb can be used as a form of exercise or as strength training for police or other jobs requiring a high level of fitness.

[edit] Types of Mallakhamb

There are three main variations of Mallakhamb.

[edit] Pole or Fixed Mallakhamb

In this variation, a vertical wooden pole is fixed in the ground, and the participant performs various acrobatic poses and feats while hanging on the pole.

The Mallakhamb pole used in competitions is a straight pole made of teak or sheesham wood, standing 2.6 m in height with a circumference of 55 cm at the base. It gradually tapers to a circumference of 35 cm at the top.

[edit] Hanging Mallakhamb

Similar to the pole Mallakhamb, the hanging Mallakhamb is a wooden pole that is shorter in length than the standard Pole Mallakhamb and is hung from hooks and a chain, leaving a gap between the ground and the bottom of the Mallakhamb.

[edit] Rope Mallakhamb

In this variation, the participant performs exercises while hanging from a rope suspended from a support.

[edit] Sources

• IndiaPress.org. Listing of traditional games and sports of India. Retrieved on April 1, 2007.
• mallakhamb.org. Maharashtra Amateur Mallakhamb Association. Retrieved on April 1, 2007.
• mallakhambindia.com. Mallakhamb: The Authentic Indian Sport. Retrieved on April 1, 2007.
• aquafishsilver.com. "MALLAKHAMB" – A Great Traditional Ancient Art of Indian Physical Culture.. Retrieved on April 1, 2007.
• (1950) "the Encyclopedia of Indian Physical Culture". Baroda: Sree Ram Vijaya Printing Press, Edited by D.C.Mujumdar.