I mean, yeah, I know you guys all know about it, but the vast majority of martial artists in America I bet don’t. Sh!t, even a lot of INDIANS don’t know (definitely not the ABCDs - American Born Confused Desi…uh…Desi is a person of Indian origin).
I know there’s debate whether or not Indian martial arts was the father to Chinese martial arts…but it’s true, is it not, that Indian martial arts was around for a loooong time definitely as long as (if not longer than) Chinese martial arts.
So what’s the deal? Do we need a Desi Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee? Actually, they are doing martial arts in some Bollywood movies, but it looks like typical movie kung-fu, I don’t get the sense that they were doing Kalaripayattu at all. (eg see Awara Paagal Deewana)
All we really get a taste of is Aishwarya Rai. She was interviewed on 60 min, last sunday. Granted she’s hot, but she’s not really a very good actress, and doesn’t have awesome skillz like Michelle Yeoh or Zhang Ziyi.
What will it take for Indian MAs to get more noticed in America, and included into the canon?
The people at Cold Steel had a video featuring the use of one of the rattan sticks that they were selling (lahti?). I saw more similarities than differences to Chinese martial arts.
I do remember watching a segment on Indian programming called Visions of Asia. There was this guy dancing and singing to music. His body postures were definitely martial and were reminiscent of some of the twisted Lohan and drunken postures: even playing the flute. It was amazing to watch.
i wanna know about Indian wrestling. specially Vajramushti. they used to own. some of the most feared wrestlers in the world. even Karl Gotch didn’t think there was enough money involved to risk wrestling the Great Gama. hard to find info about it tho… i only really can find out about the influence it had on Tibetan Lions Roar, but not about the style itself.
i wanna know about Indian wrestling. specially Vajramushti. they used to own. some of the most feared wrestlers in the world. even Karl Gotch didn’t think there was enough money involved to risk wrestling the Great Gama.
dude, simply there is no noise cos of the reasons you pointed:
lack of media
well if movies dont do no good
another way is using it to win in mma - if it wins in mma it gets exposed
i personally dont know jack about indian MA xepct for maybe a bit of kalari… huh… however its called… indian kung fu
that was shirtless dudes doing forms with some weapons and also two men stuff
they also did something with oil i think…
essentially, what would you say the indian martial arts have to offer to the public that is not found on another styles? or is it just a historical matter?
allow me to add… getting is exposed and too popular is not always good… just look at the many mcdojos and mckwoons and mcTKD out there
who cares about Indian martial arts, Indian women are hot!!! If I had to pick a favorite nationality it would be a toss up between Israeli chicks and Indian Chicks. I’d probably swing to Indian chicks because Indian food is my favorite ethnic food.
the martial arts i’ve seen coming from indian tv, all looks like bad kung fu or karate , I always hope to catch some indian martial arts but it’s always some low budget b.s. crap.
