Blog

Feb 10 2022

Grappling and WarYoga

Grappling has always been an intrinsic part of WarYoga. The vyayam exercises come from Indian wrestling culture and the the name WarYoga has its origins in Jiu Jitsu.

While the WarYogin need not be a grappler, he must understand the roots of the physical practice which lie in Indian kushti wrestling. While the rhythmic exercises of grappling were once a pan-Indo-European phenomenon, Indian vyayam is one of the last living vestiges.

The exercises are designed to make a grappler stronger, more powerful, faster, more explosive and have greater endurance. They simulate movements used by grapplers, allowing muscle memory to do the work when the time to fight arrives.

The WarYogin performs the exercises with a single-mindedness. The highly regimented and structured vyayam element of his practice has a foil in the free-form grappling practice: “jor” in kushti, “rolling” in Jiu Jitsu parlance. This is where the flow state enacts the movements that have been implanted into the body through the systematic work.

It is during competition that grappling and WarYoga align the most. The spiritual practices of WarYoga, along with the exercises prepare the WarYogin for the physical and psychological rigours of facing one or more opponents who are seeking to defeat him. In practice, his teammates prepare the him with some give and take, allowing the WarYogin to work his game and perfect his craft. In competition, the WarYogin meets is given no quarter from those he squares off against. He gives none too. He stands alone. He represents his tradition and lineage, as well as his own unique story up to this point.

The name WarYoga also has its origins in grappling. To learn more, read the roots of WarYoga.

To get more from your WarYoga practice, get your copy of WarYoga by Tom Billinge and dive deep into this ancient Indo-European meta-physical tradition.

Nov 12 2021

The Silent Revolution

As the assault of modernity reaches deep into the longest held traditions, the life of the WarYogin is a silent revolution against the modern world.

The modern world fosters a crass consumerist culture, driven by obnoxious self-serving influencers and celebrities. The vacuity of the lifestyle propounded through them by their corporate overlords is hollow and destructive. It leads only to a place of personal crisis that leaves its victims empty and unfulfilled at best.

The path of WarYoga is a silent revolution against this mode of living. The WarYogin understands that the cure for the disease that plagues almost every corner of the earth is not political. It is not protest. It is not social action. He quietly goes about his work, modelling his way for others to see, embodying his philosophy, not evangelising with rhetoric.

He rejects toxic foods, intoxicants and lifestyles. He pays no attention to any media intended to elicit emotional responses. He trusts his inner measure, closing his senses to the assailants waiting at every turn to influence his character for the worse.

This is his silent revolution

He walks through the world, while being alien to it. He operates in society, but rejects much of what it is selling. He strengthens his body and mind, yoking them together to create an adamantine vehicle for the Self to attain transcendence.

His is a silent revolution, one that does not purposely draw attention to itself in order to gain fame or notoriety. He simply goes about his business, working on himself, improving that which he has control over, not worrying about that which he cannot control.

Oct 23 2021

Garadi Mane of Bangalore

While more people outside of India are becoming familiar with the akharas of Varanasi, the garadi mane of Bangalore are less well known.

Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities in India, The technological revolution has taken it from a series of villages to an urban hub. Hidden among the sprawl are a series of old temples of strength and wrestling: the garadi mane.

While there are several garadi in Karnataka state, the densest cluster of them are in the major city. Over the past few years, a number of them have met the fate of many other traditional exercise venues at the hands of developers. These tiny wrestling schools take up valuable real estate.

Fortunately, there are is a small, but dedicated band of wrestlers who keep the flame lit and the doors open. They are all young, but determined to maintain the tradition and allow the garadi mane to survive in this era that holds no value for old things.

The surviving and thriving places are Kunjanna Garadi Mane, Ganapatimaruthi Vyayam Shale, Kondandarama Garadi and Kempegowdanagar Garadi Mane. They all have a similar set up, with the mitti (earth) wrestling pit piled high on one side of the space. The stone floor of the other side has exercise tools like the sambrani kallu (gar nāl), raggi kallu (nāl), gadda (mugdar), mallakhamb, dambals and kallu gundu (stone balls).

One of the unique things about the southern style, is that the digging of the mitti is focussed on. Before wrestling it has to be levelled as usual, but then after, it must be piled up again in digging motion that throws the mitti behind the wrestler. The pharsa (hoes) are particularly heavy and this exercise is certainly the hardest part of the routine.

The fate of these ancient places of strength is in the hands of the young men who remain dedicated to the garadi mane.

Oct 15 2021

Gada progressions

While it is tempting to add weight to swings, it is critical to make appropriate gada progressions to avoid injury

The gada (mace) is a grappler’s strength tool without equal. It provides full body functional exercise while improving mobility. The problem is one of ego. Everyone wants to swing as heavy as possible. This is perhaps a western issue borne from the gym culture that encourages heavier lifts. Gada progressions allow the WarYogin to get the best from the tool in order to meet his needs.

The question I get asked most often by beginners is “how heavy should I make a gada?” The answer is always 15 lb. This doesn’t always go down well. I am often informed of their deadlift and press maxes in the hope I will change my answer. I do not. It is important to start gada progressions at a reasonably low weight to get the technique right.

Technique first

The fact that the weight is at the end of a weightless lever changes the dynamic. I have been informed by those with a better understanding of physics that the velocity of the gada makes the weight increase fourfold at the bottom of the swing. It is a matter of controlling the torque created by the motion of the gada. If the technique is poor, this is not easily achieved and leads to tendon and muscle injury.

Once 100 swings with correct technique are mastered, then the gada progressions can continue with increased weight. But this should not be rushed. It is worthwhile to build up in 5 lb increments.

Purpose

The WarYogin must also assess his purpose. If he is simply looking to become a gada specialist, then he can continue to build to a point that he can no longer go beyond. At this juncture, a lower rep count is acceptable. If he is a grappler, then he should not swing above 55 lb. His perfect weight is likely somewhere in the 40 lb region. The reason for this is to keep his muscle fibres and ligaments from shortening and tightening up. A wrestler must remain limber.

If you are looking to take up the gada, then WarYoga coaching could be for you.

Mar 02 2021

Nag Panchami 2019

Back in 2019, a small, dedicated group went to Varanasi in India to train in the Akharas and explore the holy city during the Nag Panchami Cobra Festival that is sacred to the wrestlers.

Nag Panchami

Nag Panchami, or the Cobra Festival, is usually at the beginning of August and was originally a fertility festival involving the iconic serpents. While the snakes are still a part of festivities, the focus fell on wrestling and other strength disciplines over the years, likely due to the symbolic virility of wrestlers. The day and the lead up to it is marked with various competitions such as Jori swinging, Gada Swinging and wrestling. The Akharas are cleaned and everything is repainted in preparation for the festival, making it an exciting time to visit Varanasi if you are interested in Kushti and Vyayam.

The Group, hosted by Pratyay Singh, included Tom Billinge, William Calvani and Paul Wolkowinski, a man known for popularising the Gada in the West, as well as being at the forefront of the resurgence of Indian Clubs. Documentary filmmaker Michael Dean also accompanied the group and shot a short film about the journey with a focus on Paul, who is a wealth of knowledge. Paul’s website Indian Clubs (and how to swing them) is a goldmine for anyone looking to dive deeper into the swinging arts.

Anyone who is interested in WarYoga and wants to make a deeper connection to their practice would do well to visit Varanasi and its ancient Akharas.