For many, kung fu is synonymous with the warrior Buddhist monks at the famous Shaolin Temple. Commercially, martial arts legend Bruce Lee comes to mind. Looking at muay thai (Thai kick boxing), we think of its lethal punches and kicks. In India, kushti (Indian wrestling) takes the prominent prize with its exotic and spiritual devotion that is the cornerstone of the sport.
Chinese martial arts, Indian wrestling and muay thai have thousands of years of history, all of which stem from religious sources.
They take vows to live the simple life – no alcohol and smoking. This also includes a life of celibacy.
Kushti
It is a few minutes past 6am and the morning light has not yet broken through the thick layer of fog over the sugar cane fields. Most of Kolhapur is still asleep. The nearby Hindu temple starts sounding its bells. A small number of elderly devotees make their way to the shrine for morning worship.
Kolhapur is a small town, home to half a million friendly people. It is about 400 kilometres south of Mumbai, with a cool climate. It is also an ideal place for training in the sport of kushti.
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Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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