Pehlwani

Pehlwani
	Pehlwani-style wrestling match in Davangere, Karnataka, India (2005).
Also known as	Kushti
Focus	Wrestling
Country of origin	Indian subcontinent
Famous practitioners	Dara Singh; The Great Gama; Bholu Pahalwan; Nathmal Pahalwan; Banda Singh Bahadur; Krishan Kumar; Harishchandra Birajdar; Jatindra Charan Goho; Sushil Kumar; Narsingh Yadav; Khashaba Jadhav
Parenthood	Koshti pahlevani; Malla-yuddha
Descendant arts	Catch wrestling
Olympic sport	No

Pehlwani,^[1] also known as Kushti, is a form of wrestling contested in the South Asia. It was developed in the Mughal Empire by combining Persian Koshti pahlevani with influences from native Indian Malla-yuddha.^[2]^[3] The words pehlwani and kushti derive from the Persian terms pahlavani (heroic) and koshti (wrestling, lit. killing) respectively, meaning Heroic wrestling. A practitioner of this sport is referred to as a pehlwan (Persian word for hero) while teachers are known as ustad (Persian word for teacher or master).^[3]

One of the most famous practitioners of Pehlwani was The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt), who is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Kodi Rammurthy Naidu was another example.^[4] Brahmdev Mishra is another example of an Indian wrestler who was known for his technique and physique not only in India but all over the world.^[5] Pehlwani is one among the sports that influenced catch wrestling,^[6]^[7] which in turn partially inspired folkstyle wrestling, freestyle wrestling, and mixed martial arts (MMA).^[8]

^ "Pehlwani".
^ Alter, Joseph S. (May 1992a). "The "sannyasi" and the Indian Wrestler: The Anatomy of a Relationship". American Ethnologist. 19 (2): 317–336. doi:10.1525/ae.1992.19.2.02a00070. ISSN 0094-0496.
^ ^a ^b Alter, Joseph S. (1992b). The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-07697-4.
^ "The culture and crisis of kushti". The Hindu. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
^ "The Wrestler's Body". UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
^ "Pitting catch wrestling against Brazilian jiu-jitsu". The Manila Times. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
^ Nauright, John; Zipp, Sarah (2020). Routledge Handbook of Global Sport. Routledge. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-317-50047-6.
^ Nauright, John; Zipp, Sarah (2020). Routledge Handbook of Global Sport. Routledge. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-317-50047-6.

[Pehlwani-1] "Pehlwani".

[Alter1992a-2] Alter, Joseph S. (May 1992a). "The "sannyasi" and the Indian Wrestler: The Anatomy of a Relationship". American Ethnologist. 19 (2): 317–336. doi:10.1525/ae.1992.19.2.02a00070. ISSN 0094-0496.

[Alter1992b-3] Alter, Joseph S. (1992b). The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-07697-4.

[4] "The culture and crisis of kushti". The Hindu. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.

[5] "The Wrestler's Body". UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004. Retrieved 21 January 2021.

[6] "Pitting catch wrestling against Brazilian jiu-jitsu". The Manila Times. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2020.

[7] Nauright, John; Zipp, Sarah (2020). Routledge Handbook of Global Sport. Routledge. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-317-50047-6.

[8] Nauright, John; Zipp, Sarah (2020). Routledge Handbook of Global Sport. Routledge. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-317-50047-6.

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