ALL INDIA SILAMBAM FEDERATION

SILAMBAM is a traditional stick martial art from South India. South India has a rich culture of many thousands years, at least inheritated since the Dravidian empires.

The nowaday Tamil culture and people still have highly valuable gems to share, amongst them is Silambam. Though fighting with sticks is universal, it has reached there a summit in technics intricacy, complexity and efficiency.

Silambam incorporates a range of techniques.

a) By swift foot movements, large spheres of control can be established.

b) Both hands can be used to wield the staff.

c) Precision, force and momentum can be developed at head, shoulder, hip and leg level.

d) The cut, chop, thrust and sweep can be used to achieve mastery.

e) Development of a reflex defensive action, by concentrating on and anticipating the moves of the opponent and perfecting various kinds of feints in stroke play, can absolutely demoralise an adversary.

The state of Tamil Nadu is considered to be the cradle of modern and scientific staff fencing, popularly known in Tamil as Silambam. The Pandya kings ruling in Tamil Nadu promoted Silambam fencing, as did their Chola and Chera counterparts. Silapathiharam Tamil literature, dating back to 2nd century A.D., refers to the sale of silamabam staves, swords, pearls and armour to foreign traders. The ancient trading centre at Madurai city, renowned globally, was said to be thronged by Romans, Greeks, Egyptians among others who had regular sea trade with the ancient Dravidian kings. The silambam staff was one of the martial art weapons, that was in great demand with the visitors.