Desi Strength: Mudgar and Gada Training in Mumbai
Build functional, real-world strength using ancient Indian clubs. Low-impact training to improve your joint mobility, grip, and rotational power.
Here I am demonstrating a basic swing with the Indian club, or Mudgar. This movement is excellent for improving shoulder mobility and grip strength.
This video shows the fluid, circular motions of Gada training. It's a full-body workout that builds rotational strength and lubricates the joints.
This is Desi strength training. Using traditional Indian clubs, we build rotational power and shoulder mobility that you can't get from regular gym equipment. It’s low impact and makes your joints strong for life.
A group of students learning Indian club movements. This training is for everyone and provides a great foundation for both fitness and martial arts.
This graphic explains the benefits of Indian clubs training for improving functional mobility, rotational strength, and cardiovascular endurance.
About Desi Strength: Mudgar & Gada Training
Unlike modern gym equipment that isolates muscles in rigid planes, Mudgar and Gada work your entire body through circular, fluid motions. This isn't about lifting the heaviest weight; it's about lubricating your joints, correcting your posture, and building the kind of grip and rotational strength that makes everyday physical tasks feel effortless, whether you are 20 or 60.
Modern fitness often focuses on aesthetics, but my classes focus on longevity. When you train with the Mudgar or Gada, you are tapping into a warrior tradition that has kept practitioners strong for centuries. These are not just sticks; they are precision tools designed to challenge your stabilizers and build strength that actually carries over into the real world.
Why Train the Old-School Way?
Many people come to me with stiff shoulders or nagging joint pain from years of repetitive gym training. The circular motion of Indian club swinging forces your shoulders, wrists, and core to work in harmony. It is a low-impact method that builds density in your connective tissues, making you more durable against injury. If you can handle a Gada, you can handle the demands of daily life.
Where We Train
Depending on your preference, we have two distinct environments:
- Bandra Dojo: Our indoor facility is focused, intense, and where we break down the technique of every swing. It is about precision and consistency.
- Powai Forest Park: Sunday mornings are for the outdoors. We train on uneven terrain, which adds a layer of instability that forces you to engage your stabilizing muscles, mimicking the unpredictability of real-world movement.
Who Is This For?
Everyone. I mean that. It does not matter if you have never touched a club in your life or if you have an existing injury. I adapt the weight and the complexity of the movement to your current level. My goal is to ensure you leave the session feeling more mobile than when you walked in.
Similar work from other experts
Browse through Curated picks from other experts on mytribe
Ancient Tools, Modern Strength
Gada and Mace Training for Functional Strength
Tagda Raho Strength Training
Build Functional Strength & Power Like a Pro
Strength & Conditioning: Build Your Pailwan Physique
Beyond the Barbell: Real-World Functional Strength Training
More from Combat Fitness & Conditioning by Hemaal Shah
More services by Hemaal Shah