Traditional Lal Mati Kusti Training
Step into the red soil. Experience the raw strength, heritage, and discipline of traditional wrestling at our Navi Mumbai akhada.
The journey of a Pailwan begins in the 'lal mati' or red soil. Here, I am guiding our youngest wrestlers, teaching them the foundational grips and movements of traditional Kusti.
An evening training session in the red soil pit. This is where our Pailwans build grit and learn to adapt to the traditional form of Indian wrestling.
This is the atmosphere of a traditional Kusti competition. One of our Pailwans, Sumit Mane, enters the Akhada, ready to compete in the red soil.
A clip from the Namo Chashak 2024 Kusti competition, where our Pailwan Shriraj Jadhav competed in a traditional red soil bout.
Under my guidance, wrestlers practice their drills in the 'lal mati'. This type of training builds a different kind of strength and connection to the ground.
Two of our young Pailwans face off in the red soil pit during the inauguration of our Akhada, ready to begin their practice.
About Lal Mati: Traditional Kusti
Training in the lal mati (red soil) pit changes how you move. Unlike synthetic mats, this surface offers natural resistance that forces you to dig in, stabilize your feet, and engage your core differently. It is an honest, raw workout that builds a kind of ground-connection and grip strength you simply cannot replicate on a mat. Whether you are a beginner or looking to sharpen your technique, the soil demands respect, focus, and hard work from the very first minute.
Our Akhada in Sanpada
At Jai Hanuman, we keep the tradition of lal mati alive because we believe it is the foundation of a true Pailwan. The red soil is not just ground—it is our classroom. When you train here, you are connecting to a practice that has built generations of wrestlers in Maharashtra.
The Training Method
Under the guidance of our Vastaad (coach) Sandip Dalavi, our sessions are rigorous but systematic. We start with traditional warm-ups—high-repetition sapate (burpees) and deep baithak (squats)—to build explosive power. We then move to the pit for technical work. You will learn specific grips, throws, and defensive holds that are essential for competing in lal mati bouts.
Why Red Soil?
- Grip & Balance: The uneven, yielding surface forces your stabilizing muscles to work harder, improving your overall balance.
- Mental Toughness: There is no escaping the heat and the dust. It builds the grit required to stay calm under pressure.
- Traditional Technique: You learn the nuances of controlling your opponent's weight and center of gravity that are unique to open-pit wrestling.
Joining Us
Whether you are a student looking for summer discipline or an aspiring wrestler wanting to compete, our doors are open. We run daily batches (5:30 AM and 5:00 PM) at our Sanpada facility. We do not just teach you how to wrestle; we teach you how to carry yourself with discipline, both inside the akhada and in life.
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