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Kusti Garadi: Traditional Indian Wrestling in Vidyaranyapura

byMadan GowdaClasses at Thunder Martial Arts in VidyaranyapuraStarts from2,800 Per MonthView full gallery

We honor our roots with traditional Indian wrestling, or Kusti, in our own mud pit. This is about connecting with the soil and building raw, functional strength just like our ancestors.

I stand with my students in our Garadi, the traditional mud pit for Kusti. This is where we build fighters from the ground up, connected to our Indian roots.

Two Pailwans (wrestlers) grapple in the mud. This is Kusti, the traditional wrestling of India, a pure test of strength and technique.

A clip from a state-level Matti Kusti (mud wrestling) tournament. We train our students to compete in all forms of combat, including our traditional arts.

A group of female wrestlers being honored at the state-level Kusti tournament. We are proud of all our fighters.

Two female champions are recognized for their performance in the Kusti tournament.

I stand with two young champions from the Kusti tournament. The future of Indian wrestling is bright.

A group of our wrestlers receiving awards at the tournament. Their hard work in the Garadi pays off.

More of our successful wrestlers being recognized for their achievements in the traditional Kusti competition.

I stand with some of the youngest competitors. We believe in starting them young and teaching them the traditions of our land.

A referee raises the hand of a victorious wrestler. This is a moment of pride for the fighter and the entire team.

About Kusti Garadi: Traditional Indian Wrestling

Don't expect a polished gym floor here. We train on loose, turned soil because that is where the real grip strength comes from. Every session starts with an offering, and we finish by cleaning the pit together. It is not just about winning bouts, it is about respect for the soil.

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