Kids training karra Samu, a standard martial arts sport of Andhra Pradesh, at VMRDA Central Park in Visakhapatnam.
| Picture Credit score: KR Deepak

A sudden burst of vitality fills the air one night at VMRDA Central Park. With sticks in hand, a group consisting of individuals of a combined age group, launches into motion. Eyes locked in focus, their palms transfer with precision, executing intricate strikes and blocks with easy grace. The actions move seamlessly from one method to a different, showcasing the great thing about the martial artwork type of karrasamu (stick fencing).

This conventional martial artwork type of Andhra Pradesh has seen a revival in Visakhapatnam within the latest years, due to the efforts of coach BA Lakshman Dev and his institute Baldev’s Indian Conventional Martial Arts. The institute has greater than 50 folks aged 5 to 60 years who’re presently present process coaching in karrasamu. Each morning from 6am onwards, college students collect at Central Park, perfecting the fluidity of their actions with sweeping kicks, swift punches and complex footwork.

Over the previous 15 years, Lakshman has educated tons of of kids and youth in Visakhapatnam and its neighbouring districts on this distinctive type of fight that may be a mix of method, self-discipline and cultural heritage. A lot of his college students have made a mark within the nationals, taking the recognition of the game a notch larger within the coastal metropolis.

A local of Srikakulam, Lakshman is a 3rd era karrasamu practitioner who learnt the artwork from his father and grandfather. “After I got here to Visakhapatnam to begin my institute, there have been hardly a handful of people that got here to study the game. Its recognition has elevated over time. Persons are realising the significance of conventional fight sport in enhancing flexibility, focus and total health. The great thing about the game is one can begin coaching at any age,” says Lakshman.

He believes that introducing these conventional sports activities in colleges can go a great distance in serving to protect the cultural identification of the area and encourage the younger era to remain related to their roots.

Origin and historical past

Karrasamu dates again to a number of centuries in Andhra Pradesh. This martial artwork advanced as a way of self-defence to forestall thefts and theft, frequent in villages up to now and over time was handed down by means of generations. The identify ‘karra’ interprets to stay and ‘samu’ refers to preventing or fight.

Karrasamu practitioners say that the martial artwork isn’t just a type of self protection; it’s a lifestyle. “The game additionally helps them one stay alert and conscious of their environment,” says Lakshman and provides that this is without doubt one of the causes the game has been steadily drawing women. “It teaches self-discipline, focus and self-control. I additionally really feel empowered in some ways,” says 27-year-old P Sudha, a nationwide silver medalist in karrasamu. Sudha, who has been present process coaching on the Baldev’s Indian Conventional Martial Arts, says her journey within the martial artwork has been a life altering expertise. “I really feel much more assured in my life and my flexibility and vitality has gone up significantly. The journey has been massively empowering for me,” says Sudha.

For B Mahalakshmi, a scholar of grade 10, karrasamu has improved her focus ranges and arm energy. At 58, S Narayana began coaching lately when he was in search of methods to cross time after dropping his son to his faculty and courses within the metropolis. It didn’t take him lengthy to get hooked on to the visually fascinating and energetic martial artwork type throughout one in every of his informal walks on the Central Park. “I’m a daily right here now; it’s a meditative expertise which I stay up for each day,” he provides.

Practitioners endure rigorous coaching to grasp these strategies, which embody a warm-up session of working round a piece of the park, adopted by an array of kicks, blocks and grappling maneuvers. Lakshman has additionally launched different conventional martial artwork types of Gatka that has its roots in Punjab, Silambam of Tamil Nadu and Kattisamu (sword combat).

Like many conventional martial arts, Karrasamu faces challenges within the fashionable period. Whereas it fights for the highlight amidst the attract of up to date fight sports activities and different way of life modifications, karrasamu just isn’t recognised underneath the sports activities quota by the State Authorities. “Regardless of its historical roots and plenty of nationwide medallists from Andhra Pradesh, karrasamu hasn’t obtained any recognition, not like different conventional martial arts like silambam that was recognised by the Tamil Nadu authorities in 2021,” rues Lakshman. Lack of infrastructure assist is one other deterrent for this conventional martial artwork.