Kushti: When Wrestling Gets Dirty.

Welcome to the world of Kushti also known as Pehlwani, a form of wrestling coming out of South Asia. Before we get our hands dirty, let’s lay down the history and the ground rules.

The History of Kushti

Kushti was developed in the Mughal Empire by combining Persian martial arts with influences from native INDIAN combat wrestling. Kushti wrestlers are often trained in judo and jujutsu as well.

Training for this sport can be pretty grueling with the most dedicated wrestlers starting as early as 6 years of age. Training involves pulling logs, climbing ropes, running long distances, and waking up at 3 AM to do it all over again. Every match begins with a blessing that involves throwing a few handfuls of dirt on yourself and your opponent. Once the match begins, it’s every person for themselves.

The Rules of Kushti

You must pin your opponent’s shoulders and hips to the ground at the same time. No points, no goals, no problem. Or so you’d think. There are no rounds but the duration of every match is decided beforehand, usually about half an hour. If the wrestlers both want to extend the match, they can. In Kushti, the wrestling area is either circular or square-shaped, measuring at least fourteen feet across. Instead of using modern mats like boxing or MMA, South Asian wrestlers train and compete on dirt floors, after they’ve been raked for pebbles and stones.

Despite the marked boundaries of the arena, competitors may go outside of the ring with no penalty. You win by pinning, knockout, or submission. Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Kushti wrestler? Keep reading for some quick tips on how to get on top of this challenging sport. Or you can just keep watching wrestling videos from the comfort of your own home. Let’s get to the flipping, flopping, gripping, and grabbing.