Angampora - An ancient martial art form of SriLanka.

Angampora is an ancient martial art form practised in Sri Lanka. Learning 'Angampora' has become a timely requirement as well as one of the national needs. 

Angampora portrays unique features of Sri Lankan martial art that combines combat techniques, self-defence, exercise, sport and meditation. 

This ancient form of martial art originated almost 33000 years ago from Yaksha tribe which is considered one of the ancient tribes inhibited in the island. 

Sri Lankan folklore consists of many stories about Angampora. God Kataragama is considered a great Angampora warrior. Once he had a combat with the enemy group called 'Asura'. According to the historical records, he has used the techniques of Angampora during his combat with them. Not only that, the king Rāvana also has used the techniques of Angampora to fight with king Rāma. Among the names of the Angampora expert warriors, there was a businessman called 'Alakeshwara' who lived in Gampola kingdom. According to Robert Knox, the huge crowd of the young generation was trained in places such as 'Angam Madu' and 'Ilangam Madu'. They were trained according to a systematic process by the Angampora masters. The overcrowded Angampora huts clearly depicted how much the young generation was enthusiastic about learning this ancient martial art in Sri Lanka. 

Angampora received its name from the 'angam' arts which involve hand-to-hand combat forms and 'ilangam' arts mainly deal with traditional weaponary such as swords, battle axes, daggers etc. 

The ancient martial art; Angampora highly contributes to forming well-disciplined, law-abiding citizens. It was not taught just to improve physical health or fitness, it helped the apprentices to concentrate, to improve the mental well being, discipline and favourable attitudes. 

The practices sessions are normally begun with meditation and offering of merit to the master. Before the trainees enter the training but, they light three lamps. The most important thing is that the trainees who learn Angampora thoroughly promise to use the technique solely for purposes of self-defence and the defence of family or country. As usual, they start with the basic warm-up exercises and gradually moving on to special exercises. According to the teaching process of Angampora techniques, firstly foot movement techniques are taught. Secondly, they are taught with weaponless combat which let the students observe Angampora combats and to learn on attacking the weak points of an opponent. Then in weaponed combat, the young learners are taught on using approximately sixty-four types of weapons including several traditional weapons. The most prominent section of Angampora is to teach trainees the deadly techniques that involve the nervous system. The use of the correct technique can cause to halt the blood flow to vital organs leading to paralysis or even death. 

Alongside such techniques, the trainees learn an indigenous medical practice which reserves the effects of such deadly strikes. The students who mastered Angampora are graduated at a Buddhist temple ceremoniously and they take the responsibility to train the new set of students. 

Angampora is a unique form of the martial art of Sti Lanka that cannot be found in any other corner of the world. 

📷courtesy: www.sundayobserver.lk, www.sundaytimes.lk, huffspot, angampora.org