I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as I walk into the municipal grounds in Uppal, Hyderabad, for my first karra samu session. ‘Karra’, meaning stick, and ‘samu’, translating to fight or combat in Telugu, together refer to a traditional martial art form, which dates back over 3,000 years, that is slowly gaining momentum in the city. At the helm are martial artists Swarna Yadav and Khawshiq, co-founders of Swarna Arts Academy, which operates nine branches with 10 trainers across Hyderabad.“Karra samu, or stick fighting, is an ancient martial art that uses sticks for self-defence. It is equivalent to Silambam in Tamil Nadu, Gatka in Punjab and Kalaripayattu in Kerala, all of which focus on developing deep core strength. These martial arts share the same roots, though their styles and movements differ,” explains the 30-year-old.
All about Karra Samu, Telangana’s traditional stick-fighting martial art
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
This ancient martial art ingrained in the cultural indentity of two-Telugu speaking states- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has historical ties to the Mala community.
