Angampora

Angampora
Angampora gripping technique at Korathota Angam Maduwa
FocusStriking, Grappling
Country of originSri Lanka
Famous practitionersTen Giant Warriors
Olympic sportNo
MeaningBody-combat

Angampora is a Sinhalese martial art that combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and meditation.[1][2] A key component of angampora is the namesake angam, which incorporates hand-to-hand fighting, and illangam, involving the use of indigenous weapons such as the ethunu kaduwa, staves, knives and swords.[3][4] Another component known as maya angam, which uses spells and incantations for combat, is also said to have existed.[5] Angampora's distinct feature lies in the use of pressure point attacks to inflict pain or permanently paralyze the opponent. Fighters usually make use of both striking and grappling techniques, and fight until the opponent is caught in a submission lock that they cannot escape. Usage of weapons is discretionary. Perimeters of fighting are defined in advance, and in some of the cases is a pit.[5][6]

A number of paintings related to angampora are found at Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. These include Embekka Devalaya, Gadaladeniya Rajamaha Viharaya, Temple of the Tooth, Saman Devalaya (Ratnapura) and Lankathilaka Rajamaha Viharaya.[7][8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference angam11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Perera, Harshi (28 May 2013). "Angampora should be brought back to the limelight". Daily News. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference angam3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference sinha was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Kulatunga, Thushara (22 November 2009). "A truly Sri Lankan art". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  6. ^ Perera, Thejaka (July 2010). "Angampora: the Martial Art of Sri Lankan Kings". angampora.org. Explore Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference angam9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Silva, Revata S. (28 May 2011). "'Not Just Sports' – Part 12 : 'Jana Kreeda' change as kingdom moves to east". The Island. Retrieved 19 May 2012.