Pehlwani
Pehlwani-style wrestling match in Davangere, Karnataka, India (2005). | |
| Also known as | Kushti |
|---|---|
| Focus | Wrestling |
| Country of origin | Indian subcontinent |
| Famous practitioners | |
| Parenthood | Koshti pahlevani Malla-yuddha |
| Descendant arts | Catch wrestling |
| Olympic sport | No |
Pehlwani, also known as Kushti, is a form of wrestling practiced in the Indian subcontinent. It was developed in the Mughal Empire by combining Persian Koshti pahlevani with influences from native Indian Malla-yuddha. The words pehlwani and kushti derive from the Persian terms pahlavani (heroic) and koshti (wrestling, lit. killing) respectively, meaning "heroic wrestling". A practitioner of this sport is referred to as a pehlwan (Persian for hero) while teachers are known as ustad (Persian for teacher or master) or guru.
One of the most famous practitioners of Pehlwani was The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt), who is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Other examples include Kodi Rammurthy Naidu and Brahmdev Mishra. Pehlwani is one of the sports that influenced catch wrestling, which in turn partially inspired folkstyle wrestling, freestyle wrestling, and mixed martial arts (MMA).