Silambam (Tamil: சிலம்பம்) or silambattam (Tamil: சிலம்பாட்டம்) - Indian Traditional Arts or Ancient arts of survival science originated from Tamil Nadu (South India) dated from 400 B.C.E. until today, with oral folklore traces it back even further, claiming a history of more than 3500 years tracing back to the Indus Valley Civilization until to pre-historic era. Several artifacts were found in the form of drawing on the stones or cave wall, carving and figures in the ancient coins, pot and stones depicted human carrying Silambam stick, Spear (Vel-Kambu), and trident shapes. Several substantial essences of arts were forgotten, severely lost, or destroyed with its crucial information of ancient texts during the ancient war, modern war, political suppression, economic changes, climate changes, migration of population to other regions or countries, and for many other reasons. To retain its existence from further loss, several ancient Silambam practitioners and their ancestors or lineage practitioners made great effort to re-compile the historical findings which are scattered or secretly hidden by several village tribes or community, by some caste or clan, in several regions of India or Asia, and restored some original collective in the form of traditional martial arts. In Tamil language, self-defense also known by the umbrella terms taṟkāppuk kalai (Tamil: தற்காப்புக் கலை) "art of self-defense".

Currently, Silambam is practiced by the community in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. It is closely related to the art of kalarippayattu (kalari payat) from Kerala and the art of Angampora from Sri Lanka. Silambam training conducted in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, as the combined program of Indian self-defense and also Indian Traditional Arts of kuttu varisai, traditional yoga, and varma kalai. In Tamil, the word silambam refers to the bamboo staff which is the main weapon used in this style, having more branches of arts segregation or some formation had separated to known in other names or forms of martial arts. In this modern era, the community has misunderstood or assumed the Indian traditional arts of silambam is only martial arts or sports.

Unarmed silambam, called kuttu varisai (Tamil: குத்துவரிசை), utilizes stances and routines based on animal movements such as the frog, snake, dog, monkey, tiger, elephant, and eagle forms.

References

• Guruji Murugan Chillayah. (2013, May 31). Silambam Introduction & History (Arimugam & Varalattru). Silambam. Retrieved from https://silambam.asia/silambam-introduction.html