This is amazing. I train with kettlebells, chest expander and other old school training tools and methods. I definitely will give the Indian clubs a try....the only thing is how I gonna explain them to my wife, the living room is already a whole gym hahaha. Thanks again for the video!
Mudgar is what it is called here in India. It's used by wrestlers. Along with mudgar, gada and sumtola are basic equipments needed. Just search on RU-vid with these names and you'll find tons of channels.. hmu if you need any help
I was introduced to Indian clubs in 1962 and have been swinging them ever since. I found this to be totally fascinating. Thank you Ben for this amazing retrospective on what was, and still is one of the worlds healthiest, beneficial and enjoyable forms of functional fitness!
Steven O'Farrell , thank you for your kind comments about the video, and I am fascinated to learn about your own club swinging history! May I ask who you learned from back in those days? Cheers and best wishes.
@@davidmiller6642 My father, who was born in 1917 in NYC, was a big boxing fan, as was his father who I never met and who died at the age of 58; my father was 17 at the time. They knew several of the top boxers of the world personally, as a matter of fact. Boxers during that era used Indian clubs to develop hand speed and punching power. My grandfather taught my father Indian club basics, and my father taught me. I still have the original pair he used - 1 lb. Spaldings that were popular in the late 1800's - early 1900's. At the age of 9 I learned how to do outward mills, one handed at first, eventually mastered 2 clubs at once, and that was pretty much all I did with them. That was enough to get me hooked! My father bought me a pair of 1.5 lb Sportcraft clubs (Belgium) around 1969, which I still swing. Later on I graduated to heavier clubs, added more basic swing patterns and for many years would try to answer the question, "what are you doing with those bowling pins?" The internet was the game changer, and for the past 15+ years I have discovered and learned far more than I did the prior 40 years. Because Indian clubs have been a part of my life all these years, and one of my favorite pastimes, your film immediately resonated with me and I loved watching it - multiple times in fact. Thanks for your reply, Ben, and best wishes to you, too.
Steven O'Farrell many thanks for your response and (once again!) your kind comments. Where are you based now? I was in NYC for many years but recently moved to the West Coast. I would love to discuss further what you learned back in the old days from your father, since there are only a few others that I have ever heard of in America / UK / Australia who are still alive and who learned a “living tradition” of Western club swinging from older teachers or family before it disappeared. (The vast majority today, as I’m sure you know, are practicing a “resurrection” made either from scratch or based on book research). Anyway, I’d be very keen to interview you for a future book I’m working on, or (even better) meet up if we happen to be in the same city! Thanks again and all the best, -Ben
@@davidmiller6642 Your short film really is sensational, in my opinion, and I would be hard pressed not to respond back after watching it! I live about 175 miles north of New York City - about 30 miles north of Albany NY. As I alluded to, my father taught me only the most basic of movements, since I was only 9 years old at the time. Being one of 7 kids, I wasn't exactly getting daily instructions but he grounded me enough that I could progress and refine what he showed me. The clubs gave me confidence and instilled a feeling of physical strength that I never knew before because I was really thin. It was love at first sight, or first swing you could say. The clubs were my good luck charm, my secret weapon that made me feel that I had some kind of advantage, though I wasn't even sure what it was. I still feel this way and it's the ancient history and the cloak of mystery that makes Indian clubs such an intriguing endeavor. I know I'm not the oldest club practitioner, but there can't be too many who have been using Indian clubs longer than I have at this point. I follow the likes of Paul Taras Wolkowinski, Zenkahuna and the dozens of others who practice, teach and promote club swinging/training. I would be happy to share with you whatever information I could provide about my personal history and evolution with Indian clubs. I'm all for meeting up sometime and if that comes to fruition I could share with you some of my grandfathers history (a famous detective in NYC, he knew mobsters, Presidents, Bat Masterson, the Vanderbilts and a whole lot more) that in many ways was the genesis of my ever discovering Indian clubs in the first place. Thanks for your interest, and good luck to you! - Steve
In Goju Ryu Karate, traditional practitioners still use the Chishi (stone lever weights). The chishi is a concrete or stone weight at the end of a wooden handle. It is mainly used to strengthen the grip, as well as the joints of the elbows, wrists and shoulders. The exercises develop the muscles used in blocking, striking and grappling techniques. It also strengthens the arms, shoulders, abdomen and stance for a variety of techniques.
I visited Pakistan back in 1998. I've seen many thousands of these so-called CHISHI's on the streets. Pakistani police use chisi to block road traffic using pedestrian.
In the early 1990s a work colleague picked up two bottles and started swinging them like these clubs. He told me that he done this during his national service approx 35 earlier. He never missed a beat. I believe he is still alive and around 90 now.
Awesome video. This is exactly what I was looking for. I've been seeing more and more people using indian clubs and I want to jump on but didn't want to do so without a history lesson.
Two years ago I thought about getting some Indian clubs but didn't carry through with it. They would have prevented rotator cuff strain I got from using a left hand mouse. I guess the body could sense the coming doom. I just ordered a pair for rehab after several chiropractor's visits.
As the late Bruce Lee would say, " Take what is useful, discard the rest." As soon as I am able, I will buy a pair of these clubs and learn how to properly use them and incorporate it into my fitness routine
Brilliant. Thank you. My interest stemmed from taking up nunchaku and Kali stick techniques. I found it really good exercise for shoulders and coordinatiin and it reminded of the Royal Navy PTIs or 'clubswingers'
I still practice the art of light Indian Club Swinging along with The Swedish Method Of Gymnastics. It has strengthen and maintain my body's flexibility. This is needed because I undergo rather difficult medical treatment. And I wish to thank you for producing great lectures on the topic of Indian Clubs. Once again Sir thank you and God bless and your family.
Thanks Fred! I am sorry to hear about your medical treatment! I hope it goes well! If there are any particular issues you want exercises for let me know, and I will see if I can oblige in the future!
@@PhysicalCultureHistorians yes indeed... traditional exercises to promote healthy cardio, spiritual development. As well strengthening other parts of the human anatomy for overall balance. Once thank you for your aid and kindness.🙏
I love clubbells. Have been using them almost daily, much much longer as a leg day warm up to get the thoracic spine primed, and using them as a cool down after torso training because the AthleanX deltoid dozen is a better warm up for the shoulders. They are wonderful for swordsman and folks (like me) with great sledgehammer and axe accuracy. Never knew doing a kettlebell style swing with a push over would be such a good compliment to chopping wood
My maternal grandmother would ecstatic to know that the art of Indian Club Swinging is on the come back. Once again Sir you produced a brilliant video lecture on the subject. Please continue creating great video content.
Brilliant documentary! I'm trying to bring back the holistic training you talked about. Thank you for putting this video together and doing all this research.
This is awesome! Well done putting together this documentary. I had some made by a local carpenter while recovering from frozen shoulder. I'm loving it!
Great video, it filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge of club swinging. I have a 7 minute routine I’ve done for 6 years. It’s great for upper body strength and mobility.
@Criminology M.A. I'm pretty much only into traditional stuff I think this whole business of lifting bars loaded with 6 tonnes of metal plates especially while wearing support belts and wrist straps just make people too big and I reckon they wreck your joints and knees and spine and don't even get me started on machines you don't need to be freakishly big to be freakishly strong and fit
@@thehindumuse but you have to have a warped mind to think that looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger looks nice it looks gross to be that big traditional/real exercise is better for health/fitness and appearance
Very interesting and informative video. I am amazed at the amount of ground you managed to cover in 12 minutes. I am extremely envious of your video editing skills. Wish I had 10% of your talent!
cococlubs Thank you for the kind comments sir! I am very gratified to know that there are some out there who are enjoying the video! And I am very impressed by your swinging skills! 🙂
Heavier clubs works as pull over i think according to physica with some additional benefits . Which escpecially help u in group fight for turning twisting urself .
If someone is getting lower back pain then u are performing it wrong . Lean forward to maintain center of gravity when the club goes back . By the way i loved the video . Love from Jharkhand . It feels energetic i will try this soon i tried this in my childhood .
Fun interpretation of the chopin op70 n3! Minimal use of pedal, and almost staccato, melodic line gives it an upbeat texture... Very unlike what chopin typically has sounded like to me. Very interesting and enjoyable. I enjoyed your documentary very much, great work.
I am a martial arts practitioner and have been swinging light gymnastics clubs for 30 years. Rescently added heavier ones to my training. For what i do it is VERY important how exactly you swing, the power must be generated in the legs and the core of the body, while the arms just hold and direct the circles. Clubs are just an amazing training tool.
Just happened across this after seeing "Indian Clubs" being sold online and doing a search. I usually use kettlebells, but feel an immediate draw to these. Thanks so much for a fantastic video, really informative - leagues better than watching endless "how-to use clubs" exercise videos on youtube!
Thank you so much for this amazing historical documentary! I practice swinging with circus clubs to dance and I had no idea of the history behind that. THANKS!
I wonder sometimes if a lot of the exercises from this channel are innate. Before I bought my first pair of thirty-pound dumbbells, one of my strength-building exercises involved going into the woods and twirling around sticks and pvc pipes while jumping and spinning around, and I knew nothing about this style of exercise when I was working out this way. I was also swinging tree branches around like they were swords, usually using the heaviest ones I could find. I would swing two at the same time so that I could keep my body symmetrical, which I suppose is even more similar to Indian club swinging than twirling around pipes and sticks was.
Hi Liam, club swinging went into severe decline in the 1930s to 1950s in pretty much everywhere except Germany and Eastern Europe. At that time it became seen as “not fashionable” and something old-fashioned, associated with one’s grandparents, etc.. And therefore “not cool.” Also, the general PE focus shifted to sports and bodybuilding, which used other implements. Thankfully traditional club swinging survived among a few elder practitioners, and there has been a resurgence of interest in recent years.
It was standard training in US and British armies from cavalry saber exercises. A young officer named Douglas McArthur rewrote the manual of arms to emphasize thrusting over slashing... and the military use of clubs began to fade, as modern firearms and bayonet drills became the standard.
Thank you for your great historical video, great pictures and video. I just want to mention that you didn't even mentioned Iran 'Persia' in your video! is there any personal propose? or your study start from India not from introduction of 'Pahlavani in India'
Are you assuming that there was no wrestling in India before the Islamic/encounter? 1. Malla Yuddha existed before Christ. This is proved through literature and art. 2. The cultural encounter between India existed before Islam or the Islamization of Persia to Iran.
Hi George, both are valid, it depends on what kind of strength, agility, and physique you want to develop. I would recommend starting light, and after getting some of that down, progressing to heavy swinging if that’s your interest. Because even heavy club swingers will start light, otherwise it’s too dangerous to try those untested motions with clubs that could potentially knock you out or break bones.
I believe the community that brings this back will most likely be the gym community, but something that amazes me, is how this exercise which was once seen as the hallmark staple to any exercise program just became completely irrelevant and thrown away, not even replaced. I have looked for many answers to explain why this happened but the only thing I can come up with is two theories. As health became a disliked topic in the west, the idea of regular practice with clubs (which were also most likely becoming harder to find) just became tossed out. A tradition that parents most likely didn't do a good job passing on to the next generation that was steadily becoming lazier. Nextly if we are talking about gym enthusiasts im guessing what killed it for gym lovers is the recently new disdain towards small/normal but functional bodies in favor towards a more stiff but larger body, which requires a completely different exercise regime to obtain. I guess as people got busy they entered a mind set "if im going to the gym, it should be to get bigger not to stay the same size but more nimble" But as huge martial arts and gym lover, I have started heavily incorporating clubs into my regime and I have completely fallen inlove with the exercise and will most likely highly recommend it to any of my students in the future once I gain enough knowledge in how to use it correctly.
I believe the decline of Indian clubs was due to the fitness industry becoming heavily focused on body building, which used slow resistance exercises and much heavier weights. Indian clubs are better for functional strength and agility, rather than heavy lifting and developing huge muscles. In terms of public physical culture demonstrations, which Indian clubs were a large part of, these disappeared when the population became totally engrossed by spectator sports, as opposed to physical culture exercises and demonstrations.
@@PhysicalCultureHistorians awesome to get your reply and theory on this. Just wanted to say ty for the effort you put into making this video. Me and my gf loved it, plus my gf is a total fan of seeing historical footage and photos as they are super cool and hard to find. That being said you tottally sold me on this exercise, and it's now something I have in my main routine and will most likely stay as a part of my regular life. I'm training to become a coach and I will most likely be preaching the hell out of this exercise after I become proper enough to teach it.
There must be some link between the practice of Indian Club (Mugdal) and Indian Sword Wielding style. For thousands of years Indian warriors were using heavy curved swords. The wielding style of swords and clubs is somewhat same
In one of Flowing Dutchman's video collaborations with Paul Wolkowinski two months ago, Paul said he had held a sword of the time period (British in India) and a 2 lb Indian club, and the weight and balance was nearly identical. I wonder if some of the popularity in them at least for military training came from use in conditioning for swords, and that when weapons like bayonets became more common as the edged option, they lowered in popularity.
You should well be! I have great respect for India, its people, history, and traditions! :) I feel honored whenever someone from Indian watches this video!
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I have only recently started a light club workout regime. As much as I want to do some of the exercises I saw in this video, I doubt if my ceiling is high enough for me to fully extend my arms upwards with out hitting it.
The neurological benefits of Indian clubs are promising.....I am going to give this a try. The Europeans put study and development into it. Are there any texts that layout their thoughts and pedagogy. How does something like this go out of use so quickly?
Excellent video good sir! However, I'm really surprised that you didn't mention that Indian Clubs were actually an Olympic Sport (which the U.S. dominated). Additionally, I'm surprised you didn't mention the rich club swinging cultures of both Iran/Persia and Russia. Iran recently started to incorporate club swinging exercises back into their national wrestling team. Shortly after this re-introduction, Iran's national team became the world's best, and remains at the top spot to this day.
Hi, thank you for your kind comment about the video. Club swinging is actually mentioned (and shown) as an Olympic sport around 6:30 into the film. Indeed there were also club swinging contests in the St Louis and Los Angeles Olympics in addition to London. However, this video was intended to be a short overview (hence the title "Brief History"). I believe an entire 10 to 20 minute film could be done on the Olympic angle. As to Persian Mil, this could also be the subject of its own film. Perhaps in the future. The focus of this short film was the origins of club swinging in India and its history in the west. For more info on the Persian Mil, check out the following article: www.indianclubs.com.au/persian-meel/
@@davidmiller6642 I think he meant that it was unclear that it was a sport. Take acrobats for instance, they are at the Olympic Games, but it's not a sport. Also, if you could do a video on the Indian Clubs being an Olympic sport, that would be fantastic! I would also highly recommend you take a look at the works of Kashi Azad at www.persianyoga.com/ and the works of Richard Maguire at Agelesstrength.com for some information on Persian Meels for future videos. Keep up the good work! Your video was a fantastic introduction on Indian Clubs!
They fell out of fashion due to the rise of sports and games which came to dominate all of "physical culture" during the 20th century. That's amazing to know that your granddad used them! Did he happen to teach you anything about them? Would love to know more about him if you're willing to share!
@@PhysicalCultureHistorians Unfortunately not, I was about 7 when he stopped using them. It looks like such a good exercise to build upper body endurance, mixed with cardio.
Can you make a video on the arabian/islamic sports please? Because i can't believe that the arabs could Conquer both Persia and Rome without a military/athletic system
That would be great! Unfortunately that’s not been my area of research-I don’t really know much about it, except that they wrote some fencing treatises. Do you have any texts or resources to recommend, preferably in English?
To be 100% honest, it was hard not to see most of these photos and think of a reality where bowling was just a really popular sport and club swinging didn’t exist.
