मल्लपुराण (ज्येष्ठिमल्ल - प्राचीन भारतीय मल्लविद्या, अखाड़ा व्यायाम व कुश्ती महाग्रन्थ)

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As the student develops strength and agility, he is given the Mallasthamba.
The Mallasthamba is a smooth pillar of wood on which the boy mounts and
dismounts in various ways. These exercises develop stamina, strength and
agility to a considerable degree. Specially the power of turning and twisting the
body is considerably developed by this form of exercise. Its varieties known
as hanging Mallasthambha and Āntarpakad were also practised. For further
development of strength, weight-lifting is introduced by three different types
of weights. Two of them can be compared to modern dum-bells ( Nālī ) and
Bar-bells ( Saṁtolā ). The third is a round stone ( cāki ) which is put on the
neck. This has no modern parallel. The training with weights is given once or
twice a week or for strongly built students every alternate day. This weight
training used to develop good form and muscle power.
For strengthening shoulders, back and chest muscle heavy Indian clubs
were also used. They were used one in each hand or other type was grasped by
both hands. The latter is similar to Gadā and is known as Kārelā.
These are normal items of training. Swimming also formed a part in their
exercise, but it was never developed to a high competitive standard. The
swimming strokes that these wrestlers know are the dog paddle, breast stroke,
back stroke, side stroke and trudgen. Besides these they know floating. In
diving they know simple jump, header, somersault, and swallow.
After a student knew the normal exercises, they were trained for Vajramuṣṭi
wrestling. The point of winning is a proper catch of the hand carrying Vajra-
muṣṭi. This is effected by a leg catch or a hand catch or by combination. Many
swift movements are taught which save the fighter from receiving the blows of
vajramuṣṭi and inflicting blows on the opponent at the same time. Movements
for safeguarding the fighter from the catches of the opponent are also taught.
He is shown the catches that are useful to bring down the opponent.
This training is given in the wrestling arena, which is known as Akhāḍā.
Here fine earth is kept. It is dug and kept very soft and levelled. It is prepared
by bringing the earth, seiving it to remove small gravels, thorns or any other
injurious objects. Buttermilk, oil, red ochre and many other objects of organic
and inorganic nature are added to it. Water is sprinkled every third day.
After the training is over the wrestler gives public show. Vajramuṣṭi
wrestlers fight in the public show only twice a year on Holi and Daśerā, be-
cause the wrestling involves a lot of injury to the head and it often takes a long
time to heal the wounds and reconditioning. Occasionally this wrestling was
arranged on Christmas and for entertaining guests.
The public show is taken very seriously by these wrestlers; so they make
elaborate preparations mainly of religious nature.