Indian club
Traditional exercise clubs used for strength, mobility, and choreographed routines.
Indian clubs, called *mudgara* in Sanskrit and *meels* in Persian, are exercise tools shaped like juggling pins, made of wood, and used to build strength and mobility by swinging them against resistance. Their weights vary widely, from a few kilograms each up to about 50 kg. In structured group sessions, participants would swing the clubs in unison, following an instructor’s lead—a format still seen in Iran’s Varzesh-e Bastani and reminiscent of modern aerobics classes. The routines and club weights were adjusted to match the group’s skill level. British colonists in the 19th century encountered these clubs in India and gave them the name “Indian clubs.”
The practice of swinging clubs likely began with soldiers in India and Persia, aiming to improve strength, agility, balance, and physical ability. In the Indian subcontinent, the *gada*—a blunt mace with a spherical head on a shaft, often topped with a spike—was a traditional training tool in Hindu physical culture, especially in northern India’s *akhara* training grounds. Made from wood or metal, gada came in various sizes and weights, and practitioners would swing one or two wooden *mudgar* behind their backs in different patterns to build grip strength and shoulder endurance. In Tamil Nadu, a similar tradition called *Karalakattai* involves 64 distinct swings and exercises targeting different muscles, and is said to have been common in households nearly 2,000 years ago, with origins linked to the legendary land of Kumari Kandam.
Historical evidence of club swinging appears in medieval Indian art and texts. The 13th-century *Malla Purana* outlines wrestling training methods, including club swinging, as prescribed by Lord Krishna and Balarama. A 1610 Rajput painting depicts athletes doing acrobatics and club swinging, while a 1670 Mughal painting shows Indian athletes using clubs alongside other exercises like weightlifting and mallakhamb.
- Origin
- India and Persia
- Earliest mention
- 13th century CE (Malla Purana)
- Field
- Physical culture and martial arts
- Known for
- Strength training, club swinging routines, and influence on modern juggling clubs
- Peak popularity
- Late Victorian era; Olympic events in 1904 and 1932
Lore & Background
The thirteenth century text, Malla Purana, discusses Lord Krishna and Balarama's prescriptions regarding wrestlers’ bodies and training methods such as club swinging. A Rajput painting from 1610 CE shows athletes performing various acrobatics including club swinging while dancing on Raga Desahka. A Mughal painting from 1670 depicts Indian athletes using clubs alongside other exercises like weightlifting and mallakhamb.
Reader's Guide
Indian clubs hold significance as a cross-cultural fitness tool with ancient roots in Indian and Persian martial traditions. They were exceptionally popular during the fitness movement of the late Victorian era, used by military cadets and well-heeled ladies alike, and appeared as a gymnastic event in the 1904 and 1932 Olympics. Gymnasiums were built solely to cater to club exercise groups. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries they became increasingly common in Europe, the British Commonwealth and the United States. Circa 1913/14 the Bodyguard unit of the British suffragette movement carried Indian clubs as concealed weapons for use against the truncheons of the police. The popularity of Indian clubs waned in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s as organized sports became more prevalent. There are physical fitness enthusiasts reviving the usage of Indian Clubs in the early 21st century, citing the aerobic exercise and safety advantages over traditional free weight regimens. There are nostalgic replicas of the original clubs being manufactured, as well as modern engineering updates to the concept, such as the Clubbell. Their legacy also includes inspiring the modern juggling club, first repurposed for juggling by DeWitt Cook in the 1800s, and influencing Japanese chi'ishi conditioning equipment.
Did You Know?
- Indian clubs can weigh from a few kilograms each to as much as 50 kg.
- The modern juggling club was inspired by Indian clubs, first repurposed for juggling by DeWitt Cook in the 1800s.
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