Angampora

Angampora

Angampora’ is a Sri Lankan martial art that combines combat techniques, self defense, sport, exercise and meditation. A key component of Angampora is  the namesake angam, which incorporates hand-to-hand fighting, and illangam, involving the use of indigenous weapons such as ethunu kaduwa, staves, knives and swords. Another component known as maya angam, which uses spells and incantations for combat, is also said to have existed. The origins of Angampora are scattered throughout history. It's believed to be older than 33,000 years along with the story of Kataragama Mahasen, the brave Angampora warrior of Yakkha tribe. Later at the time of Maha Ravana who was born to the same tribe, Angampora was vastly expanded. It became more popular as it was introduced to Buddhist civilization.

Throughout the time of King Dutugemunu, the ten giant warriors of his army (Dasa Maha Yodhayo) used Angampora techniques in the battles against the Warlord Elara. Gotaimbara was one of the ten giants, and he had a separate conflict with Ritigala Jayasena, a powerful member of Yakkha tribe. Gotaimbara tried to flirt with Jayasena's beautiful wife which led to a huge fight. According to Mahãvamsa, Gotaimbara had decaptiated Jayasena by a single Angampora kick to the neck. The parties who taught Angampora for latter generations were called Gurukula. They arose during the Kandyan period as the need and the importance of Angampora was increased due to British imperialism in Sri Lanka. There were two main Gurukula in the country; Sudaliya and Maruwalliya. A new administrative system was developed and the senior members of Gurukula were given titles. Mohottala, Sudaliya Muhandiram, Maruwalliya Muhandiram are a few of them