It is easy to forget that Sri Lanka has its own illustrious martial arts form. The world is well aware of karate, taekwondo, and the like, and so are Sri Lankans. But what of the ancient martial art of Angampora?
This martial art has roots that go back thousands of years – its written and other tangible evidence like art date back to the period of King Ravana, when Angampora was at the height of its development, but its oral traditions and intangible evidence goe back even further.
Its practitioners were fearsome. One of the bloodiest battles against colonial occupation, the Battle of Mulleriyawa in 1559, was led by Angampora warriors, who defeated over 1,600 Portuguese soldiers in the space of a few hours.
Beyond combat and war, Angampora encapsulates a lifestyle that marries physical discipline, mental resilience, and a profound connection to cultural heritage. It was often an art of heritage, with practitioners training their children who would train their children.
Indeed, the foremost Angampora practitioner in Sri Lanka today is Deshamanya Ajantha Mahanthaarachchi, who himself traces his ancestry to Angampora soldiers from the 15th century Seethawaka Kingdom of Kotte who fought against the Portuguese.
This week, The Sunday Morning Brunch sat down with Mahanthaarachchi for a discussion on Angampora in today’s context – how it’s practised in the present day and how its timeless principles can improve our well-being, both mentally and physically.
A glimpse into history
As an art form, Angampora seamlessly blends unarmed and armed techniques, deadly pressure-point attacks, meditation, and esoteric practices. It is characterised by the use of hand-to-hand fighting, indigenous weapons such as the ‘ethunu kaduwa,’ staves, knives, and swords, and spells and incantations for combat.
For thousands of years, Angampora reigned supreme when it came to the art of war and formed a vital part of our cultural heritage, before its decline which began when the British took control of the whole island in 1815.
In 1818, the British outlawed, and – according to stories passed down among practitioners – discreetly executed people who practised Angampora because they saw the art as a threat to their rule. Practitioners at the time were smart enough to begin disguising Angampora as dance, and in this under-the-radar way, kept the craft alive, telling the British they were dancing and not practising a forbidden martial art.
Colonial rule has long since ended and the ban on Angampora was lifted in 2018 by the Sri Lankan Government and it was officially approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2019. The lifting of the ban has led to a resurgence of interest in Angampora, with practitioners emerging from obscurity and the art being promoted as a national heritage.
Teams of Angampora practitioners, supported by the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, and Air Force, perform at national events, showcasing its global appeal and cultural significance.
Mahanthaarachchi is also the author of ‘Angampora: A Nation’s Legacy in Pictures’ – a coffee table book that documents the art of Angampora in collaboration with long-format photographer Reza Akram.
Angampora today
Angampora is not merely a martial art; it is a way of life. Mahanthaarachchi underscored this by stating: “Angampora is not just about combat; it encompasses a holistic lifestyle.”
Full-time students engage in rigorous training from sunrise to sunset, practising traditional exercises, using special oil treatments for muscle development, and engaging in meditation and other rituals conducted before and after sunset.
Angampora’s lifestyle practices extend beyond combat techniques. As Mahanthaarachchi highlighted: “Our traditional health regimens involve the use of medicinal herbs, specific meal traditions, and meditations.”
Mahanthaarachchi remains committed to making this ancient and often-forgotten martial art well-known again, to bring back the old traditions to Sri Lankan people to benefit them in their modern lives.
As part of its resurgence over the last decade, links have been forged with Sri Lanka’s tri-forces to build elements of Angampora into military and combat training, returning to our roots and timeless traditions to strengthen our military. Initiatives have been launched to introduce Angampora to schools and select talented children for free training in order to preserve and promote this cultural heritage.
The traditions of Angampora in daily life
Beyond its historical roots, Angampora’s principles and practices offer a plethora of benefits applicable to the demands of modern life. Mahanthaarachchi elaborated on how these age-old traditions could be harnessed to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual well-being in today’s fast-paced world.
“Angampora’s lifestyle aspects hold valuable lessons for modern society,” said Mahanthaarachchi. Despite the challenges of integrating full-time practice into busy lives, individuals can incorporate elements like meditation, exercise, and dietary habits to strengthen their overall well-being.
Angampora’s physical training regimen – comprising traditional exercises and specialised treatments – is designed to foster muscle development, agility, and endurance. Angampora’s exercises can be invaluable for maintaining optimal physical health, Mahanthaarachchi suggests. Especially now, in the modern era, where sedentary lifestyles and desk-bound jobs are prevalent, integrating these practices into daily routines can combat the adverse effects, promoting overall fitness.
The meditative aspects of Angampora serve as a means to develop mental fortitude, providing techniques to help people cut through the stress and distractions of modern life and form a bond with their inner-self and help them focus and thrive. Learning to focus the mind, control breath, and find inner calm are skills that transcend the martial art itself, offering tools for managing the complexities of modern life.
To mainstream is not to modernise
The core of Angampora is that it is a full-time practice. It is not something that can be cherry-picked. That said, Mahanthaarachchi noted: “You don’t have to be a full-time practitioner to benefit. The knowledge, exercises, and meditations can be tailored to individual schedules, offering a holistic approach to wellbeing.”
Mahanthaarachchi is particularly passionate about Angampora’s potential to empower women: “It’s not just about self-defence; it’s about minimum force and precise striking. Every woman should know the martial art.”
The art’s emphasis on equipping individuals with practical and effective self-defence techniques aligns with contemporary aspirations for personal safety, especially for women.
But to mainstream this knowledge doesn’t mean that the art of Angampora needs modernisation. Quite the opposite – it needs to be preserved as the ancient art that it is, and Mahanthaarachchi shed some light on why this should be: “Every aspect of Angampora has deep meaning. It has been developed by our ancestors over thousands of years to become highly advanced. There is nothing for us to modernise. Every aspect of the art has very real reasoning behind it. It is designed with a science rooted in our time and place.”
As an example, Mahanthaarachchi described the costumes of Angampora, which many people just interpret as a sarong and as such outdated – in actuality, the intensity of Angampora requires such clothing to prevent dehydration and fatigue and to promote general health by being allowed to sweat freely.
Dispelling myths
Addressing misconceptions about Angampora’s relevance in the modern era, Mahanthaarachchi asserted: “Many think Angampora is a relic of the past, existing only in the time of old kings. They don’t realise that it’s a living martial art.”
He also challenged the notion that Angampora lacked modern development, noting that despite its larger position as an art of combat, its philosophy stretched to all aspects of life and well-being.
And there are parallels in Angampora’s journey over the millenia to Lankan resilience. It was beaten down over and over, but carefully remained strong and intact, holding the potential to enrich and empower.