Vajra Mushti

Vajra Mushti is an ancient martial art game played using knuckle dusters. Reference to this warrior game can be seen in the Sanskrit classic Manasollasa written by the Scholar-Monarch Someshwara III though it could have existed even during the Maurya regime. The matches were patronized by the rulers and therefore the wrestlers were held in high esteem. Malla yuddha was the unarmed counterpart of vajra mushti. Here the wrestlers use a weapon like a knuckleduster usually made of ivory or buffalo horn. This art form was practiced by warriors from the Jyeshti clan. The clan members trained specially for vajra mushti and mallayuddha.

Overtime, the sport lost its glory as it was associated with the violence. Royal patronage also faded away.  However, it is still held during Dasera festivals especially in Mysore. This tradition of organizing exhibition matches dates back to the rule of the Vijayanagara kings.  Unlike the bloody matches of old, modern combatants use knuckle-dusters with blunt studs. In the olden days, the match continued until one of the fighters dropped down dead.  Now it is more of a tradition and not a bloody sport so the fight ends when one wrestler draws blood from the other.