I have been intrigued by the history of Mudgar, a practice and fitness equipment, ever since I first set my eyes on it. I have delved into various resources such as Wikipedia and books to learn more about this ancient form of fitness. In this blog post, I will share my version of the history of Mudgar, which I have developed through my research and fascination with this art.
Humans are machines, and as machines, we like to move. In the early centuries of human history, people were still learning and exploring, and there were no complex machines available for fitness or strength development. However, people were always active, and there were warriors who had to lift heavy arms such as swords, bows, and arrows while also taming heavy animals like elephants and horses. Even today, carrying heavy arms and ammunition requires a lot of strength.
Wood was the most natural and abundantly available resource, and people used it to develop fitness equipment. Persian Meels were found in Iran, and different clans used them to train for warfare. Gada, a type of mace, was famous in India and is still used today in wrestling akharas.
As wooden equipment became popular, it travelled around the world, and people adjusted its sizes and shapes according to their needs and requirements. They gave it different names such as Persian Meels, Indian Clubs, and more, and continued to discover new swings.
When Britishers came to India, they saw the Gada and other wooden equipment and made their own version called Indian Clubs. They used it for military training. This equipment was so popular that it was part of the 1904 Olympics under Gymnastic Sports Club. However, it was later removed from the Olympics after just two games.
The decline of Mudgar as a fitness practice started with the rise of industrialization and consumerism. People's focus shifted from their needs to their wants, and their belief in the necessity of sophisticated machines for fitness grew. The gym culture is one such example, and it led to the decline of Mudgar as a fitness practice.