Kushti fighters, Warriors of the Past

CATEGORY DOCUMENTARY When I was younger I did Judo. I liked practising it as a sport and as a Martial Art. Nevertheless, It was much more than that though. I loved the fact that it taught me discipline and respect for my teacher and peers. There was a strong sense of comradeship among us. It brought us together and made a family out of us. It has been a long time since but some of my closest friends are from my Judo days. Kushti is an ancient Indian martial art that may well predate the more well known Greco-Roman wrestling. Kushti fighters train and live together in an Akhada and fight in a pit full of sand. Kushti is not just about the sport but about a certain way of life. Some leave their homes and family and travel great distances. Being a Kushti fighter can bring prestige to the individual and their family. Some have gone on to participate in the Olympic Games with outstanding results. Photographing Kushti fighters in India was premeditated. Although I was in a very different country and far away, the whole experience felt somehow very familiar. The respect and the strong bond between teacher and fighters was palpable and brought me back to the past.