Chief Instructor Master Ambiga Arumugam ( Tamil : ஆ. அம்பிகா )
is the QUALIFIED CHIEF INSTRUCTOR ( UNARMED & ARMED ) & FOUNDER OF "SILAMBAM ACADEMY"
( Tamil : சிலம்ப அகடாமி ). Master Ambiga Arumugam is well-known among Silambam practitioners
in Malaysia. He is the only Silambam Instructor in Malaysia which attended Intensive Technical Course from Chief Grand-Master ( Mahaguru ) Mr. Ramaiah Dass in India ( 1981 ) and proudly received recognition as an Qualified Instructor. He is also qualified trainer with component of Kuttu Varisai ( Unarmed Fight ), Silambam Staff Fencing, Weapons and Sando Inner Power conditioning.

Chief Instructor Master Ambiga also did several Silambam exhibition tours to country such as U.S.A, Canada and Europe which he also did some exhibition for foreign consulates. Silambam Academy had participated in various exhibitions in Malaysia, inter-club tournaments and did several co-trainings with Malaysia Silambam, Nilaikalakki, Silambam MGR, Silambam Muhibbah and etc.

On 14 December 2012, Chief Instructor Master Ambiga had established new name,
"One Malaysia Silambam Academy" ( Registration No. 002183758-K ) under Companies Commission of Malaysia ( Business Registration Act 1956 ) and this academy registration will expired on 13 December 2017.

Master Murugan is QUALIFIED SILAMBAM INSTRUCTOR ( UNARMED & ARMED FIGHT ), Business Management undergraduate from IBMEC College Singapore, Ex-Police officer (Singapore Police Force) 1999-2001. Currently serving Military (Army) in Combat Infantry Unit - Rejimen Askar Wataniah ( English: Malaysian Army Territorial Regiment ). In his life, he had undergone several intensive trainings in unarmed combat, police & military weapons trainings, Urban Tactical Warfare and Combat Infiltration Warfare (CIW) in Jungle War.
He is trained in Silambam (Instructor Level), Karate Oyama Kyokushinkaikan & Taekwondo WTF.

In the past years between 1990-1996, he were trained by Chief Instructor Ambiga Arumugam ( Founder of Silambam Academy ). Silambam training for Unarmed fighting skills (Kuttu Varisai), Silambam Fencing and Armed fighting skills (using traditional weapons- maduvu, knife, etc.). He successfully completed Aranggetram ( Tamil : அரங்கேற்றம் ) ( Traditional Black-Belt Instructor Graduation ) on 11 February 1996. Upon graduation, Chief Instructor Ambiga Arumugam had facilitate him with several classes in Selangor States of Malaysia.

"NEW" Silambam classes were expected commence on 2013 will be re-established soon in Selangor State of Malaysia and also in Singapore.

Classes conducted in the "PAST" (Currently NOT ACTIVE) :

• Varatharaja Perumal Temple ( Subang Jaya )
• Sri Subramaniar Temple ( Bandar Sunway of Petaling Jaya )
• Subramaniam Temple ( opposite Sunway Lagoon - Bandar Sunway of Petaling Jaya )
• Vivekananda Tamil School ( Petaling Jaya )
• Kelana Jaya Secondary School ( Petaling Jaya )
• San Peng Secondary School ( Kuala Lumpur )

Above classes were also co-handled by other Silambam Instructors, such as : Master Bala / Master Sugumaran / Master Gunaseelan.

Between 22-24 December 2007, Master Murugan participated in Silambam National Open-Tournament 2007, held in Kompleks Belia Dan Sukan Negeri ( Youth Sports Complex of the State ), Alor Star, Kedah in Malaysia. Open-Tournament consist of several silambam clubs collaboration (from Malaysia's States such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Kedah etc). He fought with several black-belt fighters and received Gold medal in silambam fencing ( open-category ) and Bronze medal in silambam skills, which presented by Tuan Haji Aziz B. Haji Hamid ( Director of Youth Sports Council of Kedah State ). He planned for coaching kuttu varisai and silambam in Singapore with support of Sports Council. His future plan, to launch book "Complete Mastery of Silambam" and "Hidden Secrets of Varma Kalai Arts".

Image Courtesy
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : Master Baskaran, Master Thinagharan, Master Murugan and Master Sarawana Black-Belt Instructor Graduation of Silambam ( Aranggetram ) which held in Sri Subramaniar Temple, Bandar Sunway of Petaling Jaya on 11 February 1996 ( Sunday ) at 3.30pm.

Silambam ( Tamil : சிலம்பம் ) or silambattam ( Tamil : சிலம்பாட்டம் ) of Indian Martial Arts is an ancient Dravidian martial art originated from Tamil Nadu ( South India ) and also practised in Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

In Tamil, the word silambam refers to the bamboo staff which is the main weapon used in this style. In Tamil, martial arts are known by the umbrella terms taṟkāppuk kalai ( Tamil : தற்காப்புக்  கலை ) "art of self-defence".

Unarmed silambam, called kuttu varisai ( Tamil : குத்துவரிசை ), utilizes stances and routines based on animal movements such as the snake, tiger, elephant and eagle forms.

The length of the staff depends on the height of the practitioner. It should just touch the forehead about three fingers from the head, although different lengths are used in different situations. It usually measures roughly 1.68 metres ( 5 and 1/2 feet). The 3 feet stick called Sedi Kuchi / Muchchaan can be easily concealed. Separate practice is needed for staffs of different lengths. The usual stance includes holding the staff at one end, right hand close to the back, left hand about 40 centimetres ( 16 inches ) away. This position allows a wide array of stick and body movements, including complex attacks and blocks.

There are numerous sub-sects in silambam like nagam-16 ( cobra-16 ), kallapathu ( thieves ten ), kidamuttu ( goat head butting ), kuravanchi, kalyanavarisai ( similar to quarterstaff ), thulukkanam, and so on. Each is unique and may differ from one another in grip, posture, foot work, method of attack, length of the stick, movement of the stick etc.

The references to Silappadikkaram in Tamil Sangam literature dating back to the 2nd century refer to the sale of silambam staves, swords, pearls and armor to foreign traders. The ancient trading centre at the city of Madurai was renowned globally and said to be thronged by Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians among others who had regular sea trade with the Tamil kingdoms. The bamboo staff, one of the first weapons used in Indian martial arts, was in great demand with the visitors.

Indian martial arts suffered a decline after the British colonists banned silambam along with various other systems. They also introduced modern western military training which favoured fire-arms over traditional weaponry. The stick lost much of its combat superiority and some of silambam's vast techniques and styles were lost. During this time, silambam actually became more widespread in Southeast Asia than India. It is still practiced in Malaysia today, and demonstrations are held for certain festive occasions.

Below Warriors of Silambam, they all relied mainly on their silambam prowess in their warfare against the British Army.

Click to view : VEERAPANDIYA KATTABOMMAN ( Tamil : வீரபாண்டிய  கட்டபொம்மன் )
Veerapandiya Kattabomman ( 3 January 1760 - 16 October 1799 ) was an 18th century Palayakarrar ('Polygar') chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India

Click to view : MARUDHU PANDIYAR ( Tamil : மருது  பாண்டியர் )
Marudhu Pandiyar ( 1760-1799 ) brothers ( Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu ) ruled Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu towards the end of the 18th century. The Marudhu brothers were the sons of Udayar Servai alias Mookiah Palaniappan Servai and Anandayer alias Ponnathal. Marudhu Pandiyar, the Elder was born on 15.12.1748 in a small hamlet called Narikkudi near Aruppukkottai in then Ramnad principal state ( now Virudhunagar district ). In 1753 the younger Marudhu Pandiyar was born in Ramnad. Their father "Udayar Servai" served as the General in the Ramnad state military and he shifted his family to Virudhunagar from Narikkudi.

Click to view : PULI THEVAR ( Tamil : புலித்  தேவர் )
The soldiers of Kings Puli Thevar was a poligar ( or palayakarar ) who ruled Nerkattumseval situated in the Sankarankoil taluk of Tamil Nadu. Puli Thevar who belongs to the warrior Maravar community was one of the earliest freedom fighters. He is one of the first Indian kings to have fought and defeated the British in India.

In battle, a fighter holds the stick in front of their body stretching the arms three quarters full. From there, they can initiate all attacks with only a movement of the wrist. In fact, most silambam moves are derived from wrist movement, making it a key component of the style. The blow gets speed from the wrist and power from the body through footwork ( kaaladi ). Since the stick is held in front, strikes are telegraphic, that is, the fighter does not hide their intentions from the opponent. They attack with sheer speed, overwhelming the adversary with a continuous non-stop rain of blows. In silambam, one blow leads to and aids another. Bluffs may also be used by disguising one attack as another.

In addition to the strikes, silambam also has a variety of locks called poottu. A fighter must always be careful while wielding the stick or they will be grappled and lose the fight. Locks can be used to disable the enemy or simply capture their weapon. Techniques called thirappu are used to counter the locks but these must be executed before being caught in a lock. Silambam also has many different types of avoiding an attack like blocking, parrying, enduring, rotary parrying, hammering ( with the stick ), kolluvuthal ( attacking and blocking simultaneously ) and evasive moves such as sitting or kneeling, moving out, jumping high, etc.

Against multiple attackers, silambam exponents do not hold out their sticks as they do in single combat. Instead they assume one of the numerous animal stances which makes it difficult for opponents to predict the next attack.

An expert silambam stylist will be familiar with varma adi ( pressure-point fighting ) and knows where to strike anywhere in the body to produce fatal or crippling effects by the least use of power. In one-on-one combat an expert would just slide his stick to opponents wrist many times during combat. The opponent may not notice this in the heat of battle until they feel a sudden pain in the wrist and throw the stick automatically without knowing what hit them. When two experts match against each other one may challenge the other that he will hit his big toe. Hitting the big toe can produce crippling effects on the fighter, making them abandon the fight. This is called solli adithal which means "challenging and successfully hitting".

REFERENCES FROM
(A) Silambam Category
• Master Murugan ( Certified Instructor of Silambam Academy & Web-Programmer )
• Master Ambiga Arumugam ( Chief Silambam Instructor & Founder of Silambam Academy )
• Dr. David J Manuel Raj ( Silambam Practitioner & Book Author of Silambam Fencing from India ) ( 1975 )
• Sports Authority of India ( 1987 ). Indigenous Games and Martial Arts of India.
• New Delhi: Sports Authority of India pp.91 & 94
(B) Varma Kalai Category
• Thirumoolar Varmalogy Institute, For Varmam Treatment Contact : Thirumoolar Varmam Research and Therapy Centre ( Unit of Arts Research Institute ), No: 23, Saravana Nagar, Behind RGP Kalyana Mandapam, Kavundampalayam ( Post ), Coimbatore - 641030 TamilNadu, India. Phone: +91-422-3217744 Website : www.ari.org.in
• Book of Ben Stevens "From Lee to Li", HarperCollins 2009 ISBN 9780007347414
• Varmakalai Aasan ( Master ) Karunakaran and Aasan ( Master ) Anand from Tamil Nadu, India
(C) Siddha Medicine Category
• Varmam and Siddha Vaidhiya murai -Medicine ( The Sushruta Samhita ) by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna