Angampora (,) is a form of
martial art from
Sri Lanka that combines
combat techniques,
self-defense,
sport,
exercise and
meditation. A key component of angampora is the namesake
angam, which incorporates hand-to-hand fighting, and
illangam, involving the use of indigenous weapons such as the
ethunu kaduwa, staves, knives and swords. Another component known as
maya angam, which uses spells and
incantations for combat, is also said to have existed. Angampora's distinct feature lies in the use of
pressure point attacks to inflict pain or permanently paralyze the opponent. Fighters usually make use of both
striking and
grappling techniques, and fight until the opponent is caught in a submission
lock that they cannot escape. Usage of weapons is discretionary. Perimeters of fighting are defined in advance, and in some of the cases is a pit. With the advent of colonialism
over the entirety of the island in 1815, Angampora fell into disuse and was very nearly lost as a part of the country's heritage. The British administration prohibited its practice due to the dangers posed by a civilian populace versed in a martial art, burning down any
angan madu (practice huts devoted to the martial art) found: flouting of the law was punished by a gunshot to the knee, effectively crippling practitioners; Angampora nevertheless survived within a few families, allowing it to emerge into mainstream Sri Lankan culture post-independence.
