Gama Pehlwan and the Warrior Physical Culture of the Silk Road: Kushti, Traditional Wrestling, and Physical Conditioning in the Indian Subcontinent

Traditional wrestling has long served not only as a competitive activity but also as a fundamental component of physical education, military preparation, and cultural identity across the Silk Road. Among the greatest representatives of this tradition stands Gama Pehlwan (Ghulam Muhammad Baksh), whose undefeated career symbolizes the strength of Kushti, the traditional wrestling culture of the Indian subcontinent. This study examines Gama Pehlwan as a representative of a broader warrior physical culture by analyzing traditional wrestling, physical conditioning, and historical training methods preserved in South Asia. The paper argues that Kushti reflects important elements of the Northern Eurasian wrestling tradition that spread through the Silk Road cultural sphere.

INSF Traditional Wrestling Research Project
International Northern Ssireum Federation (INSF)

Project Framework

This paper was prepared as part of the INSF Traditional Wrestling Research Project, an international research initiative coordinated by the International Northern Ssireum Federation (INSF). The project promotes the documentation, preservation, and comparative study of indigenous wrestling traditions and warrior cultures from participating countries. National advisors and collaborating researchers contribute country-specific research within the framework of this international academic initiative.