Kushti Wrestling
/ˈkʊʃ.ti ˈrɛs.lɪŋ/noun
A traditional form of South Asian wrestling practiced in an akhara, or wrestling school.
Did you know?Kushti training traditionally combines grappling with ritual discipline, including exercises, dietary rules, and respect for the akhara’s spiritual teacher.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Iranian period
Proto-Iranian
*kauš- / *kuš-
“A reconstructed Iranian root associated with striking, fighting, or killing; the precise development into Persian is debated.”
Middle Persian
Middle Persian
kuštan
“To kill or fight.”
Middle Persian
Middle Persian
kušt
“Killed, slain, or defeated; also associated with combat.”
Medieval period
Persian
kuštī / koshtī
“Wrestling or a wrestling bout.”
Medieval period
Hindi-Urdu
kuśtī / kushtī
“Wrestling, especially traditional grappling.”
Modern English
English
kushti wrestling
“A South Asian wrestling tradition, with “wrestling” added as an explanatory English gloss.”