What is silambam as a sport?
B · Beginner · Events and equipment · 1 of 4Silambam is a martial art from Tamil Nadu built round the long staff. As a sport it has two kinds of event: Kambu Sandai, a stick fight between red and blue in weight classes, and displays, where one competitor shows skill with a staff, spear, sword or whip. Five judges score both. School games and WSA rules differ in places.
How it works
- Main weapon: the long staff.
- Stick fight: Kambu Sandai.
- Displays: Thanithiramai.
- Corners: red and blue.
- Judges: five.
- School games: SGFI rules.
- International: WSA rules.
- Unarmed form: Kuttuvarisai.
The glossary has the silambam, the World Silambam Association, the school games rules, the Kambu Sandai, the Thanithiramai and the Kuttuvarisai.
Tricky cases
Is silambam only fought with sticks?
No. Displays also use the spear, sword and steel whip.
Is there an unarmed event?
In WSA tournaments, Kuttuvarisai, for green belts and above.
Which rules apply at the school games?
The SGFI rules.
Are traditional displays without protection used in tournaments?
No. The WSA keeps them for exhibitions.
Why the rule exists
Separate fight and display events let the sport reward both combat skill and the art's traditional patterns.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School games | SGFI rules | L S 3 |
| WSA | Its own sports rules | L W 2 |
| Unarmed | WSA only | L W 16 |
From the rule book
SGFI Silambam Rules and WSA Silambam Sports Rules: SGFI chapters 3 and 4; WSA articles 2, 16 and 21.6. Checked 15 October 2026. Official documents: SGFI Silambam Rules; WSA Silambam Sports Rules (web page).