Jyesthimalla

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Part of a series on Indian martial arts

Various Indian martial arts
Pehlwani - Kalarippayattu - Malla-yuddha - Vajra Mushti / Vajra Mukti - Chakram - Kabaddi - Silambam Nillaikalakki - Gatka and other arts
Notable Practitioners
The Great Gama - Phillip Zarrilli - Jasmine Simhalan - Jyesthimallas - Gobar Goho - Imam Baksh Pahalwan - Paul Whitrod - Gulam - Guru Har Gobind - John Will
Related articles
Kshatriya - Yoga - Indian mêlée weapons - Dravidian martial arts - Ayurveda - Sri Lankan martial arts - Indian martial arts in popular culture - Foreign influence on Chinese martial arts

The Jyesthimalla (literally the greatest warriors) are a clan of martial artists in India who practice the martial art of Vajra Mushti. The clan is mentioned in medival Indian literature and like the South Indian Nair clan, are thought to be Brahmins (priests) living on arms.

The Jyesthimallas are synomymous with combat in the Indian state of Gujarat and in the past, have been patronised by kings, princes and rulers for many centuries. They have been associated with Indian royalty, like the Gaekwads.

The Jyesthi clan incorporates a knuckleduster like weapon in the martial art of Vajra Mushti.

The Malla Purana is a kula purana, dating most likely to the thirteenth century, about the Jyesthimallas, which categorizes and classifies types of wrestlers, defines necessary physical characteristics, describes types of exercises and techniques of wrestling as well as the preparation of the wrestling pit, and provides a fairly precise account of which foods wrestlers should eat in each season of the year. ^[1]

Notable Australian martial artist John Will trained with the Jyesthi clan in the Gujarat state of India. His account is one of the few first hand accounts of Vajra Mushti in western media.