KOCHI: There was a golden time when the Fort Kochi beach ground shook with battle cries of raging wrestlers from all over the country. Kochi was then one of the major centres for wrestling. To protect the legacy of this sport strives a man who is passionate about it — T J George aka Minnal George.
Determined to promote his passion George has been giving training in ‘gatta gusti’ at his health club, Cochin Grapplers, free of cost. It’s a one-man army fighting for the revival of a forgotten sport.
George has been training youngsters since 1976 and has guided over 800 students. The present gymnasium is housed in two rooms inside a filthy meat market. Though they are provided by the Corporation for a low rent, the place is not fit for training during bad weather. Earlier there were proposals on giving land for the gymnasium but they were thwarted by politics. “The attitude adopted by the government towards this sport is lamentable,” said George who is the secretary of State Wrestling Council. He said the government doesn’t provide any fund or organise any zila meet when its comes to wrestling while it spends a considerable amount of money on state youth festivals and similar programes.
The equipment required for training is procured by George with the kind support of ‘gusti’ lovers of Kochi, because they know what wrestling means to him.
As part of promoting this sport, Cochin Grapplers is conducting several summer camps during vacation. They also conduct annual competition fights from September to December. Practice sessions are usually held at the beach, on the sand, following the traditional wrestling rules. “The present generation lacks the vigour and power with which we fought in those days,” George said.
Major techniques such as ‘navas bhand’, ‘dobi’ and ‘putti’ are taught here. Now that ‘gatta’ wrestling has been recognised at the school level, the number of members at Cochin Grapplers has risen. George is giving free training for the children of Janaseva Shishubhavan. The club is facing several problems in terms of shortage of wrestling mats, funds and of course lack of a healthy venue. With numerous titles and fame, George has ruled the stomping grounds of professional wrestling from 1958 to 1968. He has seen the rise of many wrestlers such as Nickel Jamal, Veliyil Antony, Kollam Rasheed, Kayamkulam Dayanandan and a few more.
George, who is the only professional ‘gatta gusti’ trainer in the state is the reigning state wrestling champion since 1969. He was Mr Ernakulam from 1966 to 1968 and Mr Kerala in 1966 and 1967 (shortman class).
“At the age of 66,I am a settled man in terms of job and family and my wish is to find a better place for the gymnasium and offer quality training to all wrestling lovers,” said George.