What is a Mudgar?

A Mudgar is a wooden club that is cylindrical in shape and resembles a log. It has a longer handle that can be swung with one or two hands, and the weight distribution is between the center and end of the club. There are various designs of Mudgars to choose from, and swinging them can provide excellent exercise benefits.

History of the Mudgar

Mudgars, also known as “karlakattai” in southern India or “mugur” in eastern India, were used primarily to train the shoulders. Similar equipment called the “meel” was used in Iranian zurkanehs. According to legend, Persian emperor Cyrus the Great used the meel to train his army. The practice helped build the soldiers’ strength by keeping their muscles under tension for longer periods of time.

Training Benefits of the Mudgar

Swinging a Mudgar can provide several exercise benefits, including developing shoulder strength and flexibility, improving body coordination, grip, and forearm strength, and giving your core muscles a great workout. It can also help extend the life of your shoulders, improve mobility and range of motion, and enhance your sense of balance.

Mudgar Safety Precautions

It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and give yourself enough space to move safely when swinging a Mudgar. Keeping your eyes fixed on the Mudgar at all times and following its movements with your head can also help ensure safety. Additionally, if your hands get sweaty and your grip is slipping, or you notice your form is breaking down, it’s time to end the set and put the Mudgar down.

Common Mudgar Training Mistakes

One common mistake people make when training with a Mudgar is not relaxing the triceps during the backswing. This can cause tension to go through the elbows, leading to elbow pain. To avoid this, it’s important to fully relax the triceps during the bottom part of the backswing.

Mudgar Weight Recommendation

Choosing the appropriate weight of a Mudgar is crucial, as they are deceptively heavy due to leverage. To determine the right weight for you, divide your weight by 8, and then divide the result by 2. For instance, if you weigh 80 kg, you should start with a Mudgar that weighs 5 kg.