Knocking on Doors: John B. Will recounts his travels through India

John B. Will began his martial arts training with a basic grounding in amateur wrestling, Goju Kai Karate and Taekwondo. In 1982, he won gold at the World Silat Championships in Jakarta, becoming the first non-Indonesian to do so. In the late 80’s he also started BLITZ magazine, the first martial arts periodical of its kind in Australia.
He was awarded the rank of black belt by Rigan and Jean Jacques Machado in 1998; making him one of the ‘BJJ Dirty Dozen’, the first twelve non-Brazilian BJJ black belts in the world. In the mid 1980’s, he came to India several times to train in the Subcontinent’s indigenous arts.

-What was your goal in your travels?

To train and to teach. I usually travel overseas four or five times each year. I have been very fortunate to have trained with many of the world’s leading martial artists in Karate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and of course, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

-When and which places were you able to visit? What did you train?

My first trip there was around 1985. Over the course of my travels, I trained in New Delhi (wrestling), in the state of Gujurat in the city of Baroda (Vajramushti) and in Kerala (Kalaripayattu). I did also visited a few other parts, around Shrinagar as well as brief visits to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Goa.

-Where were you teaching in India?

I visited Moses Thilak, who was a scholar of the martial arts living and teaching in Mumbai. He asked me if I could give a two day seminar to the Indian Karate team whilst I was there. I was very happy and honoured to be able to do that. Moses then accompanied me over to Kerala (Kaduthuruthy) where we visited with a famous Kalari guru named EP Vasudevan. I had a wonderful time there absorbing the unique environment and training.

Professor Will teaching at Moses Thilak’s Karate Dojo in Bombay

-How would you compare your Silat experience from your learnings with from Kalaripayattu?

The art of Kalaripayattu as practised by Vasudevan and his family was passed down through generations. The students would do controlled sparring (un-choreographed) with various weapons. I developed a true appreciation of how skilled some of the practitioners were. Silat has a sporting element which resembles other Eastern Martial Arts but Kalari was very different from other weapons-based systems I had seen; very true to real battlefield applications in my opinion.

-Where did you train in wrestling? What did you train?

I trained takedowns - double leg, single leg, fireman’s carry, arm-drags, et cetera at Hanuman Akhara and a smaller akhara whose name eludes me. The techniques were quite similar to what I had learned growing up, but the strength and conditioning workouts were very unique to India; a lot of emphasis put on the dandes and bhaitaks (Indian Squats and Push-ups).

-On Vajramushti: How did you find practitioners of such an obscure art pre-Google?

I first came across Vajramushti in an old book called the Mallapurana – at the state reference library in New Delhi. The book, I saw, was first published in Baroda in the 1950’s. I took a train down to Baroda and thought I would try to find any surviving members of this family who practised this amazing art. So I went to an old Hindu temple in an old part of that town and asked one of the elders if they knew where the Jyesthimalla family were located. I was directed to go and ask at the house over the road from the temple. I expected to speak to a neighbor or family-friend that would tell me to come back in a few days or months.

So I went across the road, knocked on the door, and who answered it? Sri Sitaram – the head of the Jyesthimalla family. He was perhaps in his late 70’s at the time – but I recognized him from a picture of him in the Mallapurana. I was incredulous. To this day, one of the strangest things I’ve experienced!

-How are people practicing Vajramushti day-to-day? One might think the brass knuckles would lead to very short careers. Is this true?

When I undertook some Vajramushti training with the Jyesthimalla family in Baroda, we would use a cloth wrapped around the fingers of our right hand and dipped into red-ochre in place of the knuckle-duster weapon. Sadly, as far as I understand, Vajramushti has now died out. I do not believe it is being practised as it once was. There are ceremonial matches that occur in Mysore annually, but they do not resemble what I had trained.

Technically, I saw ground-fighting techniques that I have since seen only in high-level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu circles. The training consisted of a mix of striking, clinching, takedowns, ground-control and ground and pound. At the time, my understanding of ground fighting was very basic, but I do remember practising a technique that BJJ practitioners would call an “Omoplata”. It was very interesting and eye-opening training for me!

John Will with Sitaram Jyesthimalla and a Vajramushti in his right hand.

-What is your training regimen like? How do you keep yourself sharp/fit?

My typical week consists of teaching a couple of private students in the morning; followed by my usual strength and conditioning workout; then in the evening I teach several classes; and this requires that I participate in the training as well as teach; so I am kept pretty busy. Every second weekend I travel interstate or overseas to conduct seminars, which also are very physical affairs. I have to admit – I love my work.

-Any take-aways from your experience with Indian martial artists?

I love the diversity of the Indian martial arts culture. Kushti and the ancient combat styles to be found in the Southern states. I think I was quite influenced by the art of Vajramushti that I found in Baroda.* It was, at that point, one of the most complete martial arts in terms of “phases” of combat I had trained.

-When do you plan on visiting India again?

I would like to come to India again. I really love it there. The people, the food, and of course, the wrestling training. I have been asked on several occasions to come and teach seminars; I think it would once take a growth in the BJJ/MMA scene so I could do as much good as possible.

The time is certainly ripe for it; with India’s grappling past, and MMA and BJJ on the rise. Once that threshold is met, someone would have to organize a workshop and I would come back over in a heartbeat.