The combat techniques of Angampora include locks and grips, strikes and blocks, and most especially pressure point attacks that can cause pain or even permanent paralysis. There are also self-defense techniques, sport, exercise and meditation techniques which can be learned. It is believed that there was also a some secretive Angampora techniques known as ‘maya angam’ that used incantations and spells for attack.
Angampora Training
• A practice session in Angampora begins with meditation and offering of merit to the master.
• The student then lights three lamps before he entered the training hut.
• Pledges have to be made promising to use the technique solely for purposes of self-defense and the defense of family or country.
• Actual practice begins with basic warm-up exercises, gradually moving on to special exercises.
• Foot movement techniques are the cornerstone of Angampora; and a foot exercise named ‘mulla panina’ is the first skill taught. This exercise is followed by more advanced techniques.
• Weaponless combat known as amaraya is taught next and the student learns to observe and attack the weak points of an opponent.
• The subsequent area of training is in weaponed combat. In total, there are sixty-four types of weapons; including thirty-two sword variants and several traditional weapons.
• Some of the deadly, higher-level Angam attacks that trainees learn involve the nervous system; while others if executed properly, can halt the blood flow to vital organs leading to paralysis or even death.
• Alongside such techniques students also learn an indigenous medical practice known as beheth pārawal (medical shots) which reverses the effects of such strikes.
• Finally on mastering all these the fighter receives a graduation ceremony at a Buddhist Temple.
• However, they can continue to train to become fencing masters or Pannikiralas; which is the highest position in Angampora.
Source: https://lakpura.com/angampora

According to the contemporary experts in Angampora history, there have been six subject areas related to Angampora Education.
They are:
Angampora (Unarmed combat), Ilangampora (Armed combat), Maya Angam (Black and white magic), the Art of Dancing and Drumming, Herbal Medicine and Astrology.
Over the span of time, some of these areas have been lost but the most parts of it have been preserved well by the passionate masters.
The term Angampora refers to physical combat, and is essentially the martial use of limbs, but no weapons. It's categorized into three types; Pora Haramba (offensive and defensive techniques), Gataputtu (grips and locks) and Maru Kala (Vital point attacks).
Pora Haramba has eighteen offensive strikes that can do serious damages to the opponent, and seven defensive techniques to avoid punches from the opponent. Dik gutiya, Athul pahara, Piti pahara are some of the popular offensive techniques in Angampora.
In order to disarm the enemy, make him weak or to kill, the Gataputtu strategy is used. This includes putting grips, locks on opponent’s body parts like hands, legs, and head etc. Diyaballu Gataya, Kathira Gataya, Pimburu Gataya, and Wanda Gataya are few of the many Gataputtu methods. A proper Angampora warrior should know all these, as well as the techniques to redeem from them.
Maru Kala is the most important technique in Angampora. It is advanced and not everyone gets the opportunity to learn it, as this subject includes the study of crucial nerve point strikes. Such strikes require a certain amount of power and speed, and a fighter who is excelled at Maru Kala can cause great pain to the opponent, make him paralysed, incompetent, swoon or give a quick death.
Therefore, a few selected people who are trustworthy can study this, and they should swear a special oath by the name of Lord Buddha and Maha Ravana to not to use these techniques against anyone, unless it’s absolutely necessary. They also can’t teach Maru Kala to anyone with low qualities.
Ilangampora, the art of armed combat is consisting thirty two weapons (Dethis Ayudha) and divided into four main categories; Curved weapons, Circular weapons, Long weapons, and Blunt weapons.
An Angampora student should at least practice for two years before they learn Ilangampora, as it requires a great dedication and discipline.
During that training period trainees got to practice with wooden swords at baby coconut trees, or banana trees. The archery training is done using targets drawn on trees, and swinging coconuts.
Source: https://www.yamu.lk/blog/angampora-the-ancient-martial-art-of-sri-lanka

Source: Sri Lankan Traditional Indigenous Martial Art Association

Angam contains six different components, namely;
1. අංගම්ප ොර (unarmed combat)
2. ඉලංගම්ප ොර (armed combat)
3. මායාඅංගම් (black magic & white magic)
4. නැටුම්හාපෙරවාදන (dancing & drumming)
5. පේහධම්මපේශියවවදයක ර්මය (herbal medicine)
6. ප‍යොතිෂ්‍යවිදයාව (astrology)
Of the six components, Illangampora occupies a special position as it involves the use of arms for combat, and mastery in that art is considered to be essential to become a competent Angam practitioner. A student is required to complete two years of training in other aspects of angam, before starting to learn the art of illangam. Thirtytwo types of weapons, known in the Sinhala language as Dethis-ayudha( “පදතිස්ආයුධ”)are used in Illangam. The 32 weapons are categorized as follows;
1. වක්ආයුධ– Curved weapons
2. වක ්‍්රආයුධ– Circular weapons
3. දික්ආයුධ– Long weapons
4. පමොට්ටආයුධ- Blunt weapons
5. කංචආයුධ –Kuncha
Source: http://www.natlib.lk/pdf/angampora.pdf

Elangampora is another special part of Angam. This is known as the armed combat techniques of Angam. To be complete and competent Angam practitioner, the knowledge of Elangam is essential. Normally Elangam is taught to a student after at least two years into his Angampora (unarmed) training. Learning this requires a lot of discipline and dedication. Generally, students are taught the techniques pertaining to all weapons, one can only “master” two or three weapons according to one’s physical prowess. Most of the weapons used for practicing are cleansed with specialized rituals. A student must be granted permission from the guru in order to learn a particular weapon, and this is signified by performing a special ritual where the weapon is handed over to the student by the guru.
This art consists of 21 main weapons including 7 main weapons as follow:
1. Sword - The sword is the most revered weapon in the Elangam armory since ancient times. There are 32 types of swords used in ellangam. Ancient ellangam fighters were experts in wielding the single sword, double swords as well as the four bladed sword play. There are many variations to the sword such as long sword, short sword, wak kadu (curved sword), nai pena kadu (cobra head sword) . The shield was used in combination with the sword in ellangam.
2. Stick (long/short) - The long stick is one of the most important weapons in Elangam. Its length is usually measure up to the nose level of its wielder. It is made using “venivel” or cane sticks, and it is hardened using medicine oils and heating in fire. The main movement of the long stick comprises of the wielders ability to rotate it around one’s body with considerable speed and agility. Long stick comprises special foot movements and 16 basic strikes.
The short stick is an important weapon in the elangam armory. It has become popular because it is a weapon that can be fabricated or found easily. The basic practice of the short stick comprises 8 types of special foot movements and 12 basic strikes including joint locks and wrist locks.
3. Spear - Before learning the spear, the practitioner must become familiar with the techniques and stepping of stick play in angam. After the sword, the spear was the most used weapon in the ancient sri Lankan military. The spear is wielded as a single weapon as well as in combination with the shield.There three types of spears Long spear, Mid length spear, Short spear.
4. Dagger - The dagger is one of the main weapons in the Ellangam armory with single and dual dagger wielding techniques. The dagger is taught for self-defense and close quarter combat. In Angampora there are techniques to attack the upper and lower body. It addition to its martial applications, it also has aesthetically appealing techniques for display.
5. Special Weapons - It is recorded that there are more than 21 weapons variations in the ellangam armory. The most unique weapon among them is the “welayudha”. Apart from that Ang kinissa, Thun kinissa, Maradanda, maruwala, kalakirinyga and the kerchief are weapons for which special foot movement are practiced. Some of these weapons are unique to elangampora.
6. Battle axes - The axe was also a weapon that was a part of the day to day lives of the ancient Sri Lankan. Apart from being used as a tool it was used as a weapon and was normally wielded by individuals of superior strength. It can be dual wielded as well as used individually according to the history King Ravana’s brother Kummbakarna used battle axes as his choice of weapon.
7. Mace - Mainly used to attack the stronger parts of the body — head, thighs and ribs. The practice of Mace (gada) increases body strength. The Mace was used by a select few among the ranks of the ancient Sri Lankan military. Maintaining the balance and moving with the flow of the weapon are important in in Mace wielding. One special feature of the Mace is that a Mace can only be blocked by a Mace and it is difficult to be blocked using any other weapon.
Source: https://www.angampora.com/elangampora/

Photos: Sri Lankan Traditional Indigenous Martial Art Association