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Chapter 21: Rugby and Kabaddi
Now that the market for iron arms is potentially solved, he could focus on internal reforms once again.
Vijay rose early in the morning to observe the progress of the military training. On his way, he saw a larger number of people on the streets wearing more jewellery, and he saw more women engaged in various activities. He had read about improvements in public security after the police reform on paper, but this was the first time he witnessed the changes firsthand, he felt proud of his work. 𝐟𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘄𝗲𝐛𝐧𝐨𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝗰𝐨𝐦
What was even more interesting was that he spotted a woman cleaning the floor of a temple with a mop. Evidently, his little innovation had spread beyond the palace and into the lives of common people. This had even sparked a small-scale demand for carpenter artisans in the empire.
As he made his way to the Vijayanagara North Military Academy, his excitement grew. The last time he visited to inspect the military training, he was disappointed with the progress. This time, he hoped it would be different.
As he drew closer to the barracks, he heard the solid sound of marching soldiers, like a drumbeat with a steady rhythm.
"One, two, one, two."
When he finally caught sight of the scene, he wasn't let down. Before him was a tidy line of squads marching in formation on the military field. While not everyone was perfectly uniform in their movements, it was still impressive that they had achieved this in such a short span of time.
Soon, he met with Sergeant Harish, the head of the academy and praised him for his training efforts. "You've done well, Sergeant Harish. I'm very pleased with your work."
After hearing the king's praise, Sergeant Harish's face lit up with a smile, and he saluted. "Thank you, Your Highness. I'm just doing my job," he responded. Then Vijay added, "Is there any problem that you've noticed so far, that you'd like to discuss?"
Sergeant Harish was caught in a dilemma with the question, not wanting to contradict the king or his own boss, Logananda Senapati. Despite this, he gritted his teeth and told the thoughts he had in his mind. "Your Highness, can the intensity of the training be reduced?"
Vijay who heard the question, wasn't angered by Sergeant Harish's words and asked curiously, "Oh, and why is that?"
Sergeant Harish replied, "Your Highness, due to the high intensity of training, all the candidates are on edge nearly all the time. This has caused fights to break out regularly. Moreover, because of the intense training, many people struggle to concentrate during literary classes and end up falling asleep."
Upon hearing this, Vijay suddenly realized his own negligence and blamed himself for overlooking the issue due to the time pressure he had been under.
Realizing that "this can't go on any longer," he responded to Sergeant Harish, "I will seriously consider your opinion. You've done well by bringing this to my attention."
Hearing the king's reassuring words, Sergeant Harish was relieved that he hadn't faced any negative consequences for bringing up the matter.
Vijay left the barracks with deep thoughts as he made his way home.
When he neared the capital, he noticed a few kids playing "Jilli jand," and suddenly an idea struck him. He could incorporate some of the group games played in the future to enhance the army's teamwork and provide an outlet for entertainment for soldiers facing high-pressure training.
He promptly began planning by jotting down his ideas.
However, he needed to decide on which games he could introduce, That could improve not only team coordination but also physical fitness, rather than just serving as a distraction. Many games crossed his mind, but he ultimately settled on introducing rugby and kabaddi first.
Rugby's origins trace back to the early 19th century in England. The sport evolved from traditional football games played in schools, where players could use their hands to control the ball. In 1823, during a soccer match at Rugby School, a student named William Webb Ellis reportedly picked up the ball and ran with it, leading to a divergence from traditional football rules.
Rugby is a team sport known for its intense physicality and strategic gameplay. Played on a rectangular field, teams of 15 players each aim to carry the oval-shaped ball across the opposing team's goal line or kick it through the uprights to score points. With elements of running, passing, and tackling, rugby fosters strong teamwork, communication, and decision-making skills. The sport's emphasis on collective effort and adaptability can contribute significantly to enhancing the coordination and cohesion of a military unit, making it a valuable addition to its training regimen.
Another game is Kabaddi.
Kabaddi is a traditional Indian sport that combines elements of physical fitness, strategy, and teamwork. Played between two teams, one team sends a "raider" to the opposing side, and the raider's goal is to tag as many opponents as possible while chanting "kabaddi." The challenge lies in the raider's ability to touch opponents and return to their side of the court before being tackled by the defenders. On the defensive side, players collaborate to capture the raider to earn points. Kabaddi emphasizes quick reflexes, communication, and coordination among team members. The sport's fast-paced nature, where players must make split-second decisions, not only makes it an exciting and engaging game but also translates well into fostering team dynamics and situational awareness, making it an ideal addition to military training.
Unfortunately, he opted not to choose cricket. Cricket needs a lot of special equipment to play, and it takes a long time to finish a game. These things don't match well with the goal of getting better at working together and getting fit quickly in military training.
He also had a plan for soldiers to improve their individual martial arts skills. He intended to include sparring matches during their physical exercise time, using the rules from future generations' UFC. Although he had a lot of martial arts knowledge, he didn't want to teach it directly. Instead, he aimed to let the soldiers naturally develop their own fighting styles Organically. His hope was that in the future, India could have its own popular martial art, like karate or jujitsu, known worldwide.
After finalizing the sports, he swiftly sketched the required equipment and tasked the craftsmen with crafting them using leather and cotton.
For rugby matches, he had initially thought of using metal breastplates with soft cotton padding, but he soon realized that he was facing financial constraints. Consequently, he had to opt for leather jackets with cotton stuffing as a more budget-friendly alternative.