Pole Dancing for Men? Just What Is Indian Pole Dancing?

It wouldn't be overly presumptuous to assume that you hold a view of pole dancing in your mind. The reputation of seedy bars, dim lighting and women dancing provocatively around the pole is well ingrained in our minds. You may have considered though that some pole dancing moves really require a lot of strength. Just have a look at the video below of the US pole dance championship in 2009 to see some of the skill and strength that is required to conduct some of these pole dancing moves.

Pole dancing has actually become more and more common in recent years, as many people have started to realise that it is a very effective workout. It is not uncommon now to find pole dancing classes within most towns and cities in the UK, with many hen parties choosing to visit such locations for a fun and saucy activity before a night on the town.

You'll notice that so far we have only mentioned women in relation to pole dancing, as in Western society this is certainly the norm. As you head east though, you may encounter an extreme form of Indian pole dancing that is conducted by men. The sport of Mallakhamb may not be as attractive to look at as what we are used to, but when it comes to difficulty few things can match it. Just take a look at the video below now to see some of India's finest pole dancing athletes.

Mallakhamb was first created in the 12th century in India and was used as a means of training for the wrestlers of the day. The word ‘Malla’ actually means wrestler, while unsurprisingly ‘khamb’ translates to our word, pole. For many years Indian pole dancing was lost to the world, but it has become more and more popular in recent years with Indian coaches specialising in training athletes in this test of intense strength.

As can be seen in the video, combatants must climb a wooden pole. This pole is generally wider at the base, narrowing slightly at the top to allow a range of different poses to be performed. Although Mallakhamb is not technically an official sport it has been embraced by the athletic community, particularly those with any visual impairments. This is because Indian pole dancing is more closely linked to balance and strength rather than sight.

If you are interested in learning the art of Mallakhamb you may struggle to find a class in the UK, however considering the increasing popularity of the sport it may soon find a place within our own country. In the meantime there are plenty of striptease classes for men that could hold your interest.

Alternatively, why not learn to pole dance with a partner? The dramatic demonstration in the video shown below may show a skill level that you can’t hope to attain quickly, but you can certainly see that there is fun to be had from learning an unusual talent with a significant other. As pole dancing is a fantastic way to keep fit and have fun, why not look for some local classes now?

cc licensed flickr photo shared by chadmagiera

Rebecca L. Smith is a full time freelance writer based in the UK. She specialises in creating an assortment of articles on a range of different topics of interest.