Karnataka is a state where one of the most ancient Indian Martial art is still practiced in its traditional form – Vajramushti. The term refers to a knuckleduster-like weapon and also a form of Indian wrestling with the weapon. The vajramusti is usually made of ivory or a buffalo horn. The variation used for warfare had long blades protruding from each end and an elaborate bladed knuckle. The first literary mention of vajra-musti comes from the Manasollasa of the Chalukya king, Someswara III (1124–1138), although it has been conjectured to have existed as early as the Maurya dynasty. Vajra-musti and its unarmed counterpart malla-yuddha was practiced by the Jyeá¹£á¹Ä«malla (the most excellent wrestlers), worshipping Modha Brahmins first mentioned in the 12th century. The Portuguese traveller Domingo Paez records the practice of vajra-musti in the southern Vijayanagara Empire. After independence, the family tradition of wrestling lost its prestige without its royal patronage. Modern Indians regarded such violent sports as barbarically outdated. Vajra-musti matches are still held during the annual Mysore Dasara festival at Mysore Palace, a tradition dating back to the Wadiyar dynasty in 1610. Unlike the bloody matches of old, the modern combatant use knuckle-dusters with blunt studs. The fight ends immediately after first blood is drawn and the referee's verdict is seldom questioned.