Traditional Martial Arts

Traditional Martial Arts and Sports of India

1. Kalaripayattu (Kerala)

• Origin: Widely accepted as the oldest surviving martial art in the world (with roots tracking back to 3rd Century BCE). The word Kalari means battlefield or training arena, and Payattu translates to combat. Legend traditionally attributes its creation to Sage Parashurama (an avatar of Lord Vishnu).
• Features: It is an incredibly comprehensive system. It includes strikes, lethal kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry, and advanced healing methods (Ayurveda and Marma treatments—knowledge of vital pressure points).
• Training: Begins with an intense full-body oil massage to achieve extreme hyper-flexibility. Postures are heavily inspired by animal movements (lion, tiger, boar, snake, elephant).
• Weapons used: Swords, spears, shields, wooden sticks, and most famously the Urumi (a terrifyingly deadly, flexible, whip-like sword wrapped around the waist that can slice multiple enemies simultaneously).

2. Thang Ta and Sarit Sarak (Manipur)

• Origin: Also historically known as Huyen Langlon, it is a majestic ancient martial art created by the Meitei indigenous people of Manipur.
• Features: It is divided into two distinct components:
  • Thang Ta: The armed combat aspect. The word Thang literally translates to sword, and Ta means spear. It integrates various external weapons like shields and axes.
  • Sarit Sarak: The unarmed combat aspect utilizing brutal hand-to-hand fighting, grappling, and evasion techniques against an armed opponent.
• Significance: It is highly ritualistic. Training and performances are deeply connected to the worship of the local Manipuri deity, Sanamahi.

3. Gatka (Punjab)

• Origin: Created and institutionalized by the Sikh community. It gained prominence during the era of the 6th Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, who introduced the geopolitical concept of Miri-Piri (temporal and spiritual authority wielding two swords). It was later heavily formalized for warfare by the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, upon creating the Khalsa.
• Features: A fast-paced, weapon-based martial art primarily using wooden sticks (intended to simulate swords for training) and a small buckler shield. It emphasizes continuous, circular, fluid motion to tackle multiple enemies. It is violently beautiful and frequently performed during major Sikh festivals like Hola Mohalla and Baisakhi.

4. Mallakhamb (Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra)

• Origin: The term Malla translates to wrestler, and Khamb means pole. It was first recorded in the 12th-century text Manasollasa by Chalukya king Someshvara III. It was brilliantly revived and structured in the 19th century by Balambhatta Dada Deodhar (the physical conditioning instructor of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II).
• Features: It is technically less of a combat art and more of an extreme gymnastic, wrestling, and strength conditioning regimen. The practitioner performs astounding feats of balance, core strength, and agility on a vertical wooden pole (usually teak polished with castor oil) or a hanging rope.
• Status: It is officially recognized as the state sport of Madhya Pradesh.

5. Silambam (Tamil Nadu)

• Origin: An ancient art strongly patronized by the Chola, Chera, and Pandya kings. Extensive mentions of Silambam fighting mechanics are found in Tamil Sangam literature (Silappadikaram).
• Features: A highly graceful stick-based martial art. The primary weapon is a perfectly measured bamboo staff (called Silambam). The fighter uses lightning-fast rotational movements and rapid footwork (Kaaladi) to attack and defend. Advanced practitioners also use the Maduvu (deer horns) and swords.

6. Other Important Regional Forms

• Pari Khanda (Bihar, Jharkhand & Odisha): Created by the Rajputs. Pari means shield, Khanda means sword. It involves heavily armed sparring. The footwork and movements of Pari Khanda were directly absorbed into the famous martial dance form known as Chhau.
• Musti Yuddha (Varanasi / North India): An incredibly violent, ancient unarmed combat form analogous to modern Muay Thai or boxing. It incorporates bare-knuckle punches, devastating kicks, and knee/elbow strikes. Defeat is conceded only upon sheer physical exhaustion or knockout.
• Mardani Khel (Maharashtra): A brutal weapon-based martial art developed by the Marathas to combat the Mughals in the hilly terrains of the Western Ghats. It is famously associated with the history of Shivaji Maharaj. Its most famous weapon is the Pata (a long double-edged sword integrated directly into a heavy steel gauntlet protecting the forearm).
• Kathi Samu (Andhra Pradesh): An ancient sword-fighting technique originally practiced exclusively by the royal armies. It famously features master fighters wielding heavy swords in both hands while performing dangerous acrobatics.
• Sqay (Kashmir): A South Asian martial art using a curved single-edge sword paired with a shield.
• Mukna (Manipur): A highly traditional form of indigenous wrestling where the opponents hold each other's belts (similar in style to Sumo, but without the weight classes).