India is a culturally rich country as there are several types of arts and other cultural elements prevailed and developed in India over the ages. Martial art means ‘arts associated with the waging the war’. The art form of martial is closely related to dance, yoga, and performing arts. Many popular martial arts of India are world famous today, for example, Kalarippayattu is a well-known martial art in the modern world because it is performed by the Bollywood actor Vidyut Jamwal.
Also Read: Orthodox Schools of Philosophy in India
Coins of Medieval Indian Dynasties
Coins of Ancient Indian Dynasties
Popular Martial of India
Kalarippayattu is a well-known martial art of India that originated in the state of Kerala and is often associated with the Sage Parasurama. This art form includes mick duels (armed and unarmed combat) and physical exercises; this is most famous for its footwork. Silambam is another famous martial art from the state of Tamilnadu and is a type of staff fencing. This art was promoted by the rulers of this region including Chola, Pandyas, and Cheras.
The long staff was used for both mock fighting and self-defense, and this is one of the most organized and popular games in the state of Tamilnadu. Thoda is another popular martial art in the state of Himachal Pradesh which is a mixture of martial arts, sports, and culture. It takes place during the festival of Baisakhi and this art is based on the skill of archery of players. The origin of this art can be traced back to the Mahabharat period because of the use of arrows and bows found in the war of Mahabharata.
Thang-ta and Sarit Sarak are two popular martial art forms from the state of Manipur. Thang-ta is an armed and more lethal art while Sarit Sarak is an unarmed form that uses hand-to-hand combat. The people and kings of Manipur used this martial art during the fight against British rule. Cheibi Gad-ga is another martial art form from the state of Manipur that also involves fighting using a sword and shield.
Pari-khanda is a martial art from the state of Bihar that was created by the Rajputs and this also involved swords and shields. The techniques and style of Pari-khanda are widely used in the Chhau dance of Bihar. Gatka is a popular martial art form in India that is performed by the Sikhs of Punjab. Gatka features the skillful use of weapons like a stick, Kirpan, Talwar, and Kataar. Mardani Khel is a prominent art form popular in the region of Kolhapur (Maharashtra) which primarily focuses on the skills of weaponry.
Lathi is an ancient and one of the oldest weapons used in martial arts. The word ‘Lathi’ means ‘stick’ and it is most popular in the states of Bengal and Punjab. Inbuan Wrestling is an art form from the state of Mizoram and has very strict rules that prohibit stepping out of the circle, kicking, and knee bending. Kuttu Varisai which found its mention in Sangam literature is a martial art from the state of Tamilnadu and is also popular in Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
The Kuttu Varisai is also considered as the unarmed component of Silambam. Musti Yuddha is said to have originated in the oldest city in the world, Varanasi. This art form is an unarmed martial art form resembling boxing and this uses techniques like kicks, punches, and knee and elbow strikes.
Hence, India is home to several types of martial art forms.