Thang-Ta
Encyclopedia
Thang-ta or huyen lallong is a weapon-based Indian martial art created by the Meitei of Manipur
. In the Manipuri language, thang means sword and ta means spear. As its name implies, the sword and spear are the primary weapons in thang-ta. The spear can be used in its non-missile form while in close or thrown from afar. Other weapons used include the shield and axe.
Because of Manipur
's cultural similarity, geographic proximity and ethnic ties with Myanmar
, thang-ta is closely related to banshay
. Both can be practiced in three different ways: ritual, demonstration and combat. The first way is related to the tantric practices and is entirely ritualistic in nature. The second way consists of a spectacular performance involving sword and spear dances. These dances can be converted into actual fighting practices. The third way is the true combat application.
The earliest record of thang-ta and its sibling Sarit Sarak dates back from the early 17th century. Warriors would arrange to fight one-on-one as a way of settling feuds or disputes. The day before a duel, fighters might eat dinner together. While thang-ta involves using weapons against one or more opponents, Sarit Sarak is the art of fighting empty-handed against armed or unarmed opponents, but on many occasions there is a combined approach to the training of these two systems. They were used with great success by the Manipuri kings to fight against the European colonists. Martial arts were banned during the British occupation of the region,since it was used to train the freedom fighter to fight against the Britishers, but the 1950s saw a resurgence of the traditional fighting forms. Today thang-ta is the most popular of Meitei martial arts, practiced by both men and women. It is most often seen through demonstrations in cultural programs.
In the recent years this art has been promoted as a sport all over India and also as a self defence tactical subject. Every year Thang-Ta competitions are held at school, district, state and national level. The promotion of Thang-ta as a sport helped in the cause of its promotion and spreaded from Manipur to the Whole of India, particularly Jammu&Kaskmir. Today Manipur and Jammu&Kashmir are the two Strong contenders at the National level.
In 2009, Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma
, a leading exponent and teacher of thang-ta, received the high Padma Shri
honor award from the Indian Government
for his contributions to the preservation and advancement of the art.
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. In the Manipuri language, thang means sword and ta means spear. As its name implies, the sword and spear are the primary weapons in thang-ta. The spear can be used in its non-missile form while in close or thrown from afar. Other weapons used include the shield and axe.
Because of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
's cultural similarity, geographic proximity and ethnic ties with Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, thang-ta is closely related to banshay
Banshay
Banshay is a weapon-based Burmese martial art focusing primarily on the sword, staff and spear. Influenced by both Chinese and Indian sources, it is also closely related to krabi krabong and thang-ta....
. Both can be practiced in three different ways: ritual, demonstration and combat. The first way is related to the tantric practices and is entirely ritualistic in nature. The second way consists of a spectacular performance involving sword and spear dances. These dances can be converted into actual fighting practices. The third way is the true combat application.
The earliest record of thang-ta and its sibling Sarit Sarak dates back from the early 17th century. Warriors would arrange to fight one-on-one as a way of settling feuds or disputes. The day before a duel, fighters might eat dinner together. While thang-ta involves using weapons against one or more opponents, Sarit Sarak is the art of fighting empty-handed against armed or unarmed opponents, but on many occasions there is a combined approach to the training of these two systems. They were used with great success by the Manipuri kings to fight against the European colonists. Martial arts were banned during the British occupation of the region,since it was used to train the freedom fighter to fight against the Britishers, but the 1950s saw a resurgence of the traditional fighting forms. Today thang-ta is the most popular of Meitei martial arts, practiced by both men and women. It is most often seen through demonstrations in cultural programs.
In the recent years this art has been promoted as a sport all over India and also as a self defence tactical subject. Every year Thang-Ta competitions are held at school, district, state and national level. The promotion of Thang-ta as a sport helped in the cause of its promotion and spreaded from Manipur to the Whole of India, particularly Jammu&Kaskmir. Today Manipur and Jammu&Kashmir are the two Strong contenders at the National level.
In 2009, Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma
Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma
Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma is a leading exponent and teacher of Thang-Ta, an Indian martial art from Manipur.In 2009, he received the high Padma Shri honor award from the Indian Government for his contributions to the preservation and advancement of Thang-Ta....
, a leading exponent and teacher of thang-ta, received the high Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
honor award from the Indian Government
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
for his contributions to the preservation and advancement of the art.