Forms of Traditional Martial Arts (Kalaripayattu, Silambam, Thang-Ta, Gatka, Mardani Khel, Musti Yuddha)
Art & Culture › Martial Arts & Sports · Topic 7.3
India has many regional martial arts. Kalaripayattu is the martial art of Kerala, taught in a training hall called a kalari with strikes, kicks, weapons and marma knowledge. Silambam is the bamboo staff art of Tamil Nadu. Thang-Ta is the sword and spear art of the Meitei people of Manipur. Gatka is the stick and sword art of the Sikhs of Punjab, linked with the Nihangs. Mardani Khel is the weapon art of Maharashtra, associated with the Marathas of Kolhapur, and Musti Yuddha is the fist fighting of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Several are part of Khelo India.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Martial Arts & Sports
At a Glance
- Kalaripayattu Kerala, kalari, urumi
- Silambam Tamil Nadu, bamboo staff
- Thang-Ta Manipur, sword and spear
- Gatka Punjab, Sikh, sticks
- Mardani Khel and Musti Yuddha Maharashtra; Varanasi
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Martial Arts & Sports
Where Does It Fit?
This is the third topic of the macro on martial arts and sports. It builds on the origins described before and is followed by the topic on animal sports. Previous topic: Genesis of Martial Arts in India. Next topic: jallikattu-kambala-bulbul-fighting/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Jallikattu Tamil Nadu, bull taming, Pongal Kambala Karnataka coast, buffalo race Bulbul fighting Assam, Hajo, Magh Bihu Key case…">Animal Sports (Jallikattu, Kambala, Bulbul Fighting).
Which Martial Arts Belong to Which Region?
| Martial art | State and community | Features and weapons |
|---|---|---|
| Kalaripayattu | Kerala. Linked with Nair and chaver warriors and the legend of Parashurama | Taught in a kalari pit. Stages are Meithari for body training, Kolthari for wooden weapons, Ankathari for metal weapons and Verumkai for bare hands. Weapons include the flexible sword urumi, the curved stick otta, spear and shield. Includes marma points and massage |
| Silambam | Tamil Nadu. Sangam period origin, mention in Silappadikaram | Long bamboo staff, usually the height of the fighter. Also called Silambattam. Footwork and spinning are central; swords, maces and deer horns are other weapons |
| Thang-Ta | Manipur. Meitei people. Also called Huyen Langlon | Thang is sword and ta is spear. Includes unarmed Sarit Sarak. Used against the British in the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891, after which it was restricted |
| Gatka | Punjab. Sikhs, especially the Nihang order | Wooden stick called soti used in practice in place of the sword, with kirpan, shield and chakkar. Linked with Guru Hargobind and the Khalsa |
| Mardani Khel | Maharashtra. Maratha tradition, strong in Kolhapur | Weapons include the dandpatta, a gauntlet sword, and the vita, a spear with a rope. Tied to Maratha forts and the time of Shivaji |
| Musti Yuddha | Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi | Unarmed fist fighting. Fighters train in akhadas and observe a code of respect |
What Other Regional Martial Arts Should You Know?
| Art | Detail |
|---|---|
| Paika Akhada | Odisha. Linked with the Paika warrior militia and the Paika Rebellion of 1817 against the East India Company |
| Cheibi Gad-ga | Manipur. A sword and shield art, also called the stick fight, in which the shield is soft and made of leather |
| Kathi Samu | Andhra Pradesh. Sword fighting practised in the Telugu region |
| Pari-Khanda | Bihar and Jharkhand. Sword and shield art from which the Chhau dance of Seraikella has drawn movements |
| Thoda | Himachal Pradesh. Archery with a link to the Mahabharata, played at fairs and festivals |
| Sqay | Jammu and Kashmir. A sword and shield fighting art of the Kashmir valley |
| Lathi | Bengal, Bihar and Punjab. Staff fighting known as lathi khela, used by village guards and during festivals |
| Inbuan | Mizoram. A traditional wrestling form |
| Kuttu Varisai | Tamil Nadu. Unarmed combat with locks and strikes, similar to Kalaripayattu hand techniques |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate names: Kalaripayattu is also spelt Kalarippayattu or called Kalari; Silambam is also Silambattam; Thang-Ta is also Huyen Langlon; Mardani Khel is the Maratha weapon art of Kolhapur; Musti Yuddha means fist fight and is linked with Varanasi akhadas
- State at a glance: Kerala: Kalaripayattu. Tamil Nadu: Silambam and Kuttu Varisai. Manipur: Thang-Ta and Cheibi Gad-ga. Punjab: Gatka. Maharashtra: Mardani Khel. Uttar Pradesh: Musti Yuddha. Odisha: Paika Akhada
- Kalari training: the pit is kept below ground level and has a shrine to a guardian deity
- Kalaripayattu schools: northern or Vadakkan, southern or Thekkan and central styles are described, differing in the use of weapons and strikes
- Vadakkan Pattukal: northern ballads of Kerala that celebrate warriors such as Thacholi Othenan and the woman fighter Unniyarcha
- Silambam export: Tamil traders and migrants carried the art to Malaysia and Singapore, where it is still taught
- Gatka and Baisakhi: Gatka displays are staged at Sikh festivals and processions such as Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib
- Thang-Ta and Meitei ritual: the art is linked with Meitei dance and folk religion
- Colonial restrictions: the British restricted many of these arts, and revival came after Independence through clubs and associations
- Khelo India: Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamb have been included in the Khelo India Youth Games, as in Various Types of Sports
- Performance forms: Kalaripayattu has been presented in Kathakali and in cinema, helping its revival and tourism
- Healing: Kalaripayattu masters also practise massage and bone setting under the Kerala tradition of Ayurveda
- Women: women practised Kalaripayattu historically, and Unniyarcha in the northern ballads is a known figure
- Mardani Khel today: taught mainly in Kolhapur and other parts of Maharashtra by local training centres
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Match type: art with state and weapon, such as Silambam with the bamboo staff
- Features: kalari, urumi, soti, dandpatta
- Communities: Meitei with Thang-Ta, Nihang with Gatka
- Recent news: Khelo India inclusion and revival of local arts
- Common errors: placing Musti Yuddha in Punjab, or confusing Gatka with Thang-Ta
As an analytical point, martial arts can be supported as sport, as a performing art and as a livelihood in tourism. Safe rules for competition, trained teachers and a link with school physical education would protect them without ending the guru tradition.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Matching State and weapon pairs
- Features Terms and stages
- Policy Khelo India inclusion
What Came Next?
The next topic covers traditional animal sports and their legal status. Next topic: Animal Sports (Jallikattu, Kambala, Bulbul Fighting).
Key People and Terms
- Kalari Training pit
- Urumi Flexible sword
- Soti Gatka practice stick
- Dandpatta Gauntlet sword
- Marma Vital point
- Huyen Langlon Name of Thang-Ta
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Kalaripayattu: Kerala, weapon urumi.
- Silambam: Tamil Nadu, bamboo staff.
- Thang-Ta: Manipur, Meitei.
- Gatka: Punjab, Nihang Sikhs.
- Musti Yuddha: Varanasi, fist fight.
Do Not Confuse With
- Gatka and Thang-Ta Sikh stick and sword art versus Manipuri sword and spear art
- Mardani Khel and Musti Yuddha Maratha weapons versus Varanasi fist fighting
- Silambam and Kalaripayattu Staff art of Tamil Nadu versus broad art of Kerala
Memory Hook
Kerala kalari, Tamil staff, Manipur sword, Punjab stick, Maratha gauntlet, Kashi fist.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about preservation of traditional arts and their use in tourism and sport. These points give a balanced frame.
- Heritage Living regional arts
- Decline Colonial ban and modern sports
- Revival Khelo India, tourism, schools
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“India has a rich tradition of regional martial arts. Discuss their features and the steps needed to preserve and promote them.”
How to Answer
- Forms Regional arts and weapons.
- Threats Decline of gurus.
- Support Khelo India, academies.
- Way Standards and tourism links.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are traditional martial arts important for UPSC?
They are important because Prelims regularly asks to match a martial art with its state, weapon and community, and Mains asks about preserving living regional arts. Khelo India inclusion of Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamb gives a current policy link for answers on sports and heritage.
Which martial art uses the urumi?
The urumi, a long flexible whip-like sword with several thin blades, belongs to Kalaripayattu of Kerala. It is among the weapons taught at the Ankathari stage, after body training and wooden weapons. It is one of the most asked weapon names in match-the-pair questions on Indian martial arts.
What is Kalaripayattu?
Kalaripayattu is the traditional martial art of Kerala. It is taught in a training pit called a kalari and has four stages: body training, wooden weapons, metal weapons and bare hands. It uses weapons such as the flexible sword urumi and includes knowledge of marma points and massage.
What is Silambam and where is it practised?
Silambam is a martial art of Tamil Nadu that uses a long bamboo staff, usually about the height of the fighter. It is mentioned in Sangam-period literature and is also practised by Tamil communities in Malaysia and Singapore. Footwork, spinning and strikes are its main features.
Which community practises Thang-Ta?
Thang-Ta is practised by the Meitei people of Manipur and is also called Huyen Langlon. Thang means sword and ta means spear. The art includes unarmed methods called Sarit Sarak and was used in resistance against the British before it was restricted after 1891.
What is Gatka?
Gatka is the Sikh martial art of Punjab in which fighters use wooden sticks called soti in training and swords, shields and kirpans in display. It is closely linked with the Nihang order and with the Khalsa tradition from the time of Guru Hargobind.
What is Musti Yuddha?
Musti Yuddha is a form of unarmed fist fighting practised in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Fighters train in akhadas and follow a code of respect. It belongs to the old tradition of Indian combat arts and is less widely known than Kalaripayattu or Gatka.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Silambam uses a bamboo staff as its main weapon.
It is the staff art of Tamil Nadu.
2 Thang-Ta is a martial art of Punjab.
It belongs to Manipur.
3 Gatka is associated with the Nihang Sikhs.
It uses soti sticks and swords.
4 Urumi is a flexible sword used in Kalaripayattu.
A distinctive weapon of Kerala.
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