Thang-Ta: Manipuri martial arts demonstration at Khelo India Youth Games

Guwahati :Thang-Ta: Manipuri martial arts demonstration at Khelo India Youth Games Thang Ta, a martial art from Manipur, is all set to be exhibited for the first time at the Play India Youth Games 2022 in Panchkula, Haryana.

Traditional martial arts – thang (sword) to (spear) – however, are not just about fighting. Artists are trained in sword fighting and sharitShirk (unarmed fighting). Their overall development is ensured through Sajin kanglon (physical exercise), Thanguron (spiritual arts), ningsha kanglon (breathing exercises), Laing kanglon (teaching of natural medicine) and hirikonba (meditation).
Experts say that as a fighter, artists also need extremely calm and deadly accuracy to win the battle.

Play India Youth Games 2022 will be held from 4 to 13 June 2022.

Explaining the introduction of the game on such a large platform, Huidrom Prem Kumar Singh, who will be managing and supervising the Thang Ta competitions in the Games from June 4 to 6, revealed that about 140 boys and girls Will be in the field
“Most of them are from Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh,” Singh said.
In the Manipur Valley, tribal tribes like Mangang, Luwant, Khuman, Angom, Khaba-Nganba, Moirang and Sarang Leishang Theme also frequently fought among themselves, emphasizing the need for strong defensive measures in all villages.

The artist, Singh, who is also the President of the World Thang Ta Federation, has been instrumental in setting up Thang Ta training centers and organizing championships in India and abroad.

Although little is known about this art form, it is believed to have originated in 1404-1432 AD, when, according to the Thang Ta Federation of India, a king named Panshiba established a military department called Sheng Chap Meera Hijuroi.
From 1709-1748 AD, this defense system was strengthened by King Pamhiba, and every man over the age of 16 was ordered to volunteer to serve the state for a fixed number of days a year and to teach martial arts. ۔

The men had to master the art of war as the attacks of the neighbors increased.

“We share borders with Burma (now Myanmar) and there are frequent attacks from neighboring states,” Singh said.