Thang-Ta : Martial Art Form

Thang-Ta is a traditional Indian martial art from Manipur, referred to as “the art of the sword and spear”. It is also known as an art form in a larger martial art form known as Huyen Lallong (pronounced ‘hoo-yen lah-long’). Thang-Ta consists of sword fighting, spear fighting, and the wrestling called Mukna. It is a collection of martial arts skills, spiritual practices, and dance.

Notable aspects of Thang-Ta include:

• Origin.
  Thang-Ta is very old art form. According to legend, Thang-Ta was established by the creator of the Meitei people, Tin Sidaba.
• History.
  Thang-Ta art form was used by the Manipur Kings to defend against the British. The art was illegally practiced in British colonial times but recovered beginning in around 1950s.
• Forms.
  Thang-Ta as a martial art is an armed martial art. Those weapons consist of swords (thang), spears (ta). It is also associated with unarmed techniques like Sarit Sarak, which is another type of Huyen Lallong.
• Cultural significance.
  Thang-Ta martial art is much more than a martial art for Manipuri; it is seen as a representation of the universe, as well as a spirtually based dance. The movements are reflection of that cultural basis.
• Contemporary practices.
  Thang-Ta is now part of general education in Manipur indicating the social/spiritual/physical/cultural values of Thang-Ta (Manipur University of Culture). Additionally, Thang-Ta appears in events like Khelo India.