#THANG_TA :THANG TA MARTIAL ART OF MANIPUR:
THANG TA is popular term for the ancient Manipuri Martial Art known as HUYEN LALLONG. The art developed from the war environment of the tiny state of Manipur in North-east India, which was an independent kingdom since the early Christian era. It played an important role in the geopolitical environment of medieval times in between India and China with many independent states at war with each other. Constant life and death struggles between clans, tribes and states resulted in the devising of ways and means of safeguarding the lives of the citizen soldiery and at the same time developing an inward attitude to problems of life, death and afterlife.
The art of the battle simultaneously envisioned a deep value system or world view ensconced within the culture of the small ethnic communities struggling for survival from constant attack from hostile neighbours and also to sustain a social order based on rank, status and kin affiliations of a collective kind. The individual was always in deep relationship with the community using ritual as a means of constant regenerative action in tune with the movement of the spiritual world of ancestors beyond human life. The world of man was an outward revelation of the inner life of the natural world and the universe. Deep harmony between outer action and inner forces resulted in the use of the body in various forms of expression.
Thang Ta – “The Art of the Sword and Spear” – is the. traditional martial art of Manipur in Northeast India. It integrates various external weapons – the sword, spear, dagger, etc. – with the internal practice of physical control through soft movements coordinated with the. rhythms of breathing. It is part of the great heroic. tradition of Manipur.
Its origin lies in the timeless. creation myths where, according to local legend, all movements of the Manipuris originated from Thang Ta. – AIKIKAI OF PHILADELPHIA, USA.
The proper name for Thang-Ta is HUYEN LALLONG (“method of safe-guarding”). As the name implies, Huyen Lallong is more than just the training of fighting skills. It is an elaborate system of physical culture that involves breathing methods, meditations, and rituals. Some of the sword and spear forms are entirely ritualistic, although they are composed of material techniques. They are to be performed only at special occasions or under special circumstances. For example, there is a spear form that is performed at funerals. Perhaps the most famous form is the ritual spear dance done by King Bhagyachandra (ruled 1759–1798) on a mountain top during his exile due to the Burmese invasion in 1762. The Manipuris believe that the ritual was instrumental in driving the Burmese out of Manipur.
The heart of Thang-Ta is the “sword”. There are literally hundreds of different sword drills for training the basic strokes and stepping patterns. Many are two person sets, but others may be practiced solo, at least initially. The Thang-Ta spear forms are more complicated and must be seen to be appreciated. “Many are the warnings given by the old
teachers to their students who, they say, may seriously injure their limbs by incorrect stepping according to the design – PAKHANGBA, a coiled serpent motif”, wrote Louis Light foot (1958) in “Dance Rituals of Manipur”. Thang-Ta is almost completely unknown today outside Manipur. In India itself, the art is not well known, although a
documentary was broadcast on Indian television in 1994. “Unfortunately, opportunities for Westerners to study Thang-Ta are very limited. Travel to and from the region is restricted. – few, if any, people outside of Manipur are able to study the art because of the Indian Government’s entry restriction. To our knowledge, Khilton Nongmaithem (of HULA SINDAMSANG, IMPHAL) is the only Manipuri teaching Thang-Ta outside of Manipur.”
Three warriors. – Paona Naol Singh, Ningthoukhongja Poila, Loukrakpam Sana Mityeng each founded a distinct style within the art of THANG-TA. Paona died fighting the British and is still regarded as a hero in Manipur.
Source- themanipurpage.tripod.com, Wikipedia, other articles
