Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

Advanced acrobatic and sword skills are required in thang-ta, as is demonstrated by this photograph of two men in
Manipur, ca. 1994. (Lindsay Hebberd/Corbis)
as a technique used in theater and dance. Therefore, it receives support
from the state and has gained widespread popularity. Across Manipur a
number of martial arts academies train men and women in thang-ta, and
many dance and theater schools include thang-ta among their course offerings.
The performance of thang-ta techniques, as in the solo decorative
sword dance or a choreographed thang-ta duel on the stage, has become
common in Manipur. In fact, the professional Manipuri dancer is quite
likely to have taken a few thang-ta workshops, and well-known Indian
choreographers such as Astaad Deboo and others have collaborated extensively
with thang-ta artists.
The traditional repertoire of thang-ta is divided into four broad categories.
These categories are Ta-khousarol (art of spear dance), Thanghairol
(art of swordplay), Sarit-sarat (unarmed combat), and Thengkourol (art of
touch and call).
Ta-khousarol consists of nine extremely demanding and sophisticated
movement sequences: Maram Nungshetpa, Maram Achouba, Maram Macha,
Tangkhul, Athou Achouba, Thel, Maram Nungjrongba, Kabui, Athou
Chumthang. Each involves a series of moves executed in a specific order—
salutation, removing stakes, watching the foe, battle, and so forth. The
martial artist holds the ta (spear) in the right hand and the chungoi (shield)
Thang-Ta 639