Indian Martial Arts: Ek Itihaas

The weapon-based martial art Mardaani khel originated in Maharashtra around the early 1600s. The Marathas were known to be homespun warriors whose martial art was distinctive, as it employed the use of pata (sword) and vita (corded lance).

Kushti is an original form of wrestling that was developed in the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, combining the native malla-yuddha with influences from the Persian koshti pahlavani. Today, India has many international-level wrestlers, including women.

Lathi Khel, or game of sticks, was the first weapon-based martial art. A lathi is 5-to-6-foot bamboo stick tipped with a metal blunt that's swung like a sword, and a single person well versed in Lathi Khel can successfully fight many at the same time.

Gatka is a traditional form of combat training using wooden sticks to simulate swords in sparring matches. Gatka originated in North India and neighboring Pakistan, where the regional system of fighting today is most commonly termed shastara-vidiya.

Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs feats and poses in concert with a vertical wooden pole or rope. The term derives from the words "malla," which denotes a wrestler, and "khamba," which means a pole.

Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest fighting systems, and originated in 1362 CE in Kerala. The British banned its practice in the early 19th century, but in recent years, efforts have been made to popularize the art by featuring it in films.

Sqay is a South Asian martial art created by the Kashmiris, and its early history is limited to mythology. Armed sqay makes use of a curved single-edge sword paired with a shield, while unarmed techniques incorporate kicks, punches, locks and chops.

Paika akhada is an Odia term which roughly translates as "warrior gymnasium." Paika akhada were originally training schools for warriors, while in times of peace, they were used to keep the warrior class physically and mentally fit.

Karnataka is a state where one of the most ancient Indian martial arts is still practiced in its traditional form, Vajramushti. The term refers to a knuckleduster-like weapon and also a form of Indian wrestling with the weapon.

Silambam is a weapon-based Indian martial art from Tamil Nadu. Silambambu refers to a particular type of bamboo from the Kurinji hills in present-day Karala, and thus silambam was named after its primary weapon, the bamboo staff.

Parikhanda originated in the Singhbhum and Saraikela areas of the Chota Nagpur plateau, where the tribes have practiced martial arts since antiquity. Its practice as a martial art declined, but it has managed to survive in the guise of a dance form.

Now a declining tradition, Kathi Samu is a centuries-old sword-fighting technique from the lands of the Dravidians.