The only living master of a dying martial art

BBC News ^ | 10-29-2011 | Stephanie Hegarty

[Renfield]

A former factory worker from the British Midlands may be the last living master of the centuries-old Sikh battlefield art of shastar vidya. The father of four is now engaged in a full-time search for a successor.

The basis of shastar vidya, the "science of weapons" is a five-step movement: advance on the opponent, hit his flank, deflect incoming blows, take a commanding position and strike.

It was developed by Sikhs in the 17th Century as the young religion came under attack from hostile Muslim and Hindu neighbours, and has been known to a dwindling band since the British forced Sikhs to give up arms in the 19th Century.

Nidar Singh, a 44-year-old former food packer from Wolverhampton, is now thought to be the only remaining master. He has many students, but shastar vidya takes years to learn and a commitment in time and energy that doesn't suit modern lifestyles...

[Renfield]

[Renfield]

This may interest you...

[MrEdd]

Ooh! Shiney!

[pyx]

BTTT

[momtothree]

Ooohhh... I love the war shoes with blades! Do they come in a size 8?!!!

[Little Ray]

He looks like a Scottish Highlander - so many weapons, its hard to know which one to use first!

[preacher]

Indiana Jones: Sword vs. Gun

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Are matchlocks still legal in the U.K.? Can you do this with rubber swords?

[ravager]

Most of those weaponry and martial art aren't unique to Sikhs but are borrowed from their Rajput predecessors and are also used by Marathas and Jats.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Source article is well worth a read. Fascinating stuff!

[2banana]

Why would one need to fight full of peace and tolerance muslims?

[stars & stripes forever]

You watch, Shastar vidya will be coming to a university near you. Some liberal will write a grant to 'preserve' the centuries-old Sikh battlefield art of shastar vidya.

Ceremonial gear will be mandatory for those taking the class.

[Sudetenland]

VEry much a story of the march of civilization. There was a time when knowledge of and ability to use the English long bow meant victory in war. Bow men practiced everyday of their lives and were capable of accurately firing 12 "cloth yard" shafts per minute at a range of 200 yards using the typical 150 lb bow. They developed bone spurs on their shoulders to accommodate the increased muscle mass required for the discipline . . . then came the cross bow which required no particular skill to aim and fire. Knowledge of the making and use of the long bow all but disappeared . . . then came the gun and both disciplines disappeared from the battle field.

Same for knowledge of how to use a long sword, the rapier and "maine gauche" and pretty much all other martial disciplines requiring extensive daily practice.

Unless they make movies about a martial art today or it is translated into a sport and it becomes trendy, it will disappear. Tradition and culture have been replaced largely today by fad and ease.

[Free Vulcan]

Awesome.

[ravager]

I think the idea of “martial race” is plain nonsensical. The Sikhs empire was actually defeated by Caranatic Pandey soldiers serving in the British army who weren’t a martial race at all. Never had any martial tradition or history of warfare.

[jagusafr]

I’m actually searching for a serious cane-centered martial arts discipline. Have reviewed “Cane Fu” from Canemasters (for people more generally impaired than I am)and the British guy’s stuff from the turn of last century (still evaluating), but I think you’re right: any discipline of this sort must be practiced and honed on a daily basis, and “these kids today” don’t have the patience, discipline or farsightedness to become truly competent.

Hope I will.

Colonel, USAFR

[sukhoi-30mki]

An uneducated guess is that the ‘martial race’ concept was an H.R practise of the medieval era for the Brits to boost their colonial military. A community with a culture of sending men to combat had the military as a prime occupation and trained up its youth for the role.

Many of the ethnic groups which were thus designated-Gurkhas and other hill communities, Jats, Sikhs and Pathans still figure prominently as far as numbers go in their respective armed forces.

[Maverick68]

Interesting stuff.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
It does! Thanks Renfield. Basically a modern history topic, but since it's about hand to hand combat (which is as old as, well, hands probably), it is pingworthy. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.