Research Article EXPLORING MOTIVATIONS and PROSPECTS
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Available Online at http://www.recentscientific.com International Journal of CODEN: IJRSFP (USA) Recent Scientific International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Research Vol. 11, Issue, 07 (B), pp. 39227-39233, July, 2020 ISSN: 0976-3031 DOI: 10.24327/IJRSR Research Article EXPLORING MOTIVATIONS AND PROSPECTS OF THANG TA, ANCIENT MANIPURI MARTIAL ARTS AMONG THE STUDENTS IN MANIPUR Lourembam Sundeep Meitei*, Huidrom Kirankumar Singh1, Huidrom Premkumar Singh2 and Dr. Arambam Jolly Devi3 1Coach, Thang Ta Federation of India, Imphal, Manipur 2International Coach, World Thang Ta Federation, Yumnam Huidrom, Manipur, India 3President, World Thang Ta Federation, Yumnam Huidrom, Manipur, India 4Assistant Professor, Department of FRM, College of Community Science, CAU, Tura, Meghalaya DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2020.1107.5461 ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Martial arts of each state and country have their own unique styles and origin. Thang Ta, India’s popular martial art is originated from Manipur. The health benefits of practicing martial art are Received 15th April, 2020 many such as physical and mental fitness, social and psychological well being to mention a few. Received in revised form 7th The paper aims to bring out the motivating factors for practicing Thang Ta and future prospects of May, 2020 the sport among the students in the region. The paper also highlights the relevance of Thang Ta Accepted 13th June, 2020 being a unique art and its popularity in other states within India as well as in other countries. Published online 28th July, 2020 Moreover, there is less research paper in the region on the subject area ‘Thang Ta’ as compared to other country’s martial arts. The research study will contribute in the arena of martial arts as a Key Words: performing art, culture and sports. For the study, five valley districts and five martial art academies Motivation, Thang Ta, Unique, Manipur, were selected purposively and 100 samples students were randomly selected for the survey to meet Prospects. the objectives of the study. Copyright © Lourembam Sundeep Meitei et al, 2020, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. INTRODUCTION cultivation, & awareness of spirit & mind) components, including spiritual & ritualistic aspects, the practice of which Motivation is an important aspect in any activity of learning not only keeps us healthy and helps in self-defence, but also and doing. It is the motivation that acts as a stimulus and makes us aware of our rich cultural heritage and the great coordinates with our brain, hands, feet and other parts of our heroism of our forefathers. body organs. In martial arts the movement philosophy and 3 coordination is vital which requires a person to be conscious Zhen Hao Zeng (2019) noted the definitions of martial arts and self motivated to perform an art. Motivation is important in given by a martial arts specialist Prof. Dr. Cynarski indicated almost every aspect of human behaviour. Student motivation is that: “Martial arts are the forms of psychophysical activity the element that leads student’s attitude towards learning linked to a certain tradition of hand-to-hand fight or using process. Martial arts and motivation are closely associated with weapons, aimed at personal development and merging each others. The ancient traditional martial arts of Manipur educational methods with improvement in spiritual dimension. known as Huyen Lallong commonly Thang Ta plays with Ways of martial arts include certain forms of physical swords and spears, is a strong yet gracefully sophisticated art. (psychophysical) culture, which, based on tradition of warrior Anonymous (2019)1 Prof. H Tombi mentioned that Thang Ta is cultures lead, through training of fighting techniques, to generally considered as a form of martial arts for self defence psychophysical improvement and self-realization. but it is an important art and origin of invaluable culture of 4 Manipur. It is recognised by Government of India and many Michael E T (2017) Martial arts have been practiced by Thang Ta artists have been decorated with Sangeet Natak humans for many centuries. The early development of martial Akademi Awards. Barun H (2011)2 Thang Ta is a complete arts is associated with the human quest for finding a better way 5 martial art, complete in the sense that it has both the external of fighting and subduing enemies. Parul Shah and et al The (physical & health) & internal (meditation, concentration, self ancient martial art of Manipur, Thang Ta known as Huyen *Corresponding author: Lourembam Sundeep Meitei Coach, Thang Ta Federation of India, Imphal, Manipur International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 11, Issue, 07 (B), pp. 39227-39233, July, 2020 Lallong/langlong developed from the war environment of the Headquarter. (Barun H, 2011)2. Recently the Government of tiny state of Manipur in North-east India, which was an India in Khelo India scheme included Thang Ta as indigenous independent kingdom since the early Christian era. In Manipur sports as a part of Fit India movement. The first National in the Meitei language, huyen means war while langlon or Thang Ta Championship was organised by Meitei Huyel lallong can mean net, knowledge or art. Huyen langlon consists Langlong Academy, Yumnam Huidrom, Manipur, India in of two main components: thang-ta (armed combat) and sarit 1993. Till 2019, Twenty Five National Championship held in sarak (unarmed fighting). The primary weapons of huyen different states of India and at the International level five langlon are the thang (sword) and ta (spear). championship have been organised in different countries. Table no. 1 shows the details of competition organised in different Thang Ta, ancient martial arts is becoming popular in many states and countries. Twenty one countries participated in the states and countries because of its benefits on the overall health 6 championship as on 2019. and well being of the people. Antonio Silva (2019) Martial arts and combat sports popularity has been growing during the last There are many literatures and documents on motivation decades, and the associated benefits for the practitioners, such behind the martial arts in the world in general and Asian in as improved overall health and increase sense of wellness are particular namely Taekwondo, Tai chi, Karate, Kung Fu, widely known. Ashleigh Johnstone and Paloma Mari Beffa Wushu etc. but very less research on the Thang Ta of Manipur (2018)7 mentioned that during an academic year, an average of in particular. The research study aims to bring out motivating three sessions of Taekwondo per week showed improvements factors of the students in practicing the Thang Ta and the in working memory and attention, as well as parentally- prospect of the Thang Ta in future. This martial art itself is very reported benefits in concentration and behavioural inhibition. sophisticated and dynamic that it comes under the domain of performing art, culture and sports. These itself defines the In martial arts motivation is very crucial. Self motivated or feasibility and viability to generate opportunity for the people what we can say ‘intrinsic motivation’ comes from within the in general and particularly for the people of Manipur, where the self which is internal in nature. Afzal Hasan (2010)8 viewed that history of Thang Ta originates. To fulfil the gap, the research a student is intrinsically motivated when he or she is motivated study sets three objectives namely- To highlight the uniqueness from within and those who are engages in learning purely for of ancient martial arts, Thang Ta of Manipur. To understand attaining a reward or for avoiding some punishment. Van the motivating factors of the students who practices Thang Ta Heerden CH (2014)9 Intrinsic motivation inspires participation and thirdly to appraise the future prospects of Thang Ta in without external incentives and acts as a driver to participate in Manipur. sport as a result of beliefs and the value that is found in doing the activity. Table 1 Competition Organised by Thang Ta Federation of India in India and Abroad On the other hand extrinsic motivations are those social- Level environmental factors collectively called the motivational of S.No. Organised by Held at Year climate and are innumerable in the sport context (e.g., Competit teammates, sport structures). For example, the coach is ion Meitei Huyel Langlon considered to be one of the most important architects of the Academy, Manipur; motivational climate in sport. The guru or sintakpa mastery on AMLSVSPM, Amravati; Huyel Langlon Association the art to make the students involved in an art is also an Delhi; Thang Ta Manipur, important factor to have a positive task environment. Irena Association Haryana; Thang Delhi, 10 Ta Association Neemuch, M Maharastra, Martinkova (2019) expressed that motivation is emphasised P; Sivasagar District Thang Haryana, on fostering good manners and courtesy, and virtues such as Ta Association, Assam; Madhya civility, humility, modesty, chivalry, loyalty, courage and Gujarat Thang Ta Pradesh, 1st to Association; Goa Thang Ta Assam, bravery, respect for the self, for the opponent, for the master, 25th Association; Uttar Pradesh Gujarat, Goa, and possibly also for all sentient beings. Rachel B Sheehan and National Thang Ta Association; Uttar Pradesh, 11 Thang Ta Chamba District Thang Ta Himachal et al (2018) analysed that motivational climate had Champio Association, Himachal Pradesh, 1993 to 1 significant associations with basic psychological needs. A task nship/Co Pradesh; Rajasthan Thang Rajasthan, 2019 mpetition Ta Association; Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu, climate had positive relationships with competence, autonomy, / Thang Ta Association; Jharkand, and relatedness. A coach who endorses a task climate will instil Federat Jharkahnd Thang Ta Jammu belief in, support free will of, and empathize with athletes, ion Cup Association; J & K Thang Kashmir; Ta Association; Pondicherry Pondicherry; which lead to basic needs satisfaction.