Martial arts are a part of India’s ancient culture and traditional games. Indian martial arts can be divided into northern and southern styles.
| Martial Art | Description |
| Kalarippayattu | A martial art from Kerala. It is practiced in most parts of south India. A kalari is the school or training hall where martial arts are taught. It includes strikes, kicks and some weapon-based practice. Footwork patterns are most important key in Kalarippayattu. |
| Silambam | A weapon-based martial art from Tamil Nadu. Use of animal movements of snake, tiger, eagle forms and footwork patterns. |
| Gatka | A weapon-based martial art created by Sikhs of Punjab.Weapons used: Stick, Talar, kripan and kataar. Attacking & defense methods are based upon positions of hands, feet and nature of weapons used. Played by two opponents wielding wooden staves called gatka. These sticks may be paired with a shield. Points are scored for contacting the stick. It is based on principle of unification of the mind, body and spirit in a rhythm of life to train a saint-soldier to be able to defend himself/herself. |
| Musti yuddha | It is unarmed martial art from “Varanasi “, UP. Techniques used: Punch, kick, knee & elbow strikes. |
| Thang Ta | Ancient Manipuri martial art, also known as Huyen lallong. Swords (Thang) and spears (Ta) are used in it. It is a strong yet gracefully sophisticated art.Practitioners spar through cheibi gatka in which a foam sword is used together with a shield. |
| Lathi | Lathi is an ancient armed martial art of India practiced in Punjab and Bengal. A stick is used in this.One of the oldest weapons used in martial arts. |
| Mardani Khel | An armed martial art created by the Maratha. Practiced in Kolhapur region of Maharashtra. |
| Pari-khanda | A style of sword and shield fighting from Bihar. Pari-khanda steps are also used in Chau dance. |