Thang-ta words · Beginner

A martial art with many styles of armed and unarmed fighting, performed in the old days by gurus with and without weapons. The rule book says its game is not like any other in the world. The sport rules cover the armed form, in which fighters use a soft stick instead of a sword.

The fighting events of Thang-Ta (phunaba means fighting). There are two styles, phunaba ama and phunaba anishuba.

The fighting style in which each fighter holds a phunachei (stick) and a chungoi (shield). Kicking is not allowed. Strikes above the belt score a mark, and dropping the stick or shield costs marks.

The fighting style with the phunachei but no chungoi, in which kicking is allowed. Any kick except a jumping kick is allowed, and kicks score extra.

The fighting stick, also called cheibee (phuna means fight and chei means stick): a cane stick covered with soft leather, used instead of a sword, with domed top and bottom. It is 2.6 ft long and 350 g for seniors, 2.3 ft and 300 g for juniors, and 2.0 ft and 250 g for sub-juniors, and must be approved by the technical committee.

The shield, made of thick leather and used in sport instead of an iron shield, 12 to 13 inches across, with the technical committee's approval.

Two rounds of three minutes with a one-minute interval, ended by the timekeeper's bell. Players are called three minutes before the bout. The central referee decides when to stop and restart play.

A strike or hit to any part of the body above the upper belt scores 1 mark. A fighter loses 3 marks if the chungoi falls or is dropped, 3 marks if the phunachei falls or is dropped, and 1 mark for stepping out of the arena outline. If marks are equal, the fighter who has been warned loses.

The same marks as phunaba ama, plus 2 marks for a kick above the upper belt and 2 for cutting the opponent's leg during a kick. A fighter can score at most three targets from Houro to Leppo, and any kick except a jumping kick is allowed.

The player with more marks wins. If equal, the one who has been warned loses. If equal with no warning, or the same number of warnings, a one-minute extra round decides, and if that fails, a toss decides with the players' consent.

The referee's caution for arguing, for threatening a falling or off-balance opponent, or for any of the faults. Three warnings in a bout mean disqualification.

The one referee inside the arena. The referee checks the dress and equipment, gives the commands, can replace broken equipment, imposes penalties and warnings, may end a contest when players are not in earnest, collects the score sheets and declares the winner as the chief jury indicates.