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WABUKAN Arsenal · Bows and throwing · India

Chakram

A sharpened steel ring thrown like a disc. Nihang Sikh warriors carry chakrams on their tall turbans.

Chakram
Chakram WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

ਚੱਕਰ · chakar; quoit

Origin and history

The chakram is a flat steel ring with a sharp outer edge, thrown or spun on the finger. It is strongly associated with Sikh warriors (Akali Nihangs), who wear several on their tall turbans, and is part of gatka demonstrations.

Martial arts that use it

Gatka

Construction

A ring of steel or brass of about 12–30 cm in diameter with a sharpened outer edge; Nihang turbans may carry chakrams of different sizes.

Basic techniques

Training

Ranged weapons are trained on a range with a safe backstop: stance, grip, release and breathing are repeated until the movement is identical every time. Distance increases only after the form is stable.

Safety

Only shoot or throw on a supervised range with a safe backstop, never towards anything you would not want to hit, and never retrieve while others are shooting or throwing.

Legality (general information)

Bows, throwing blades and similar weapons are often legal to own but may only be used on approved ranges or under club rules; some throwing weapons (such as shuriken or throwing stars) are banned outright in several countries. This is general information, not legal advice: check local law and your federation’s rules.

Did you know?

Hindu art often shows the god Vishnu holding a spinning disc, the Sudarshana Chakra.

More weapons

Yumi Shuriken Gakgung

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Chakram
  2. Wikipedia — Gatka