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WABUKAN Arsenal · Shields · India

Dhal

The round shield of the Indian subcontinent, made of metal or thick animal hide and often small enough to be used like a buckler.

Dhal
Dhal WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

dhal; phari (gatka); kedaham (kalaripayattu)

Origin and history

The dhal is the buckler or shield of the Indian subcontinent. It appears in the weapon list of gatka, the Sikh martial art, where the shield is also called phari (spelled dhaal there), and the warriors of Kerala who trained in kalaripayattu specialised in weapons that included the shield, called kedaham.

Martial arts that use it

Gatka Kalaripayattu

Construction

Round, about 20 to 61 cm across, flat or strongly convex, sometimes with a rolled edge. Hide versions used water buffalo, sambar deer, elephant or rhinoceros; rhinoceros hide was the most prized. Both types were carried together with a sword or dagger.

Basic techniques

Training

Shield work starts with how to hold and carry it: the grip, keeping it between you and the opponent, and moving behind it without dropping the guard. Blocks, covers and pushes are then drilled with a partner using wooden or padded weapons, slowly at first.

Safety

Check straps, grips and the rim before each session: a loose strap or a split board can injure the hand. Keep the top edge of the shield away from your partner’s face and wear a helmet for any contact work.

Legality (general information)

This is training or traditional equipment, not a weapon, and is generally free to buy and own. Clubs and federations may still set rules on approved models and condition. General information, not legal advice.

Did you know?

A 1936 description of gatka lists three kinds of bout, one of them with each player holding one stick and one shield.

More weapons

Targe Scutum Aspis (hoplon) Buckler Tinbe-rochin

Sources

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

  1. Wikipedia — Dhal (shield)
  2. Wikipedia — Gatka
  3. Wikipedia — Kalaripayattu