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WABUKAN Arsenal · Swords · India

Talwar

The curved sword of northern India, with a disc-shaped pommel.

Talwar
Talwar WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

तलवार · tulwar; shamshir (related)

Origin and history

The talwar is the curved sword of northern India and Pakistan, widespread from the Mughal period (16th c.) onward. It is the classic sword of Rajput and Sikh warriors and is used in gatka.

Martial arts that use it

Gatka

Construction

A curved, single-edged blade of about 75–90 cm with a disc-shaped pommel and a short cross-guard; the small, enclosed grip locks the hand in place for cutting.

Basic techniques

Training

Beginners learn grip, posture and footwork first, then cutting and thrusting lines in solo forms or drills, usually with a wooden or blunt trainer. Paired drills with a partner come next, at slow speed, before any free sparring with protective gear.

Safety

Train with wooden, blunt or club-approved trainers; keep live blades for experienced practitioners under supervision. Check the blade, handle and fittings before every session, keep a clear space of at least two weapon lengths and never cut towards people.

Legality (general information)

Swords, knives and other edged weapons are regulated very differently from country to country (and sometimes from region to region): owning one at home is often allowed, while carrying it in public, buying it under a certain age or importing it may be restricted or banned. Practitioners usually transport them cased, out of reach and straight between home and dojo. This is general information, not legal advice: check the law where you live.

Did you know?

The disc pommel presses against the wrist, which favours drawing cuts rather than wide wrist movements.

More weapons

Khanda Kampilan Longsword Arming sword Messer Zweihänder

Sources

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

  1. Wikipedia — Talwar
  2. Wikipedia — Gatka