Pictures of "My" Katar

R

ruel

Joined
Nov 22, 1999
Messages
532
Hello,

There was mention of katars here recently, and I wanted to show pictures of a Katar that I am purchasing from Mr. Artzi Yarom, the fine gentleman from Oriental Arms (see eBay under "oriental-arms"). This one has a damascus blade which is chiseled with elephants in relief; while the sidebars have an gold floral pattern.

Since I don't know how to post pix, please follow these links:
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/400.JPG http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/400a.JPG http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/400b.JPG
 
Will, I think they're supposed to protect the user's wrist and forearm. I think it has also been said that they can be used to snare an opponent's blade.

[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 10 December 1999).]
 
I used to own another old Katar before and had tried it out. I always hear that the Katar is used to punch through chain-mail, and that's probably true.

What I find hard to accept is its usefulness while standing and fighting, because your wrist is locked into an unnatural position between the sidebars. Throwing punches become akward, and worse, if the point doesn't go straight in, it will pivot and either of the sidebars will ram into your forearm. It hurts!

I think that it was probably used as a weapon of last resort, ie., when you were too close to use a sword. If you're close enough to grapple with your opponent, you can hold his head down and throw some quick uppercuts with the Katar into his torso. Or, if the fight goes to the ground, you can lock him up/pin him down and throw some punches into him there.

It's also been said that they were used to hunt tigers, but if you were that close to the tiger, you were pretty much dead anyway! (More power to the tiger!)

ruel
 
I'll ask my instructor's opinion since he's got a katar. Besides being a good weapon of ambush, I think the punches would be short, piercing moves as opposed to haymakers.
The sidebars can also be used against the holder as well as his opponent as a means of leverage.
 
1. Good point, Will! :-)

2. Smoke: What style does your instructor teach? An Indian art, such as Ghatka or Kalaripayyat? Is the katar one of its weapons?

I think you're right about the short punches. It seems that the wrist needs to turn for long punches, and you just can't do it with the Katar's sidebars there.
 
Ruel, I'm taking Wing Chun Kung Fu but my instructor and I learned Filipino Escrima from the same teacher. While training, some students researched and incorporated Western fencing type techniques into their training. Through them I've been able to play with various weapons both Asian and Western.

The katar is one dagger that I've played with and against. I know what it's like to have the point go through my shirt like it wasn't there or feel the blade cut through my clothing.
 
Campfire stories I heard about katars made me think they were primarily weapons used in ambush. You know, hiding up in the tree and then jumping down on your enemy and giving him a quick shot with the "Baghko nanga."

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
Yes, the 'bagh nakh' tiger claw was used in a famous incident by Shivaji, the first Marattha king, to ambush his Mughal rival Azaf Khan. Apparently, Smoke knows something the Mughal general didn't, because Smoke obviously survived but Khan didn't!
 
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