HISTORY OF SQAY
ANCIENT TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ART OF KASHMIR
INTRODACTION
Sqay is a South Asian Martial arts form of sword-fighting originating in Ancient Kashmir.
Folklore traces it to remote antiquity several thousand years ago, as far back as the ancient Kashmiri flood myth. The Shaivite snake-worshipping Naga people are said to have created the art prior to the Indo-Aryan invasions, and it was later patronized by kings. The first written evidence of sqay dates to the Muslim period when Persian writings told of sabre-fighting (shamsherizen) in Kashmir. The word sqay itself is first recorded in this period, and is said to mean "knowledge of war” Or speed. in the war techniques. Sqay first began to decline in the colonial period but its popularity suffered more during the post-independence Kashmir conflict. In the 1980s, the sqay Grandmaster Mir Nazir Ahmed feared that the art would go extinct, and so introduced modern types of competition techniques to save and develop this art in world arena as kashmiri traditional and cultural martial art by forming new competitive rules and techniques in world arena. . for preparing the rules and regulations for the comparative events the International Council Of Sqay have allowed the system to be promoted on national and international level.
Description
Armed sqay makes use of a curved single-edge sword paired with a shield, or one sword in each hand. Unarmed techniques incorporate kicks, punches, locks and chops. Sqay have different techniques single sword double sword free hand techniques and lessons of both free hand and sword.Sqay competition typically involves combat fight one to one with Tura a fiber stick and a shield made of soft leather and the other events are introduced Artistic sqay techniques singe and group with and without music
BRIEF HISTORY OF SQAY
Kashmir known as the valley of dreams and paradise on the earth. Kashmir has its own ancient cultural background and is famous for its cultural beauty, mountains, lakes, gardens and crafts. The history of “SQAY” can be traced in early days of Kashmir history, when man learnt to protect himself from wild animals, individually or collectively.
Before 4012 B.C Sqay Martial Art was used by kashmiri’s to protect themselves and used this art for kill animals for their food purposes. But after 3905 B.C the king “Diya Dev” introduced the training of this art to the soldiers for protection of Kashmir from enemies and give strict orders to follow up these rules to soldiers.
In 3889 B.C, a storm had destroyed whole Kashmir. The storm was known as (Tophani Nuh A.S). Storm of Nuh A.S, That storm had destroyed whole nation. The few people were alive in (Kohistans) forests of Kashmir. They used this art for protection themselves from wild animals and enemies, and using this art for killing animals for food purposes individually or collectively. After the storm of Nuh A.S when the Kashmir was rebuilt in the period of Kashwap Reshi then there was the democratic government.
The king of Kashmir “Puran Karan” started the training of “SQAY Martial Art for their soldiers’ and made it compulsory. In 3121 B.C king “Oukhand” was the king of Kashmir. In this period, a big war destroyed some parts of Kashmir. After 3121 B.C Kashmir was safe from invaders up to 1324 A.D. In 1324 A.D, Kashmir was once again attacked and this time the king “Zavel Qader Khan” Tatari defeated the king of Kashmir.
During the Muslim period from 1325 A.D to 1819 A.D, the SQAY Martial Art training was compulsory for Kashmiri soldiers. These martial arts were known as Kashmiri Sabre fighters or kashmari “Shamsherizen”.
After the 1819 A.D due to the poor intention of government, the ancient traditional war art of Kashmir was not developed and popularity thus vanishing this art of defense from Kashmir..
Grandmaster Mir Nazir Ahmad worked hard to promote and re-introduce this ancient war art of Kashmir in world arena in a new form of sports so he decided to make a organization for the promotion of sqay in world and made the new guidelines and rules and regulations for competitive purpose of this art in world arena for this on 7thmay 1987 in formed a organization International Council Of Sqay. Now we are working hard to develop this ancient traditional cultural indigenous Martial art in world arena by conducting sports competitions of this art. We hope within the limited period of time it will get popularity in world arena like other martial arts.
We Kashmiri’s must not forget that we have our indigenous martial art which is not below the standard of other martial arts.
Kashmir known as the valley of dreams and paradise on the earth. Kashmir has its own ancient cultural background and is famous for its cultural beauty, mountains, lakes, gardens and crafts. The history of “SQAY” can be traced in early days of Kashmir history, when man learnt to protect himself from wild animals, individually or collectively.
Before 4012 B.C Sqay Martial Art was used by kashmiri’s to protect themselves and used this art for kill animals for their food purposes. But after 3905 B.C the king “Diya Dev” introduced the training of this art to the soldiers for protection of Kashmir from enemies and give strict orders to follow up these rules to soldiers.
In 3889 B.C, a storm had destroyed whole Kashmir. The storm was known as (Tophani Nuh A.S). Storm of Nuh A.S, That storm had destroyed whole nation. The few people were alive in (Kohistans) forests of Kashmir. They used this art for protection themselves from wild animals and enemies, and using this art for killing animals for food purposes individually or collectively. After the storm of Nuh A.S when the Kashmir was rebuilt in the period of Kashwap Reshi then there was the democratic government.
The king of Kashmir “Puran Karan” started the training of “SQAY Martial Art for their soldiers’ and made it compulsory. In 3121 B.C king “Oukhand” was the king of Kashmir. In this period, a big war destroyed some parts of Kashmir. After 3121 B.C Kashmir was safe from invaders up to 1324 A.D. In 1324 A.D, Kashmir was once again attacked and this time the king “Zavel Qader Khan” Tatari defeated the king of Kashmir.
During the Muslim period from 1325 A.D to 1819 A.D, the SQAY Martial Art training was compulsory for Kashmiri soldiers. These martial arts were known as Kashmiri Sabre fighters or kashmari “Shamsherizen”.
After the 1819 A.D due to the poor intention of government, the ancient traditional war art of Kashmir was not developed and popularity thus vanishing this art of defense from Kashmir..
Grandmaster Mir Nazir Ahmad worked hard to promote and re-introduce this ancient war art of Kashmir in world arena in a new form of sports so he decided to make a organization for the promotion of sqay in world and made the new guidelines and rules and regulations for competitive purpose of this art in world arena for this on 7thmay 1987 in formed a organization International Council Of Sqay. Now we are working hard to develop this ancient traditional cultural indigenous Martial art in world arena by conducting sports competitions of this art. We hope within the limited period of time it will get popularity in world arena like other martial arts.
We Kashmiri’s must not forget that we have our indigenous martial art which is not below the standard of other martial arts.
