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Created page with ''''Sqay''' is a South Asian martial art from Kashmir which involves fighting with a sword and shield.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-04 |title=Sqay: Reviving an ancient Kashmiri Warfare Art Form |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/sports/sqay-reviving-an-ancient-kashmiri-warfare-art-form/3112826/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref> == Name == Sqay is believed to be a word from [...'

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'''Sqay''' is a [[South Asian martial arts|South Asian martial art]] from [[Kashmir]] which involves fighting with a sword and shield.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-04 |title=Sqay: Reviving an ancient Kashmiri Warfare Art Form |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/sports/sqay-reviving-an-ancient-kashmiri-warfare-art-form/3112826/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

== Name ==
Sqay is believed to be a word from [[Persian language|Persian]] meaning "knowledge of war".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=From Sqay’s Mythical Origins to Afreen Hyder’s Taekwondo Triumph |url=https://thekashmirimages.com/2023/09/16/from-sqays-mythical-origins-to-afreen-hyders-taekwondo-triumph/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Kashmir Images Newspaper |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
Sqay was historically practiced as a way to hunt and protect against wild animals, as well as for fighting invaders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ateet |date=2023-05-19 |title=Indian Army empowers Kashmiri girls to break barriers, embrace strength |url=https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/indian-army-empowers-kashmiri-girls-to-break-barriers-embrace-strength-143272.html |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Indianarrative |language=en}}</ref> It dates back to at least 4000 BCE.<ref name=":0" /> Kashmiri soldiers were required to practice sqay during the Muslim rule over Kashmir from 1325 to 1819 CE. In those times, sqay fell under the category of martial arts known as ''shamsherizen''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101213/cth2.htm |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=m.tribuneindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Experts |first=Arihant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ohvzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 |title=Indian Art & Culture |date=2018-04-20 |publisher=Arihant Publications India limited |isbn=978-93-5094-484-4 |language=en}}</ref> During British rule and afterwards, sqay's popularity greatly declined.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=K. R. |date=2023-05-27 |title=SQAY – an ancient martial art of Kashmir |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2023/05/28/sqay-an-ancient-martial-art-of-kashmir/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Kashmir Reader}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Nazir Ahmad Mir, a sqay grandmaster, played a significant role in reviving the martial art's popularity; he began promoting sqay from the 1980s onwards in Kashmir, and did international demonstrations in various countries. He eventually started an organisation which helped promote sqay globally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nazir Ahmad Mir: Athlete who introduced Kashmir’s Sqay martial arts to world |url=http://risingkashmir.com/nazir-ahmad-mir-athlete-who-introduced-kashmirs-sqay-martial-arts-to-world-5b2c74a5-dad0-40bf-b9e1-0567e62c6621 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=risingkashmir.com}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=SQAY Federation Congratulates Grandmaster |url=http://brighterkashmir.com//news/sqay-federation-congratulates-grandmaster |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Brighter Kashmir}}</ref>

Sqay will be included in the [[2023 National Games of India]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-17 |title=National Games: Record 43 disciplines get nod, beach football to debut, lagori is demo sport |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/national-games-record-43-disciplines-get-nod-beach-football-to-debut-lagori-is-demo-sport/articleshow/100286408.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-09-29 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=KHAN |first=ABID |date=2023-05-15 |title=37TH NATIONAL GAMES {{!}} ‘Inclusion of Pencak Silat, Sqay disciplines will benefit J&K athletes’ |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/sports/37th-national-games-inclusion-of-pencak-silat-sqay-disciplines-will-benefit-jk-athletes |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Greater Kashmir |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=K. R. |date=2023-09-03 |title=J&K Sqay Association conducts selection trials for 37th National Games |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2023/09/04/jk-sqay-association-conducts-selection-trials-for-37th-national-games/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Kashmir Reader}}</ref>

== Gameplay ==
The sword used in Sqay, known as a ''tura'', is made of bamboo with a leather cover. The shield, known as a ''bargula'', is made of leather.<ref name=":0" />

=== Variants ===
Sqay has two variants - a combative variant known as ''Loba'' and an artistic variant. The artistic variant can be performed without music (known as ''khawanky'') and the other with music (''aerosqay'').<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:South Asian martial arts]]

Sqay - Revision history