Baranta – the Hungarian martial art

In the 9th century, a new school of martial arts was formed by the nomadic tribes of Magyars. This new way was based on both hand-to-hand and armed combat. It is Baranta, one of the most complex fighting schools in Europe.

Though Baranta is mostly connected to Hungary, it borrows a bunch of elements from the fighting culture of other nations which wandering Magyars encountered along their journey like Scythians, Huns, Avars, Turks, Onogurs and Kazakhs. The word ‘Baranta’ means competition, challenge, preparation for combat or lawful violence, according to Baranta.gportal.hu.

The knowledge of Baranta is divided into two main branches: thug (infantry) and ráró (cavalry).

Both branches use a wide variety of weapons, some of which (e.g. fokos, saber) can only be learned to use after acquiring some skills with “prelude weapons” (e.g. sword, stick). Bows play a vital role in Baranta, but it is applied as a dynamic weapon. This means that it is never used among static circumstances but always during movement. A similar idea is taught in the case of mounted archery.

Tournaments and trainings provide opportunity to learn skills with bow, saber, sword, fokos, lance, sticks, knife, tether, shield and hatchet.

Learning horse-riding is essential for even the representatives of the infantry branch. 

The golden age of Baranta was between the 7th and 17th centuries. Three main eras are differentiated in the history of this martial art: the nomad era, the Árpád era and the border guard era.

The decline of Baranta is mostly connected to regulations and prohibitions of martial arts and fighting schools, mostly introduced by the Habsburgs. A part of the movements survived only in dances, traditions, books and artistic depictions.