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| General Information |
Baranta is a Hungarian martial art created from traditional Hungarian fighting techniques and folklore. According to Stephen Faris, author for The Atlantic, baranta is “a fighting style based on a hybrid of Hungarian folk dancing, Mongolian wrestling, and the imagined combat skills of its practitioners’ warrior ancestors” (Faris, 2016). Baranta consists of two parts, cavalry and infantry (Csula-Albert, 2016).
Baranta is a form of fighting without intention to hurt or kill the other party.
According to the National Baranta Association around 2500 people are practicing baranta (Országos Baranta Szövetség, s.d.). |
| History/Development |
Baranta is based on Hungary’s historical fighting arts, traditions and culture which experienced a golden era between the 7th and the 17th century. Many of them disappeared due to regulations and prohibitions, but often survived in dances, books, and visual depictions (Lajtai-Szabó 2017). But the current practice dates back to the early 1990s. A group of curious Hungarians started to delve into their past and created baranta. Since historical facts are scarce many of it is based on imagination of the participants. In Hungary there is a rise of nationalism going hand in hand with xenophobia and authoritarianism. On the positive end of this current trend we can find an interest in traditionalism history, this is where baranta finds its origin (Faris 2016).In 2002 the Hungarian Baranta Association was established. |
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(Policies/institutions) |
The baranta community consists of about 2500 people. Outside of Hungary there are also teams in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine. Hungarians in Germany, Switzerland and the USA are also forming communities. Members are of all ages, but mostly university and high school students (Csula-Albert 2016). |
| Relevant Organisations |
- Országos Baranta Szövetség (Baranta Traditional Hungarian Martial Arts Association)https://www.baranta.org/ |
| Additional Materials |
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| References |
- Faris, S. (2016). “Big in Hungary: Whips and Axes - An ancient style of fighting makes a comeback”, The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/big-in-hungary-whips-and-axes/419103/
- Csula-Albert, A. (2016) Baranta: martial arts of Hungary” Make Heritage Fun. (https://www.makeheritagefun.com/baranta-martial-arts-of-hungary/)
- Lajtai-Szabó, G. (2017). “Baranta – the Hungarian martial art”, Daily News Hungary. https://dailynewshungary.com/baranta-hungarian-martial-art/ | | |
