Nidar Singh Nihang
Nidar Singh Nihang | |
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ਨਿਡਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਹੰਗ | |
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Born | 1967 (age 53–54) |
Nationality | British |
Education | Wrestling, Weapons, Meditation |
Occupation | Scholar, Martial Artist |
Years active | 2000–present |
Known for | Shastar Vidya |
Board member of | Shastar Vidya Akhara |
Nidar Singh Nihang (Punjabi: ਨਿਡਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਹੰਗ; born 1967 in Wolverhampton) is a British scholar, martial artist and grandmaster (Gurdev) of the ancient Indian martial art of Shastar Vidya.[1]
Career[]
Nidar Singh Nihang is the only teacher & last surviving master of Shastar vidiya and the ninth teacher of the Shastar Vidya Akhara - a martial arts school originally founded in 1661 by Baba Darbara Singh[2] and has been training 70 hours a week for 30 years.[3]
He regards the Sikh community as the current custodian of Shastar Vidya which has been looked after by many different creeds and cultures over thousands of years[4] and is looking for a successor to ensure the survival of the art form.[citation needed] His teachings include the idea that at the core of Shastar Vidya is meditation on the infinite and to see God/the infinite in all things.[5]
Nidar has authored the book ‘In the Master's Presence - The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib’[6] and also teaches Shastar Vidya throughout the UK[7] and has set up centres in Italy and India.[8] The art form includes learning the use of weapons such as swords[9] and chakrams.[10]
Prior to becoming a full-time martial arts instructor he worked as a factory worker[11] to support his wife and 4 children. He lives in Wolverhampton and is searching for a successor.[12]
Early life[]
Nidar met his martial arts teacher Baba Mohinder Singh by accident on a family trip to India when he was 17 and gave up higher education for the chance to study the art full-time with his teacher for 11 years.[13]
References[]
- ^ Laws, Roz (2011-10-23). "Wolverhampton dad is last Sikh warrior". birminghammail. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
- ^ "WATCH: Nidar Singh Nihang Revives The Deadly Sikhs Martial Art Of Shastar Vidya Banned By The British Raj". www.darpanmagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
- ^ "Seminar on 'The Sikh Art of War' - Shastar Vidiya". SikhNet. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
- ^ "British Sikhs revive deadly art banned by the Raj". Reuters. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
- ^ ""Could you be the next Sikh warrior?"". BBC Guides. Archived from the original on 2017-06-10.
- ^ "In the Master's Presence In the Master's Presence In the Master's Presence: History History: v. 1 History: v. 1 v. 1 by Nidar Singh Nihang, Parmjit Singh | Waterstones". www.waterstones.com. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
- ^ "Akhara Locations - Sanatan Shastar Vidiya". www.shastarvidiya.org. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
- ^ "Last master standing". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
- ^ World of Martial Arts Television (2012-12-02), Martial Arts Secrets Revealed Battlefield Shastar Vidya Masterclass Pt1, retrieved 2019-03-24
- ^ Shastarvidiya on Discovery Channels Weapon Masters, retrieved 2019-03-24
- ^ "UK factory ex-worker is last Sikh martial art master". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
- ^ "World's last Sikh warrior - who lives in Wolverhampton". 2011-11-08. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
- ^ Hegarty, Stephanie (2011-10-30). "The only living master of a dying martial art". Retrieved 2019-03-23.
External links[]
- English male mixed martial artists
- People from Wolverhampton
- 1967 births
- Living people
- British people of Punjabi descent
- English Sikhs