Although references to dagger exercises appear in sources as early as the beginning of the 18th century, these practices did not constitute independent martial arts; rather, they were integrated into wrestling. Despite this historical context, dagger training persists today, serving the same foundational purpose as other exercises namely, to develop footwork and body movement skills.

In Indian tradition, daggers were typically gripped with the blade pointing downward from the bottom of the fist. The underlying principles mirror those of the talwar: the hand is never fully extended, and all strikes follow a circular trajectory. When applied to the dagger, this technique produces tearing, rending strikes reminiscent of an animal’s claws — an imagery deeply rooted in Indian culture, particularly in association with the tiger. This connection is reflected in the nomenclature of weapons, which often include terms like “claws” and “teeth”.

Such strikes were not primarily intended to be lethal. The initial target was usually the opponent’s limbs, after which the fight’s outcome was determined through wrestling, concluding with a decisive “coup de grâce” delivered by the dagger. In essence, there was no formal fencing with daggers; the weapon served a secondary, though crucial, role.

As with all techniques, every tactical action is executed in coordination with a step and the transfer of weight from one foot to the other. During training, defensive actions typically involve parrying the armed opponent’s hand with the defender’s empty hand. In an actual combat scenario, this defense could escalate into a fierce counter-attack against the opponent’s weapon hand using one’s own dagger. However, the core principle remains consistent: all actions must adhere to the fundamental movements of the “pentra” in every instance.