Moraingy

Moraingy is an unarmed, bare-fisted striking style of traditional martial art from Madagascar.

Participation in this combat form was originally limited to young men, providing them opportunity to gain prestige and test their abilities, while allowing elders to judge their physical skills. Participants are called kidabolahy (young men) or kidabo mpanao moraingy (young people who practice moraingy) and are widely respected by fellow villagers. In the North, they are called Fagnorolahy, and the assistants, magnafo. Today, the sport is no longer restricted by gender.

The forms of this combat game is known as mrengé in Comoros, morengy in Madagascar, and moringue in Réunion.^[1] Mrengé, believed to be the oldest, is a furious fight using fists, kicks, grabbing and headbutts.^[1]

There is only one other known African combat game that uses similar kicking techniques to moraingy: engolo, which is played in Angola.^[2]