Danta was designed with a foundation in short and medium stick attack and defense. Stemming from Hapkido, the advanced forms of Danta include weapon and baton techniques that are used in the military and police.
Danta in particular evolved from that to be a sport martial art incorporating a stick and shield. Participants would use these to attack and defend, scoring points by striking key vital areas that, should a real stick be used, would cause significant damage. These areas are the wrists, upper arms, lower legs, and head.
Match formats vary depending on the competition being run, but they are usually run on a 4m x 4m mat, with a time limit of between 2-3 minutes per round. The winner is the one with the most effective strikes on vital areas.
Click here for information on the World Danta Federation.