Master Khilton is internationally renowned for Thang Ta  and was the first to ever teach the art form outside of Manipur. An ancient East Indian art, “Thang” means sword and “Ta” means spear, but Khilton has embodied it to mean so much more. Taking this 3000 year old art to the international stage in Germany, U.K and India, Khilton has been described as “…a remarkable example of speed, sword reflex and grace.” Thang-ta is an indigenous martial art that teaches self-defense, ceremonial and practical weapon use, unarmed grappling, and holistic mind-body connection. 

Working variously with director Ratam Thiyam, modern dance companies, and the Devi Dance Theater, Khilton is a skilled choreographer as well as educator and performer. A disciple of the late Ojah Debabrata Sinam, he has trained in Thang-ta, Kalaripayattu, theater, and many other martial arts forms since 1981. As Oja Debo’s principle disciple, he also received training from Oja Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra, Oja Potashangbam Manikchand, Oja Pebam Ibomcha, Oja Birjit Ngangomba, Oja Khaiden Momon, and Oja Mutum Achou.

A son within a large family, Khilton followed the examples set by his mother and grandmother, learning carpentry, weaving, and countless other lessons of resilience. Inspired by the fighters within his family and community, he tried boxing, and a few years later, began learning Thang-Ta full time. By age 16, he was learning at the most advanced level within Oja Debo’s academy, and had begun collaborating with Manipuri renowned playwright and activist Dr. Lokendra Arambam on cutting edge performances. With Dr. Arambam’s support and guidance, he was able to begin touring, teaching, and demonstrating internationally– a journey that would ultimately lead him to teach at Sutradhar. Within his upbringing, he received wisdom by observing, being, and doing, not just by rote memorization, and he is now a staunch advocate for the philosophical as well as physical aspects of the art form. He works to record and pass on these arts for the next generation. 

Khilton was admitted to the Conseil International De La Danse (a body of UNESCO), for the year 2020, and has performed at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Centre, as well as internationally at the Royal Festival Hall, Peacock Theatre in the UK, and Tanzehaus, in Dusseldorf, Germany. Awarded the UNESCO, Aschberg Bursary in 1995. His writing and interviews on kinesiology have been published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts and The Sangai Express.