Gatka
ਗੱਤਕਾThe martial art of the Sikh Punjab, named after the wooden stick with a leather grip. It belongs to the Khalsa tradition, the brotherhood established in the seventeenth century.
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About Gatka
Gatka is the martial art of the Sikh Punjab, named after the wooden stick with a leather grip on which it is trained. Historically it belongs to the tradition of the Khalsa — the martial brotherhood established in the 17th century by Guru Hargobind and Guru Gobind Singh as the Sikh community began to defend itself against Mughal pressure. It is practised in motion. The foundation is a continuous step in time with drums, out of which come cuts, parries and work with two weapons at once. Besides the stick it uses the talwar, the kirpan, the staff and the chakram, a metal ring spun around the finger and thrown. Gatka is most visible at Sikh festivals, above all at Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib, where it is performed as part of the celebration — with spinning weapons, acrobatics and music. In the 20th century a sporting form emerged with rules, points and protective gear, competed in India and among the Sikh diaspora. It is fair to add that some traditional practitioners distinguish gatka from shastar vidya. In their view gatka is the training and display form, while shastar vidya is the older combat system from which it came — one transmitted narrowly and away from public demonstration.
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