Gatka

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Gatka (Template:Langx; Template:Langx; Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is a form of martial art associated primarily with the Sikhs of the Punjab and other related ethnic groups, such as Hindkowans and Pahari-Pothwari.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> It is a style of stick-fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate swords.<ref name=Draeger>Template:Cite book</ref> The Punjabi name, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, refers to the wooden stick used and this term might have originated as a diminutive of a Sanskrit word, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, meaning "mace".<ref>Ananda Lal, The Oxford companion to Indian theatre, Oxford University Press (2004), Template:ISBN, p. 129.</ref>

The stick used in Gatka is made of wood and is usually Template:Convert long, with a thickness of around Template:Convert. It comes with a fitted leather hilt, Template:Convert and is often decorated with Punjabi-style multi-coloured threads.<ref name=":0" />

The other weapon used in the sport is a shield, natively known as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. It is round in shape, measuring Template:Convert, and is made of dry leather. It is filled with either cotton or dry grass to protect the hand of player in case of full contact hit by an opponent.<ref name=":0" />

Gatka originated in the Punjab in the 15th century. There has been a revival during the later 20th century, with an International Gatka Federation was founded in 1982 and formalized in 1987, and gatka is now popular as a sport or sword dance performance art and is often shown during Sikh festivals.<ref name="hindu.com">Template:Cite news</ref>

HistoryEdit

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World Gatka Cup

File:Two Sikh men dueling with wooden swords. Watercolour by an Indian artist.jpg

Two Sikh men dueling with wooden swords. 19th century watercolour by an Indian artist.

Originally, Gatka existed as a style under one branch (known as an aṅg) of the wider Shastar Vidya martial art system.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite book</ref> Gatka originated as a stick-fighting style known as Gatkabazi under the Gadā yudh (stick/club fighting) branch of Shastar Vidya.<ref name=":7" /> Gatka's theory and techniques were taught by the Sikh gurus. It has been handed down in an unbroken lineage of ustāds (masters), and taught in many akharas (arenas) around the world. Gatka was employed in the Sikh wars and has been thoroughly battle-tested. It originates from the need to defend {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (righteousness), but is also based on the unification of the spirit and body: miri piri). It is, therefore, generally considered to be both a spiritual and physical practice.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the art was banned by the new British administrators of India in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Sikhs assisted the British in crushing the mutiny. As a consequence of this assistance, restrictions on fighting practices were relaxed, but the Punjabi martial arts which re-emerged after 1857 had changed significantly.Template:Cn The new style applied the sword-fighting techniques to the wooden training-stick. It was referred to as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, after its primary weapon. Gatka was used mainly by the British Indian Army in the 1860s as practice for hand-to-hand combat. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of the Government of India has included Gatka, with three other indigenous games, namely {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, as part of the planned Khelo India Youth Games 2021, expected to be held in Haryana.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This is a national sports event in India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The IOA plans to include Gatka in the 37th National Games of India in 2023 held in Goa.Template:Cn

CompetitionEdit

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (meaning "sport" or "game") is the modern competitive aspect of gatka, originally used as a method of sword-training ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) or stick-fighting ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) in medieval times. While {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} gatka is today most commonly associated with Sikhs, it has always been used in the martial arts of other ethno-cultural groups. It is still practiced in India and Pakistan by the Tanoli and Gujjar communities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Influence on DefenduEdit

The Defendu system devised by Captain William E. Fairbairn and Captain Eric Anthony Sykes borrowed methodologies from Gatka, jujutsu, Chinese martial arts and "gutter fighting". This method was used to train soldiers in close-combat techniques at the Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry in Scotland.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

Nanak Dev Singh Khalsa & Sat Katar Kaur Ocasio-Khalsa (1991) Gatka as taught by Nanak Dev Singh, Book One – Dance of the Sword (2nd Edition). GT International, Phoenix, Arizona. Template:ISBN
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Olaf Janson (2015) Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife: The famous fighting knife used by British commandos and SOE during WW2. Gothia Arms Historical Society

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