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Gatka refers to the martial art used by Sikhs worldwide. Gatka is actually the name of a stick used to practice sword fighting.
The word Gatka is a slang expression coined in the nineteen hundreds to describe a number of stick, staff and sword styles made for use in public demonstrations. This was the original martial art of India known as Shastar Vidyaa. Shastra Vedia is the complete science of war from hand to hand combat to battlefield strategy.
There is no author or acknowledged teacher who originally developed this martial art. It emerged formally from its original birthplace in northern India during the time of Guru Hargobind Ji (early 1600s), who learnt and instructed his Sikhs to learn the martial art, they were also to do naam simran and recite the bani to balance the saint-solider scale.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji would bring the Vidyaa to its fruition. It is believed that he had mastered of all sixteen principals of the Vidyaa. By enjoining the spiritual tradition passed on to him through the nine successive Gurus and the knowledge contained within Shastar Vidyaa he created the basics of Sikh Dharma.
Previous to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Sikhs had the Adi Granth to this he added two other Granths, Sarab Lo Granth and Dhasam Granth which contain the martial tradition of the Vidyaa.
The marriage of these spiritual and temporal powers was embodied in the elite warriors known as Nihangs. Bhai Ranjit Singh was a Sikh king who ruled over Punjab for many years. He enlisted and trained some of the most dynamic Sikh warriors ever.
The Sikhs mastered Gatka and perfected its use in battle. Many battles were won by the Sikhs, despite almost always numbering far fewer than the opposite forces.
Opposing forces have documented how awesome these Sikhs were in battle!
One account said "These Sikhs are hit, hard enough for them to fall, but they stand up as if nothing happened and fight with even more power than before, these people are truly powerful warriors."
The Sikhs used Gatka in warfare for over 200 years, until they finally had their own rule, free from persecution from the Mughals who rested only when they were defeated. Since then, Gatka has been passed down amongst the Sikh generations, and is still alive up and down the UK and around the world
