Revision 73538 of "ਗਤਕਾ" on pawiki

[[ਤਸਵੀਰ:Gatka Weapons.jpeg|thumb|500px|ਗਤਕੇ ਵਿਚ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਆਮ ਸ਼ਸਤਰ]]
ਗਤਕਾ ਇਕ ਹਿਦੁਸਤਾਨੀ ਜੰਗੀ ਕਲਾ ਯਾ ਸ਼ਸਤਰ ਕਲਾ ਦੇ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ । ਖਾਸ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਉਤਰੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚ ਇਹ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਜੰਗੀ ਕਲਾ ਦੇ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰਸਿਧ ਹੈ । ਅਜਕਲ ਪ੍ਰਚਲਤ ਕਿਸਮਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਗਤਕੇ ਦੀ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਸ਼ੈਲੀ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ । ਸਿਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਸਵੇਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ  ਨੇ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਸਤਰ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਿਖਰ ਤੇ ਪੁਚਾਇਆ । ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੁਣ ਤਕ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸਿਖ ਇਸ ਕਲਾ ਵਿਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਅਗੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ।

'''Gatka''' {{lang-pa|ਗਤਕਾ}}, ''{{IAST|gatkā }}'' ''(Meaning: one whose freedom belongs to grace)'', is a defensive and offensive [[martial art|Sikh martial art]]<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/27/stories/2006072712720300.htm Sikh martial art `Gatka' takes the West by storm.] ([[Press Trust of India]]). [[The Hindu]]</ref> associated with the [[Sikh]]s ''(but open to anyone)'' that focuses on infusing the physical martial art with both the spiritual and mental.  Gatka is also the name of a stick used for practicing sword fighting. Gatka originated in the [[Punjab region]] and was used by Sikh armies & forces against the [[Mughal]]s, primarily in reaction to oppressive or aggressive policies. Gatka is rarely used in combat today, and has evolved into a sport and exhibition form shown at Sikh festivals.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/27/stories/2006072712720300.htm Sikh martial art `Gatka' takes the West by storm.] ([[Press Trust of India]]). [[The Hindu]]</ref> ''Gat'': means grace, liberation, and respect in one's own power. ''Ka'': means one who belongs or one who is part of a group. 

[[Image:GatkaSikhProcessionBedford.JPG|thumb|left|Gatka demonstration at the head of a procession to celebrate the 538th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev]]

==Early development==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Guru HarGobind Singh.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Guru Hargobind encouraged martial practices and propagated the concept of a saint-soldier.]] -->

The system for the present day ''Gatka'' is derived from an older version of ''Shaster Vidiya'' (literally ''knowledge of the arms''). This system was used for military training by the Sikhs. According to tradition, the roots of this art can be traced to the founder of [[Sikhism]], [[Guru Nanak]], who received it through a divine summon.  Guru Nanak passed this art to [[Baba Buddha]], and stated that he would claim it back in his sixth form. The sixth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Hargobind]], received training in the ''Shaster Vidiya'' system from Baba Buddha. Baba Budha also trained an army of Sikh warriors, soldiers of the ''Akal Bunga'' (the Immortal Fort, built in 1606), known as the [[Akali]]s (Immortals).<ref name=Victoria>[http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/sikhism/art/military/vidiyar/index.html MILITARY SIKHS: The Education of a Sikh Warrior. Victoria and Albert Museum. ]</ref>

Guru Hargobind propagated the theory of the warrior-saint, and emphasized the need for his followers to engage in self-defense martial practices. Arrangements for training in martial arts and combat were made and the guru himself learnt the use of weapons.<ref>Williams, Rosetta (2007). Sikh Gurus Page 68. Har-Anand Publications</ref>

[[Guru Gobind Singh]], the 10th guru of the Sikh faith,  trained in the Sikh martial arts in Punjab. One of his achievements was the founding of [[Khalsa]], the collective society that galvanized the martial energies of the Sikh community.<ref>''Merriam Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia'' (2000) pg 662. Merriam-Webster</ref> In regards to training the Khalsa, he pledged that he would "teach the sparrow to fight the hawk". Both men and women were known to have practiced the art. There were and are no gender restrictions iterated by Sikh teachings or the Gurus.

Tradition holds that the Guru carried two swords, symbolizing the [[temporal]], as well as [[heavenly]] power. Later, this came to be known as ''Miri-Piri'', Miri ([[Emir]], a temporal leader); this solidified the belief that the Guru could engage in righteous armed struggle, and [[Pir]] (the [[Sufi]] word for a [[mysticism|mystic]]) designating a spiritual leader, acknowledging the Guru's religious standing.<ref>Dr Catherine Robinson (9 May 2005). Sikhism: sant-sipahi (soldier saints): Beliefs, martial ideals & military traditions. Proceedings of the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (Vol. 9 2005)</ref>

Guru Gobind Singh's Khalsa was a body of warriors dedicated to the Guru, outwardly defined by the uncut hair and other Sikh symbols. The Khalsa served as an armed wing to defend the Sikhs and others in the region in face of increasingly aggressive and intolerant policies. The Khalsa was involved in armed struggle against the armies of emperor [[Aurangzeb]] and his local allies.<ref>C. Shackle,
Arvind-pal Singh Mandair (2005). ''Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures''. Routledge</ref>

The men and women of the Khalsa were skilled fighters, and in many conflicts, came out ahead despite being severely outnumbered. Khalsa Sikhs were accustomed to view military service in terms of individual and collective honor. According to the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh, extreme courage and even death in the heat of battle was said to bring honor to the Sikh community.<ref>Heather, Streets (2004). ''Martial Races: The Military, Race And Masculinity In British Imperial Culture, 1857-1914'' pg 211-212. Manchester University
Press</ref>
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Banda Singh Bahadur.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Banda Singh Bahadur]], a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh and a Khalsa [[general]] -->, successfully captured areas of the Mughal empire.<ref>
"Banda Singh Bahadur." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 3 May 2007</ref>]]
Guru Gobind Singh altered the structure of the Sikh army in such a way that only a high ranking soldier of the Akali Sena was to be known as an Akali; the lower ranking soldier was called a ''Nihang'', or he who is not attached to life nor fears death.<ref name=Victoria/>

Following the establishment of the [[British Raj]], the traditional Sikh martial traditions and practitioners suffered greatly. The [[British India|British]] ordered effective disarmament of the entire Sikh community. Even tools and farming equipment were banned. The Sikhs who refused to surrender their weapons were punished severely by the British authorities. The traditional martial knowledge of the Sikhs, previously preserved to a high standard, almost ceased to exist in the Punjab.<ref name=Victoria/>

During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the Sikhs assisted the British in crushing the mutiny. As a consequence of this assistance, restrictions on martial practices were relaxed in the Punjab. However, the form of martial arts which re-emerged after 1857 in the Panjab had altered greatly.<ref name=Victoria/>

The new Shaster Vidiya was no longer designed to produce soldiers to serve in war. Instead, during the 1860s, it had evolved into a ritualistic martial art called Gatka (derived from the name of the weapon used, the sword training stick). Gatka was mainly practiced by the [[British Indian Army]]. As Sikh colleges opened in the Punjab during the 1880's, European rules of [[fencing]] were applied to Gatka, resulting in further evolution. This development led to the formation of two branches of Gatka, rasmi (ritualistic) and khel (sport) Gatka.<ref name=Victoria/>

==Combat Principles==

From the [[Zafarnama]], in which [[Guru Gobind Singh]] addresses [[Aurangzeb]] (translated from Persian):

<i> 22: "When all the stratagem employed for (solving) a problem are exhausted, (only) then taking your hand to the sword is legitimate." </i><ref name="Jasbir Singh">[http://www.zafarnama.com/]Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh (Retd)</ref>

Gat means grace, liberation, and respect in one's own power. Ka means one
who belongs or one who is part of a group. Gatka means one whose freedom belongs to grace. It was originally created along three principles:

* it had to be easy to learn.
* it had to make use of every possible weapon.
* it had to allow for fighting multiple opponents at once.

==Movement Patterns==
The foundation of the art is a movement methodology for the use of the feet, body, arms and weapons in unison. Gatka favors rhythmic movement, without hesitation, doubt or anxiety. The attacking and defense methods are based upon the positions of the hands, feet and weapon(s) during the dexterity regimen.<ref name=Singh>[http://www.atlantamartialarts.com/styles/gatka.htm Singh, Arjun (2006). Gatka. Atlanta Martial Arts Directory.]</ref>

Chanting holy verses may accompany these exercises. A three-beat-per-cycle is played by a drummer adds to the coordination during practice.<ref name=Singh/>

==Weapons==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Sikhs_with_chakrams.jpg|thumb|right|''Sikhs with [[chakram]]s'', inscribed "[[Nihang]] Abchal Nagar" (Nihangs from Hazur Sahib), 1844]] -->
Gatka is largely weapon-based. The three primary types of weapons used are:

*[[Sword]]s - [[Tulwar]]
* Sticks of [[bamboo]] (from one to three meters in length) - [[Lathi]]
* Flexible weapons, such as [[Whip (implement)|whips]] and chains.

Other widely used weapons are ''Barcha'' (spear), ''Choori'' (knife), ''Peshkarj'' (dagger-like knife), Tulwar, Lathi (staff), and [[Khanda (sword)|Khanda]].

The correct use of [[melee weapons]] is central to Gatka. The techniques vary with the nature of the weapon, such as the khanda (two-edged sword), the ''Tabar'' (axe) and the ''Barcha'' (spear). A common combination of Gatka is the sword and the shield; the [[lathi]] staff is also used commonly.<ref name=Singh/>

==Training==
Gatka groups may train in a religious or semi-religious situation, such as in a [[Gurdwara]] or in a Sikh institution. ''"Akharas"'', usually associated with [[Pehlwani]], have also been founded, with the exclusive purpose of teaching gatka.<ref name=Singh/>

Gatka students train with "both hands full", this is believed to be an excellent exercise for matching the two halves of the body. Gatka emphasizes having something in both hands, two sticks, a stick and a sword, a sword and a shield or any other combination.<ref name=Singh/>

The individual's preference for weapons, combination of weapons, and movement patterns leads to the development of individual fighting methods within Gatka.<ref name=Singh/>

==Outside India==

The system devised by  Captain [[William Ewart Fairbairn]] and Captain Eric Anthony Sykes borrowed methodologies from [[Jiu Jitsu]], Gatka, [[Kung Fu]] and ''Gutter Fighting.'' This method was used to train soldiers in close-combat techniques at the Commando Basic Training Centre, [[Achnacarry]], [[Scotland]].<ref name=Janson> O. Janson. Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting knife: The famous fightingknife used by British commandos and SOE during WW2. Gothia Arms Historical Society</ref>

Gatka is a stickfighting dance practiced by the Indians in [[Trinidad]].<ref>Milla Cozart Riggio (2004). ''Carnival: Culture in Action--the Trinidad Experience'' pg 289. Routledge</ref>

Sikh immigrants took the art to [[England]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2006/03/20/gatkaoldbury_2006_feature.shtml Gatka in Oldbury. British Broadcasting Corporation.]</ref> A famous display of Gatka was during the celebrations of [[Hola Mohalla]] in [[Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha]] in [[Hounslow]], [[west London]]; [[Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall]] was visibly shaken after the display of Gatka.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/14/nroyal14.xml Surely that man with the sword isn't. . . oh yes he is by Jonathan Petre (The Telegraph Online Edition)]</ref>

The art was also performed on the 2005, [[July 4]], Independence Day parade on
[[Constitution Avenue]], [[Washington DC]], [[United States]].<ref> Haniffa, Aziz (July 22, 2005). '' Sikhs participate in July 4 parade.''India Abroad.</ref>

==Notes==
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<references/>

== References ==
* '''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.  ISBN 0-89509-087-2

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