Gurdwara GNP Gatka Club

Gatka (Punjabi: ਗਤਕਾ, gatkā ) is a traditional Sikh martial art. Gatka was handed down from the period of the 6th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Sahib (early 17th century). Gatka emerged formally from its original birthplace in the Punjab region of northern India. 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

Unfortunately much of it has been lost and what is left primarily exists only through oral tradition.

The Sikhs mastered Gatka and perfected its use in battle. Many hundreds, if not thousands, of battles were decisively won by the Sikhs, despite often being outnumbered. The techniques within Gatka were combined with the spiritual practices of the Sikhs to create a complete fighting system. Opposing forces are documented to have cursed the Sikhs for their skills in fighting.

The Sikhs actively used Gatka in warfare for over 200 years, until they finally enjoyed peace under their own rule, free from the Mughal Empire. Since then, Gatka has been passed down as a tradition amongst the Sikh generations. With the emigration of Sikhs to western countries such as the UK, Gatka has grown again in the hearts and minds of the new generation of Sikhs. Now, in the 21st century, martial artists in the West are slowly beginning to recognize Gatka and inquire about it.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatka

To view when the Gatka club is run at the gurdwara please view our Weekly Programme.