- Torstar Network
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- Aug 13, 2009 - 9:33 AM
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3
New interest in ancient art 
In training. Students at the Yudh Gatka Akhara school use a Soti, a stick used in training in place of an edged weapon, in Gatka, an ancient form of martial arts for the Sikhs.
Torstar Network Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/get-involved/26282-new-interest-in-ancient-art.html
Gatka, the traditional Sikh martial art dating back to the early 17th century, has seen a rejuvenation in the past few years, thanks largely to South Asian immigrants to Mississauga and Brampton.
Originally practised by the Sikhs in India to defend against invaders, it's a sort of cross between fencing and tag. It's ferocious, yet lyrical.
Duellers mostly use wooden sticks — about a half-metre long — or swords called gatka.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26282
Sikhs brought gatka here with them. Like other traditions, it was almost lost in transition.
But recently, it has seen a resurgence. Dozens of Sikhs — men and women of all ages — have signed up for classes at Sikh temples across the GTA, and the province's only gatka school in Mississauga is almost filled to capacity.
The biggest surprise is the interest non-Sikhs have shown in gatka.
Sarabjeet Singh, owner and instructor at the Yudh Gatka Akhara school on Khalsa Dr., near Dixie and Derry Rds. in Mississauga, says he almost choked when a Caucasian man first walked in about a year ago wanting to enrol.
"My first question was: Why?" he said. The man, a bus driver in Brampton, said he became interested after watching his neighbour do gatka. The man was Singh's student for several months.
He has taught half a dozen non-Sikh students. Each one has been impressive, he says.
Singh, a former instructor for a class at the Dixie Rd. Sikh temple in Mississauga, decided to start a school. His gym had few students initially.
But currently he has 120 students; another 300 have learned from him in the past four years.
Gatka is old but is still applicable in today's world, says Singh.
"That is its appeal."
Although gatka teaches defence and offence tactics, it is also about treating other people and weapons with respect.
It was definitely love at first sight with gatka for Jacob Maxwell, his friends say.
The 21-year-old York University student was having lunch at the student centre when he peeked outside and saw men in colourful turbans, holding sticks and swords, form a circle.
He watched intently as they performed mock duels with acrobatics and a bit of wrestling.
The same evening, Maxwell enrolled in a gatka class.
"It's the most fantastic thing I've ever done," he says, three months and dozens of classes later.
Gursharn Gill, a fourth-year student at McMaster University, and a student of Singh's, says the duelling helps her focus.
During a recent class, she duels with a man slightly larger than her. It goes on for a few minutes, then she loses her balance and almost topples over. Amid shouts of encouragement in Punjabi, she regains balance and slowly moves in a circle with her opponent as they try to tap each other with their sticks.
Suddenly she brings her stick down on his, disarming him.
She briefly hugs him, lines up in front of a low counter and does a little hop-dance — like Bhangra — and reverently places the stick.
She returns to the school twice a week to duel.
"It's intense physically but it helps me relieve stress."
mississauganews@live.com
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