Gatka Gatka Gatka ( Urdu: "") is the name of an Indian martial art associated with the Sikhs of the Punjab region. It is a style of stick fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate swords. The Punjabi name "gatka" properly refers to the wooden stick used. The word originates as a diminutive of Sanskrit "gada" "mace". The style originated in later 19th century, out of sword practice in the British Indian Army, divided in two sub-style, called "rasmi" (ritualistic) and "khel" (sport) from the 1880s. There has been a revival during the later 20th century, with an International Gatka Federation
Indian martial arts flexible sword. The Marathas developed their fighting style based on the state's hilly geography. [[Mardani khel]] today teaches armed techniques for use in single combat as well as defense against several opponents. Other weapons include the sword, shield, spear, dagger, kukri, double deer horns, and bow and arrow. The Manipuri art of "huyen lalong" was once practiced by the state's indigenous hill tribes who would engage in duels governed by strict rules of conduct. The armed component called [[thang-ta]] is named after the system's main weapons, the "thang" (sword) and "ta" (spear). Practitioners spar through "cheibi gatka" in which a