Gatka speed and a variety of twirling maneuvres. This style of fighting was often used by peasants and commoners for whom the staff was a domestic tool and a convenient implement oself-defense. Stick-fighting or employs either the single or double stick. The stick or "danda" is generally the length of three handspans. Sticks and club-type weapons include the following. 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
Silambam of these texts was the "Kampu Sutra" (Staff Classic) which was said to record advanced fighting theories in verse. These poems and the art they described were allegedly passed on to other Siddha of the "Agastmuni akhara" (Agastya school) and eventually formed the basis of Silambam, siddha medicine, and the southern style of kalaripayat. References in the "Silappadikkaram" and other works of Sangam literature shows that silambam has been practiced as far back as the 2nd century BC. The bamboo staff - along with swords, pearls and armor - was in great demand with foreign traders, particularly those from Southeast