gatka criticism

answered 2012-11-06 08:13:41 -0500

kanwaljit.singh
1968 ●4 ●28 ●57

The techniques and art you see in most nagar kirtans is of display category. You just show how good you are with handling a sword, a staff, jaal, battle axe or chakkar. The art of fighting is really deep. There is so much knowledge to absorb about the grip of weapon, stance, footwork, areas to hit, jumps, tricks, use of speed, defence, single/double weapon attacks etc.

answered 2012-11-07 00:33:31 -0500

jas15283
1234 ●10 ●19 ●34

updated 2012-11-07 00:34:40 -0500

Rightly said....there's a lot more to gatka than any one of us has known or probably know.

Any martial art including gatka teaches you a lot. It helps you get disciplined, gain good focus, fitness and most importantly teaches you to self defence. Offence, as we call it, is an unfortunate personal choice. If approached in right manner, the martial art will help you curb the instincts of offence also, that is when you learn the true essence of it.

One thing that I have learnt till now is that easiest thing to do today is to criticize. You may have a valid point and the one you are criticising may definitely be wrong, but the moment you set your foot on the criticism button .... you neither help the other nor yourself...and definitely not the cause.

I am sure that the Nihang that you talk about and the folks that he might be criticising donot mean any harm to gatka. Both surely want to propagate the Guru Saheb's daat. Ways can differ and they will, and our habit - we get caught in trying to propagate a way .....the cause takes the biggest dent.

To one who doesnot know gatka and wants to learn it, these things can confuse him. One who doesnot want to learn...these things will not make a big difference(he may feel bad for the a daat from Guru Saheb is being talked about in not a rightful manner) but the effect may not stay long.

To those who know it, practice it, may fall for trying to prove their perspective of it.

Only appeal is not to get in the debates of trying to prove your side of point. If I have one jewel and you have one too, it'll be two if we come together, otherwise we'll continue having one only(who knows lose it also someday). Any vidya including this one is limitless. Keep learning for your name is a learner.

answered 2019-11-10 13:41:39 -0500

AtmaJodha Singh
1

Gatka is not a part of Gurbani. It is not a divinely revealed martial art. I agree with those who say that there is no superior martial art, only superior martial artists/warriors. Dogma and ritualism in martial arts are what get people killed and injured in real-life conflict. Cross-training in multiple arts and styles is a wonderful approach and the one I have practiced throughout my own life. Ideally, a warrior's focus is on what works in reality and what is the most functional for his own unique body type, preferred weapon, environment, and most common opponents.

There is nothing wrong with critiquing a system or style as long as it's not rooted in ego or puffing oneself up. I'm always interested in learning from the experience of others, but that's the rub. I'm more interested in what someone with real fighting/combat experience has to share than someone with only school/tournament experience.