The circular shaped vadda chakkar is a colourful sight to behold but it can be a dangerous weapon. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Law student Gurkiran Kaur, 22, is proud to be one of the few Malaysian women skilled in gatka, an ancient martial art form that’s still practiced among the Sikh community.
“I spend about one or two hours practising different gatka self-defence techniques. What’s interesting about gatka is that it relies on feet movement as well as body and arm strength. Gatka, just like other martial arts, is a good all-body workout which helps build both my upper and lower body strength.
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Gatka: the anicent martial art of warriors
The circular shaped vadda chakkar is a colourful sight to behold but it can be a dangerous weapon. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Gurkiran (left) and Jeewat engage in swordplay at Kashminder (centre) keeps a watchful eye. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Protective equipment is a must when partaking in gatka sparring exercises and Amritpal Singh lends a helping hand to buckle up Kashminder's combat bracer. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The dhol is played to enable students to keep to the tempo as they move in a dance-like, flowing movement. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
It is customary for nihangs (Sikh warriors) to perform a set of ardas (prayers) before they begin their training. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Gatka is based on the basic principle of unification of the mind, body and spirit. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
With a sword and shield, knife-wielding Darshan certainly cut an imposing figure. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Gurkian (right) and her sister Jeewat feel it's important to know the traditional martial art not just as a self-defence skill but also to understand their culture better. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
The bow and arrow are among the many weapons used by gatka practitioners like Amritpal Singh. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Darshan hopes to pass on his knowledge on gatka to his his five-year-old son, Gurveer Singh. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Darshan hopes to pass on his knowledge on gatka to his five-year-old son, Gurveer Singh. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Gurkiran (left) and Jeewat engage in swordplay at Kashminder (centre) keeps a watchful eye. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Gurkiran (left) is one of the handful of Sikh women in Malaysia trained in gatka. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
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