Gatka
Gatka is the Sikh martial art played as a sport, with a stick, the soti, in place of a sword and a small leather shield, the farri. Two players fight in a 30-foot circle for three minutes, scoring with mild, clean touches: 2 points above the belt, 1 below and 3 on the back. There are two combat events: Single Soti with one stick and Soti-Farri with a shield, each for individuals, teams and mixed pairs.
Checked 20 October 2026
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How long
Two rounds of 90 seconds with a 30-second break
Lengths are from the rule book.
The tournaments that matter
- National Gatka Championship (India; Yearly).
- Khelo India Youth Games (gatka) (Youth; Yearly).
Where and when it is played
In a circle 30 feet across inside a square for officials. The big events are Indian: the National Gatka Championship and the Khelo India Youth Games, both held every year.