Gatka is a martial art that originated in northern India and has been handed down from as far back as the 17th century via drawings and spoken word. Some have speculated that Gatka is one of the original arts, one that all modern martial arts borrow from even today.

Gatka was originally created around three principles. First, it had to be easy to learn. Second, it had to make use of every possible weapon. Finally, it had to allow for fighting multiple opponents at once.

Gatka is a weapons-based martial art. The three main weapons that are used are swords, bamboo sticks and flexible weapons, such as whips and chains.

Paenthra is one of the most important facets of Gatka. This is the ritualized footwork involved in fighting moves. Every fighting move has a different Paenthra, and specialized ones are performed before choosing your weapon.

Gatka has evolved into a competitive sport. It is said that two Gatka fighters perform, and the winner is supposed to train the loser so they become more proficient in their skills. After the training is complete, the loser may ask for a rematch. This is a way for practitioners of various forms of combat to perfect their style of martial arts.