These Malaysians are giving the dying Sikh martial art gatka a fighting chance

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.