gatka
themodern
sikhmartialart?

The bitter truth is that the majority of modern so-called Gatka 'Ustad' are nothing but self-established egomaniacs.

They have no lineage, nor any depth to their martial knowledge or skill. Only reason they get away with their shenanigans is because they perform in front of martially-ignorant masses. Modern orthodox Sikhs are on the whole, duped by these imposters, who adorn uniforms to appeal to the sentimental nature with regards to the interpretation of 'Sikhism'. In the (video clip) one can see how the 'Ustad', wearing a 'Haar' (garland of flowers), dupes the crowd with his blind-folded fruit cutting techniques.

A former Sanatan Hindu Sikh Shastar Vidiya practitioner, Bhai Ranjit Singh commented:

'Now in the Sikh world is this idea that our boys are learning Shastar Vidiya. This, consider a misconception that has come to be. There are old individuals who still have the [true] 'Vidiya'. They understand what is Vidiya and they still teach, but, in order to learn that, you need time, and in today's world no one takes out the time. They [modern Gatkabaj] say: “In a month just teach me to be able to hit stick on stick. Teach me the sword strikes and [corresponding] shield blocks. Just four this way and four that way and give me a turban [a symbol of recognition as Ustad] so I can set my self up as Gatka master.”
That [what Gatka] is all about now. Why is this? If he is not given a turban then he will still just set himself up as Gatka master. He gets four boys together, and teaches them [the little he knows or makes up] and takes out his own 'Akhara' to a religious procession. Now, because no discipline has remained, no organization, no tradition no one to censor [as Buddha Dal did in the past], 'Manmat' now pervades.'
(Bhai Ranjit Singh, transcript of interview, 4th March 2001)