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In time 'Jahir Gatka' itself came to be divided into two categories 'Rasmi Gatka' and 'Khell Gatka'.

In the 1938, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha spoke of the decline of respect for Sanatan Hindu Sikh Shastar Vidiya in the general Sikh public during his time:

'It is sad now Sikhs no longer consider Shastar Vidiya their national art they just consider it the art of soldiers as the deed of soldiers. The tenth father has instructed that each Sikh be a complete soldier and train in Shastar Vidiya.'
('Gurmat Martand', Kahn Singh Nabha (1938) Pa. 110)

During ancient times in India, when two armies met on the battlefield, it was a traditional idealistic requisite in that the opposing armies ask each other to surrender. Then, as the emissaries of each army proceeded to negotiate, the soldiersproceeded to fortify their respective positions, and prepare themselves for battle.

This act also allowed everyone to rest themselves after their long march.

As the armies faced each other, to set the atmosphere for combat, each king would select his most formidable warriors and send them out to challenge to a 'Dand Yudh' with the warriors from the opposite side. Such deeds are described in scriptures such as Mahabharat, Ramayan, Bhagvad Gita, Dasam Guru Durbar and Sarbloh Guru Durbar, and within the ancient Hindu Sikh historical texts such as Pracheen Panth Prakash.