techniquesof
sanatanhindusikh
shastarvidiya

The 'Hadh Torh' contests may come across very barbaric in this age of political correctness.

Yet, it has to be taken into account only those Khalsa warriors enter such contests who are fully confident in their 'Chatka' skill and technique.

Such contests are not to be taken lightly, and not any individual may just pick up a weapon and enter into a competition (as is the case with modern 'Gatka'). If during the contest, any of the participants feel they are out of their depth, they can cast aside their arms and surrender.

This seldom happens as only those individuals enter such contests who possess full confidence in their technique - and the consequent pride that accompanies such skill.

Their warrior pride does not let them yield, but motivates them to win. In these contests the victor, to avoid legal complications in modern India, does not (in general) maliciously wound but instead strikes enough to draw a little blood. This is because tradition dictates that a fully drawn weapon of a Sanatan Hindu Sikh 'Shastardhar' must taste blood of an opponent to win. For the looser, it is a gift of wisdom to accept defeat honorably as in reality he would be most likely dead, or, at minimum seriously injured.

There can be a great element of danger in the gentlemanly method of achieving victory. If one fights an inferiorly skilled opponent who does not appreciate a 'Chatka' blow, on having his blood drawn, he may lash out and severely injure the opponent. This is similar to a boxer, who at the last moment of impact decides to pull out and then he himself become vulnerable to opponent's reflex counter punch. Taking this into consideration, in an ideal situation, once a warrior maneuvers himself into position to land a blow on opponent, then it is best to follow through without any hesitation and completely annihilate the opponent.

It is often forgotten that when one is within striking range, the individual is also in a position to get hit too. In traditional Khalsa Sanatan Hindu Sikh Shastar Vidiya competitions, only those fools get injured who though being clearly striken by opponent do not concede the blow.