Afterwards the participants join the others and enjoy their almonds and Nanaks tea.

Hatha Yoga unterrichtet Nanak Dev Singh auf dem “Melonenhügel” in der strahlenden Morgensonne. Wir nennen es “Sun Streching”. Verschiedenen Asanas lösen Blockaden, erweitern unsere Bewegungsfähigkeit und zeigen uns, wo wir klare Schwächen haben bzw. großes Potenzial, uns zu verbessern.

Nanak Dev Singh teaches Hatha Yoga on the „melon hill“ in the morning sun. We call it „sun stretching“. Various asanas free blockages, increase suppleness and let us know where we have weaknesses or areas with great potential to improve.

Yoga on the melon hill

Shakti Yoga is the process where the central nervous system is brought to a cycle of 2.5. This is called „Kal Darshan“ (the power of the moment). This is the moment before the enemy starts to attack. All senses are completely active, just like every nerve in the body – full Shakti power, focussing on a single point. We practice Shakti Yoga in the form of Gatka. Shakti Yoga is the opposite of Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of devotion).

The camp exists through the community. Everyone assumes a task and thus serves everyone else. This selfless serving is called Seva in the vedic tradition. A Seva service is for instance to cut vegetables, carry the rubbish bags, serve dinner or wash pots. This kind of serving is also called Karma Yoga.

Apart from this, Nanak Dev also often shares his knowledge about the vedic tradition.

Then the power walk starts: three times round the park up to the gate at a fast pace. Each focusses on their own mantra, chanted quietly to the rhythm of their footsteps.

Powermarch in the morning

Yoga on the „melon hill“

Straight after the walk everyone meets on the small so-called „melon hill“ to do yoga in the sunshine. Nanak’s sun stretching refills us with prana in the morning, stretches the body, dissolves tension and lets energy flow through the channels.

From the kitchen the smell of breakfast cooking is already in the air. After the yoga, the grown-ups get their Indian dhal (stodge), whereas children eat porridge or milk rice. After breakfast, training starts, the first of three two hour training units of Gatka and Shastar Vidyaa. To warm up, we sometimes dance Bangara first.

Warming up with Bhangara before the training

When the sun is highest in central France the participants can enjoy their family time or the warriors their leisure time. Then later in the afternoon the akara ( training ground) fills up again so individuals can consolidate what they have learned, according to their abilities, or learn new movements with the help of experienced Gatka students.

In the evening the main meal is served by a seva, a hot Indian dish with salad and Yogi Bhajans „hot sauce“. The last training unit of the day continues on from the morning training and instructs further steps on the way to the perfect Shakti Yogi. Games of skill and quick reactions are especially popular with children as they can put their quick, nimble bodies to good use outwitting their elders.

Games and fun in the evening

Finally the day comes to a close. Games, fun, children playing at sunset; the first ones go to bed, the last ones still swinging luminescent maratis or gather round a bonfire.

Our teacher, Thies, teaches us this ability and shows us how we can program our brain through repeated practice. If for instance a tennis ball is thrown at an object from a distance of three metres, the hit rate will probably be low for the first few tries and will increase the more the ball is thrown, providing the distance to the target remains the same. If the distance is then increased without changing the other variables, a similar process will be followed. The more often the ball is thrown, the steeper the learning curve will be when the distance to the target is increased. After a while the distance doesn’t matter any more: finally we hit the balloon….

Intuitive archery in the woods

Archery is not only an adventure for the children and teenagers. Even if some grown-ups have difficulties in hitting the object, they still do have fun:

It's difficult sometimes...

Glow Maratis:

And a few Gatka impressions with a Glow Marati at night:

Taiko Drum an Gong meditation at the Yoga Festival in Berlin 2008:

The Internation Gatka Federation (IGF):
Nanak Dev Singh
Triguna Ashram Berlin
Tschaikowskistr. 13
13156 Berlin
Nanak Dev Singh

Lehrer in den USA:
Kalifornien:Marcus & Susanne Stobbe

Devta hat bei sich in der Nähe im Wendland einen kuscheligen Campingplatz aufgetan. Der ist auch im Hochsommer noch so unbekannt, dass hier genug Platz für uns ist. Wir bieten uns gegenseitig Bogenschießen, Gatka, Shastar Vidya und Yoga an. Alles also kein Problem.

• Wo: Campingplatz Alt-Garge
  Am Waldbad 23,
  D-21354 Bleckede,
  Tel: +49 5854 311,
  adac-camping-altgarge@t-online.de
  Kosten hängen von der Größe euer Familie, ob Zelt oder Wagen ab. ADAC-Mitglieder erhalten Rabatt.
• Termin: Donnerstag 12.08.2010 Anreise
  bis Sonntag 16.08.2010 Abreise nachmittag

Die Zelttradition bleibt, der Ort ist dieses Jahr: Gatka Camp in Deutschland / Bild: Satya Singh, gongmeditation.de

• Kosten fürs Camp:
  Frühstück machen wir selbst auf eigene Beteiligung und Umrechnung
  Mittag- und oder Abendessen auch selbst oder Essen gehen in der Nähe. Soll recht günstig sein, im Wendland
  Unterricht: Gegen Spende für die Lehrer
• Anmeldung: Sehr einfach: Meldet euch beim Zeltplatz an und sagt, ihr Gehört zum Gatka Camp (Marianne Reuter) und kommt dann einfach vorbei. Machen wir ganz unkompliziert. Und schreibt mir ein Mail, damit wir bescheid wissen: camp@gatka.de

Shastar Vidya training fight

There is no author or acknowledged teacher who originally developed this martial art. Although through its long history there have been many great masters. The earliest was Krishna Maharaja. It is believed that he had mastered all sixteen principals of the Vidyaa. The Mahabharat which is an epic story of a conflict during the Vedic period is full of accounts of Krishna’s and his ability on the battlefield. In Mahabharat is the first known reference of Shastar Vidyaa. There are other figures from classic Indian history as well. Ram Chander was acknowledged as a master as were the Rajput kings.

Rajputs und Guru Gobind Singh
The Rajputs had developed an entire culture around their knowledge of Shastar Vidyaa that lasted for centuries. But by the time the Muslims had invaded India their once proud martial tradition had degenerated in nothing more than rituals and dogma. A very significant event took place during this time. Fifty two of the last remaining princes of Rajastan where taken prisoner by the Muslims. In desperation to free them the Sikh Guru Gobind of the Punjab was approached for help. He had had many skirmishes with the Muslims and had begun to form an army of his own. Guru Hargobind was successful in freeing the princes and in gratitude the Rajputs taught him and his fledging Sikh army Shastar Vidyaa.

The tenth spiritual master of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh would bring the Vidyaa to its fruition. By enjoining the spiritual tradition passed on to him through the nine successive Sikh Gurus and the knowledge contained within Shastar Vidyaa he created the basics of Sikh Dharma. Previous to Guru Gobind Singh the Sikhs had a single Holy book known as the Adi Granth. To this he added two other Granths, Sarab Lo Granth and Dhasam Granth which contain the martial tradition of the Vidyaa. The marriage of these spiritual and temporal powers was embodied in the elite warriors known as Nihangs. Through the strength of their Dharma the Nihangs eventually drove out the Muslims and Moghals from India and permanently closed Indian’s northern border to invasion.

Ranjit Singh was a Sikh king who ruled over Punjab for many years. Although he was a small and awkward man he enlisted and trained some of the most dynamic Sikh warriors ever. So strong was his fighting force that he and his brave Singhs stopped the land hungry British in their conquest of India. With all the resources the British had available to them they chose not to attempt an invasion of Punjab while Ranjit was king.

Shastar Vidya during the british colonial era
Rather they allowed the empire to collapse from within. Sadly the wealth and prosperity of the Sikh kingdom had corrupted it. Betrayal, murder and conspiracy with the British after the Ranjits death reduced the once great empire to ashes in a matter of days. The British never had to fire a shot to seize control of the riches of the Punjab.

Even with the Punjab effectively enslaved by the British the Sikhs were still a dangerous force to deal with. Again rather than confront the Sikhs directly and chance a holy war the British infiltrated them. Their plan was to convert Sikh Dharma in a branch of Christianity and thus pacify the Sikhs forever. British controlled Sikh religious and political parties were established as a means to subvert the Dharma. The two Granths written by Guru Gobind Singh which formed the triad of the Dharma were removed from the temples. They were replaced with table organs known as harmoniums to add a Christian flavor to the Sikh worship. Weapons of any sort were banned in Punjab with the threat of life imprisonment and the confiscation of land.

The Akali Nihang Singhs were the protectors of the faith from the time of Guru Gobind Singh. They alone who had the complete knowledge of the Vidyaa’s original traditions and history of the Sikhs Dharma. Once the British realized this they were hunted down and killed. Over 1500 of these great warriors were slaughtered in their attempt to crush Sikhism. To preserve the Dharma the most knowledgeable of the teachers were sent off to hide in the forest and villages of Punjab. Their mission was to find in their live time five students to pass the Dharma on to.

Shastar Vidya today
Today Shastar Vidyaa in India is all but forgotten. There remains only a handful of qualified teachers of this once great art but many are too old to teach. And students willing to endure the long painful process of mastering the science are rare. Remnants of Shastar Vidyaa can be found in northern India as Gatka and in the south in Kalaripayatt. Both are simplified ceremonial versions of Shastar Vidyaa used in religious celebrations and sporting events.

Here´s a short excerpt of Gakta and Shastar Vidya weapons:

Barcha
also: Barchi, the Spear

A long shafted weapon for thrusting and cuting. The spearheads could also be used for grabling attempts or to hook behind the enemy shield. There is also a small spike an reverse end.

Chakra
also: Chakram, Chacra, Chacar

Throwing Disc lt is a flat steel ring from five to twelve inches in diameter and from half an inch to an inch and a half wide, the outer edge is sharp. lt is usually plain but sometimes elaborately inlaid. Several of different sizes were often carried on a pointed turban, the dastar ungaa or behind the back. The thrower stands squarely faceing his objective, takes the chakra between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, holding it low down on his left side. He then turns his body so as to bring the right shoulder as far forward as possible and throws underhand with the full swing of his body. Thrown with sufficient force and accuracy it can cut off a green bamboo three-quarters of an inch in diameter at a distance of thirty yards.

See also: Chakkar at SikhWiki

Dahl
Shield

It is nearly always round and varies in diameter from about eight inches to about twenty-four. Some are very nearly flat while others are strongly convex. The edges may be flat or rolled back in the reverse curvature of the shild. It is held by two handles fastened to ring bolds that pass through the shild and are riveted to bosses on the outside, sometimes formed to spikes. Between the handles there is a square cushion for the knuckles to rest against.

The handles are so placed that, when tightly grasped, they force the backs of the fingers against the cushion giving a very firm and comfortable hold. These shields are nearly always of steel or leather.

Gurj
also: Mace

Indian maces have a great variations in their shape. From simply curved steel bars to persian influenced maces with openings in the head wich gave a whistling sound when the blow was struck to plane massive heads. They often have guardet hilts like the Khanda.

Kaman

Most of the bows are composite. Some are made of steel with block of wood at the handles. They are of the shape of composite bows and reverse when strung. Others are made of up to nine layers of wood or horn.

Katar
also: Coutar, Katha, Koutha, Kutha, Kutar

Armor piercing Dagger The oldest and most characteristic of Indian knives. The pectiliarity lies in the handle which is made up of two parallel bars connected by two, or more, crosspieces, one of which is at the end of the side bars and is fastened to the blade. The Katar is wraped to the hand to optimize the grip. The blades are aIways double-edged and generally straight, but occasionally curved. They are of all lengths from a few inches to about three feet. European blades of the 16th and 17th centuries were often used, especially by the Mahrattas. Katars with original blades are often thickened at the point to strengthen them for use against armor. When European blades are used they are always riveted to projections from the hilt. The native blades are often forged in one piece with it. The blades are sometimes forked at the point, and even three blades occur. The Indian armorers occasionally made Katars that were hollow and served as sheaths for smaller ones; or with three blades that folded together, appearing to be one, until handle bars were pressed together, when they opened out.

Khanda
also: Khunda (Double edged sword)

The oldest and most typical of Indlan swords. lt has a broad, straight blade, ually widening towards the point, which is generally quite blunt. Sometimes it is double-edged; but, it generally has a strengthening plate with ornamental borders on the back for a considerable part of its length. The hilt has a broad plate guard and wide finger guard which joins the large round, flat pommel. There is a spike on the pommel which acts as a guard for the arm, and for a grip for the left hand when making a two-handed stroke. It is also used as a hand rest when the sword is sheathed. The inside of the guard and finger guard are padded.

Khanda ist also another Word for the Adi Shakti symbol.

Kirpan
also: Kirphan (Dagger)

The most typical Knife. lt usualy has a curved blade, and should be carried by every Sikh. The special techniques used make this weapon very dangerous. The word “Kirpan” has two roots – the first root is: Kirpa which means “Mercy, grace, compassion, kindness” and the second root is Aan which in turn means “Honor, grace, dignity”. So together the word stands for “the dignity and honor of compassion, kindness and mercy”

Read also: Kirpan at SikhWiki

Lathi
(Quaterstaff)

“The harder the times the longer the Lathis” This weapon is nearly everywhere available and very dangerous when used in the right way. Lathis should be as long as the warrior and Ironwood or Oak are prefered.

Marati
(Training device)

The Marati is a bamboo or ratan stick with wooden or cloth balls on its ends. It is mainly used for training purposes but there are variations with blades or burning cloth on its ends, to attack and distract elephants and for psychological warfare.

Sothi
also: Soti, Gakta Sothi (Training device)

The Soti is made from fire hardened bamboo or ratan, 1m long and usualy has a hand guard. It is mainly used for practice and “playing Gatka”, the training fight. For combat they were replaced by oak ore ironwood sticks, without hand guards.

Tabar
also: Tapar (Battle Axe)

At first the ordinary hatchet or axe of civil life was used as a weapon, but special varieties were soon developed for fighting. War axes were of all sizes from light weapons, to heavy pole axes requiring the use of both arms. The Indian axes are generally lighter than the European and often have the handle made of a flat plate of steel with pieces of wood riveted to each side. Occasionally they have a dagger concealed in the handle; and, sometimes, a sharp-edged hook projects from one side. Combinations of axes and pistols were fairly common in India; in these the barrel of the pistol is often the handle of the axe.

Talwar
also: Tulwar, Tulwaur, Tarwar (Sabre)

The Indian sabre, class name. lt includes practically all of the curved swords used in India; but those of very marked curvature are frequently called by their Persian name, shamshir. The Talwar is the commonest sword in India and the blades vary enormously in Size, curvuature and quality. The hilts generally have short, heavy quilIons and disk pommels. They may or may not have finger guards; some have as many as three. Several other forms of hilts are also used. The Nihangs are as careful of their swords and take as much pains to keep them in order as the japanese samurai. It is a common saying thatan really objectionable act is “as disgraceful as haveing a blunt sword.” “These are Sikh cavalry-who know not steel scabbards-but wear leather sheaths, wherein the swords do not become blunt and dull-keen bright and ready, as many a deep and ghastly cut on Sepoy corpses can testify.”(Majendie)

Tir
(Arrow)

The Indian arrows have steel heads of a great variety of shapes, with tangs fitting into the shafts, which are generally of reed. The shafts are often painted and gilded elaborately. These arrows have three feathers and bone, or ivory , noks.