Khaalis

You could contact Hari Singh (Eagle Claw System), Sardara Singh (JKD/Wing Chun/Kali/Gatka) or the Shin-Kin guys they all operate in and around Birmingham. You will have to pay them though, they are professional Martial Artists.

I read a part of Sri Chaitnya Jis granth a few years ago, in it, there is a mention of Guru Nanak Dev Ji doing kirtan with Sri Chaitnya Ji etc. Just a small mention. I'll try and dig it out. Sri Chaitnya Ji was an enlightened soul, he did much to spread the tradition of san-kirtan (kirtan done in sangat) in India.

1 - It depends what you want it for i.e. looks, comfort (wearing) or possible practical use (fighting blade). If all 3 you have to be prepared to up your budget. Khalsa blades tick the looks category. There are many, many more blade makers out there who do stunning designs on daggers/fighting blades, but also have in depth knowledge of blade balance/high quality material/fighting use (design). 2 - Do you want what is thought of as a 'traditional' design i.e. mini tulwar design (curved blade). If so, this will massively reduce your options. As far as I know, blade makers in India cannot reproduce the quality of medievel weapons, but Indonesians and Filipinos still can. If you are open minded about the design of your shastar, then you have many options. You need to decide if you want a single sided or double sided blade. A double sided blade is much dangerous (for the defender as well as the attacker) so you need to ensure that you also undertake serious training and regular practice in learning how to use the blade. Attending 1 or 2 seminars will not make you proficient. Here is a good budget option by coldsteel, it has a surgically sharp blade, and it is also half double edged on the spine side, allowing for better retention and increased opportunity. It retains a curved kirpan design, but is quite small, around a 3" blade, but very dangerous. You would have to be skilled and confident to use it i.e. very close quarter and elusive. See the Scimiter: http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/The-Spike-Series.html If you want to retain the 'curve' you could also consider the Kerambit, again coldsteel has an affordable version. But be warned, this is a specialist fighting weapon, usually held and used with a reverse grip, with the edge being on the inside of the curve 9as opposed to the outside like a kirpan). So you would have to familiarise yourself with it's fighting style (Indonesian/Southern Filipino). http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/Steel-Tiger.html Both these are very easy to wear under your clothes. If you are interested in increasing your budget, PM me, I will provide info of some highly respected Master blade makers. Puratan shastar are finite, and the mad demand for them (from our people in particular who like to create museum collections to look at, rather than use), requires one to think outside the box. This translates to finding the means of re-producing 'quality' puratan designs as well as adopting new ones. Alongside having a good shastar, 'more importantly' one should have good vidya. You can get away with having a cheap shastar or even a pen in your hand, if your fighting knowledge and ability is good. A good quality shastar is not going to save your life, it will only make your defence easier/more graceful. If you collectively do ardaas and khoj, you willl find there are quite a few Masters out there who have amazing knowledge on blade fighting arts. Learn like it's your daily maryada and attain something of value. The real inheritance you will leave for your children is not the shastar collections, but the gyaan of fighting. Hertiage is obvioulsy important and good, but remember, the shastar that the puratan Khalsa used were not 'Sikh' per say. The key to their fighting success was adaptability - they used arms of their enemies, friends and foreigners (Islamic, south Indian and western). Today we live in a global culture, there is nothing wrong with further broadening our horizons and adding/utilising knowledge of fighting and weapons from other warrior cultures. We are trapped in karam khand, trying to replicate the looks and weapons of old (which is absolutely fine, honorable even), but the problem is when it stops there. What we need to try and REPLICATE or be inspired by, more so than the image, is the SOCH of the puratan Khalsa. We are blessed to have seen soormai like Sant Jarnail Singh Ji and Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana in our generation - it is this 'puratan' Khalsa soch and ACTION, that we should look to attain and manifest in our lives, in whichever way we can. Then, only then, will beauty and honour be brought to our efforts to wear the tools and attain the knowledge and ability of 'fighting men'.

All the above is relevant advice, particularly the not giving 'importance' to interrupting thoughts. When a distraction enters the mind... smile. It's there because it is a personal experience (something you saw, heard, felt). Don't feel upset/panicked/worried/depressed, understand that your present action (bhagti) is the answer to ensuring that all experiences here on, are pavitar. It's usually the hurt of stress/bad experience that brings us to remember Vaheguru. Acknowledge it, relax and it will swiftly pass by. Fight to remove it... and it will stay (even if in a subtle form). Rather than risk your simran being interrupted, prepare the focus/concentration before hand, this is what Sant advise, and it works. Never go straight to simran (until you are accomplished). Always start with a Japji Sahib (full dhyaan, said aloud with correct ucharan). The focus on each word, it's arthh, the flowing poetry will blow away any distraction. By the time you complete the Jap Ji Sahib, your mind should already by super-focused and in total peace. That is the perfect time to go into naam simran. As in most disciplines - a higher preparation ratio will always ensure a higher quality/level execution of the main objective. The other traditional method is to start off with sampuran Mool Mantar as already mentioned... recite it aloud until the Mantar goes internal/cyclic, then switch to Gurmantar. Sometimes we get so much anand form Mool Mantar alone, that we feel like continuing it, if so, continue it - it is Guru given anand. Another important aspect to remember is that our Guru given Mantars are a plant. In order to receive the fruit from that plant, we need to nurture, it, care for it, feed it, give is sunlight etc. These things are manifest in ‘inspiration and karam (actions)’. We must inspire ourselves by being rehitvaan, not for fanatical ‘I’m better than you’ purposes, but to please our Gur-Pita, it’s for him we keep our rehit, not to show or tell others. Ensure you are making udham towards learning arthh of Gurbani, doing vichaar on those arthh, discussing them with sangat. Ensure you are daily listening to, reading, telling ithihaas of our Guru Sahiban or esteemed Khalsa. Ensure you are staying away from manmat lok and bad environments, these people or places drain our kamai. Learn yudh vidya (in whatever form) with dedication, keep an open mind – keep learning and improving your skill, you don’t need to talk about it, learn it for yours, your families and the Panths raksha – not just to tick your ‘cultural roots box’. Do all things with umpteen nimrata, this pleases the Guru, and increases his blessings. Do nishkaam seva, be involved in ‘some’ form of seva to increase ekta/unity/pyaar in the Panth, stay away from those that create division and argument in the Panth. Do seva to promote Sikhi in whatever form you can. All the above have a huge impact on simran.. we can’t expect not to live a Gurmat life (sweet speech, respectful gaze, pure thoughts, considerate/selfless actions) and think our simran will be fruitful. Simran effects our lifestyle/personality, but the opposite is totally true too. It’s a circle. At a basic level, 'association' is also a great tool to have. If dedicate one place to sit and do simran everyday, if do it at the same time everyday (we do of course aim to do it 8 pehar), if you light a candle or wear a shawl etc, whatever you do, make it a rehit, a habit. Your mind will associate all these things with the exercises of simran and it will becmoe easier. Another thing to consider is ‘gyaan’. Many get obsessed with gyaan, this can take the form of history, theology, comparative religion etc etc. To the point that there is no effort and time for simran. And for some, the simran is simply a mechanical exercise, because gyaan is not the essential ingredient for simran. Gyaan is powerful ONLY, if it increases our bhagti, otherwise it simply serves to drag us away from Parmeshar (feed our haumai ‘I’). Many people have read and contemplated the ocean of advice on simran available on the internet by Sants. But this alone is not enough for bhagti. The gyaan is supposed to lead to a change in thought and action, and more importantly bhaav. Bhagti is only fruitful if it is done with prem. I know many academic types who have excellent knowledge over Gurbani, can quote all day, have great ithihaasik gyaan.. but struggle with ‘prem’. Prem can only come from ‘nimrata’ (humility). And nimrata increases with prema bhagti. This then effects all our thoughts and actions and creates a person who endeavours to please everyone and be the perfect son/daughter, wife/Husband, parent, friend, work colleague, neighbour, stranger etc etc. These Gurmukhs then become residents of ‘Anandpur’ no matter where on this planet they reside. Most importantly, always ask for naam di daat in your ardaas. This is the single most powerful action that will eventually lead us to recieving Gur-Prasad. Forgive the random ramble and gaps in the vichaar. Vaheguru.

The skin of a top predator was used by Sadhus to keep away dangerous animals during long periods of samadhi in the wild. Today, unless you are going to do samadhi in the Kruger National Park or somewhere similar, there is no need for the animal skin, especially as many of these animals are extremely rare now and we have decimated most of wild regions. Sadhus today (Sikh ones at least) don't visit and stay in wild areas to meditate anymore, nor do pilgrimage to our sacred Gurdwara (Sri Hazur Sahib etc) on foot..... lifestyles have changed a somewhat.

I wonder what Sachai Paatshah Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji would do in this situation.... especially where a faith is being asked to abandon it's religious attire, which according to their tradition (Hadiths selected and translated as per that school of thought) require them to wear Burqa or Hijab etc. Funnily enough, most women in the west I have spoken to, wear these items as a matter of choice and freedom of expression, rather than oppression. Elements of the Middle East are a different story. The rest, of course there is a point. But the matter of intergration for 'some' Muslim nationalities/societies is not so simple. There is the matter of existing mistrust and hatred from teh host nation as well as the survivalist/don't trust anyone mentality these refuges/immigrants normally bring from their war torn countries e.g. Somalia. To stereotype every Muslim under one label is nonsensical. Iranian, Malaysian, Morrocan, Indonesian, South Pakistani etc communities tend to settle in very well and contribute very well to society. The educated faction of so called' troublesome' communicites also do very well. We also ignore the fact that there are many other communities that also have a parrallel existence i.e. Jewish community in Golder Green, where they get many religious concessions from the council affecting the public area. Many Punjabis in southall, smethwick and many other areas get by their whole life never having to speak a word of english, i still nkow many to this day. Large elements of the Nigerian community also like to do their own thing, same is true for Filipino and South American etc etc, the list goes on. The subject of laziness/unemployment/crime etc is relelvant to all people. In the UK its the white community that tops the charts, but this is never discussed as a problem, as well as the white community being the least educated amongts all ethnical groups. I am aiming to play devils advocate, and see there is a lot of anti-Muslim feeling on this forum. Whilst I not concerned for PC'ness I do like to see a more accurate and deeply thought out picture. Taking away any communities religious freedoms (as long as they don't harm others) is wrong. In the sikh viewpoint and the democratic viewpoint. Napolean was a great warrior for freedom of rights, it was he who freed the Jewish community from 600 years of abuse and degradation by the Vatican Catholics. He also released Europe from the Chrisitan/Monarchy oppression that had kep europe in the dark ages for over 500 years. Seems as though those ideals are now being forgotten in the face of what 'seems' to be a good cause. Anyone who thinks sikhs will not be next is hugely mistaken.

If you get caught on CCTV using your kara, you could go to jail for ABH/GBH. More importantly, if a few cases of incidents with karai reach the public attention (which won't require much effort with teh biased media we have), it could become a quick reality that big karai get banned in the UK, the same is true for Sri Sahibs. We need to be intelligent in perserving our rehit and rvaaj, and allowing it to flourish without bringing negative attention to ourselves and thus risk loosing our special (deserved) priviledges in the UK. Worse comes to worse, a kara can discreetly and highly effectively be used without even taking it off and leaving it concealed beneath your sleeve/clothing. That aside, it is good to understand intelligent fighting principles where you do not have to rely on strength, weapons or going to the ground - as has been mentioned above, having the prinicpled weapons knowledge to improvise and use any number of 'daily/normal' items as discrete yet dangerous aids for your defence. Real self defence is about 'habits', rather than 'theory'. If anyone is interested in knowing more, or for those of you that are not already learning an intellgient martial art, feel free to PM me.

Lol, Namdharis, Nirmalai, Bhai Randhir Singh and many others have at some point all had a finger pointed at them from various parties for being British conspirators. Facts say otherwise. Baba Ram Singh Namdhari and the early Kookai, were the most vehement outspoken opposition of British Rule, it's common historical knowledge. What happened to the movement after Baba Ji died is another story... (not relevant here). The British removed Baba Ji from India altogether (sent to Rangoon jail) because they found his ideology and threat so dangerous toward their rule, and because he was bringing thousands ofwntrodden people of Punjab into the Khalsa fold once again. Giani Gian Singh Ji, writer of his famous book Panth Parkash , was the eyewitness of the martyrdom of the Namdhari Sikhs at Malerkotla. He has described this in his opus as under: Painting by Vassili Verestchagin showing the British execution of Namdharis by blowing them up with cannons in Malerkotla (Image source: http://haryanawatch.blogspot.com/2010/03/14-july-2009-photo-source-httpsirsanews.html) The account of those Sikhs (the Bandais) has been set out in a number of books. But, now, I would speak to you, in truthful details of what I saw with my own eyes. During Nineteen Twenty-eight Bikrami I came into contact with the Kukas. The butchers who had slaughtered cows were themselves slain by these lion-hearted men of the Guru. Nearly sixty of them, pure souls, were arrested and were brought to Malerkotla in custody. The English (Government) issued orders that they be blown off by cannon. They were delighted to hear of this order they were indeed overwhelmed with joy. Their exuberance shot into their miens They recited aloud the word of the Guru. As moths rushing towards a lamp, unrestrained they made for the cannon. Their spirits in high transport, they hurried forward without a thought for their dear lives. This I saw with my own eyes, People had gathered in large number. They saw and were filled with wonder. Wedded to the Supreme life-style of the Sikhs, They were not afraid of embracing death by arms. They could meet the enemy on the battle-field and be restrained from neither laying down nor taking life . -Panth Prakash, 1 st edition

Most famously this happened to Namdhari Singhs, who fought and killed some Muslim butchers who were killing Cows in Punjab. The British were just looking for an excuse to put the Namdhari down, as they were their biggest opposition at that time.

You should strike whilst the irons hot, don't let the moment pass. Enthusiasm doesn't come easy. Another halfway doable option is to learn via skype video etc. I know people who set the laptop up in the UK and learn from Sangeet Ustaads in India. Even if you do DVD courses, at least you will learn the basics ie how to hold and use a bow, where the sur are on the frets, how to move between frets, basic sargams etc. So you won't have to pay an Ustaad to take you through the bare basics for the 1st 3 months. Practice hard and you will be amazed what you can achieve. There are dilruba players all over the world now, when you get started they will start popping up all around you :-) so you will get plenty of tips and feedback. Then in your holidays go and spend a few weeks with a Master and you will already have a head start as well showin your teacher you are hard working and pro-active. Best of luck. Don't forget, the real progress, opportunity and answers come from Sat-Guru. So do heartfelt ardaas at each and every step.

http://www.includemetoo.org.uk/ Started up by a Sikh Lady.

1. Become inspired - listen to kathha, read history, listen dhadi vaaran, listen to kirtan. 2. Learn - do paat, learn how to recite paat (produce satkaar for gurbani), learn the arthh (meaning) of paat, meditate on those meanings, introduce the knowledge from the paat into your lifestyle. 3. Adopt rehit - produce a strong foundation to ensure continuation of your efforts. 4. Do sangat - with jeevan vale Gursikh and Sants. Ensure you are only in the company of those that are progressing your spirituality. 5. Simran - immerse yourself in naam simran. Learn about the different techniques and different stages one goes through in this journey - this is the point when your kaamic energy will be converted to bhagti. Apologies, I should have used the word Bihangam as per our tradition. Grisht is certainly the recommended lifestyle for Gursikhs, but In the Sant tradition, specifically going back to the early Seva Panthi, Nirmalai and Akalis, Bihangam has been the norm for a select few who have dedicated their life to panthic/jagath seva.

Going back to the original posters question... If we remove the word 'honeymoon' from this conversation (which in any case, should intelligently been viewed in it's evolved present understanding rather than stoneage or biblical root), then when a couple gets married, there is nothing wrong with the couple taking some time out to get to know each other. Doing so in a pleasant/scenic/relaxing environment can only help the couple focus on each other (outside of family/busy household environment) and lay a foundation of friendship. As for newly married Amritdhari couples... what could possibly be a better way to start their life together than to do a yaatra of the divine households of God... have darshan of our Guru, do amritvela at Darbaar Sahib together, do Rehraas at Abchal Nagar and have sight of Dasmesh Pita via his beautiful Shastar, listen to the Guru's glorious shabd at Damdama Sahib, get the aseesan of puran Gursikhs and Mahapursh...? This trip is the most excellent thing a newly maried couple can do, lay a foundation of spirituality, have Guru's darshan together, recieve his baksheesh together.

No doubt, the sanyaasi tradition is deep rooted in the Khalsa Panth. Many Brahmgyanis have been celibate from the times of Guru Gobind Singh Ji right up to today. They choose to focus purely on the bhagti marg and dedicate their life to parchaar seva. For those living in Grisht, as is true with anything else life, we must be in control of our 5 passions, and not the other way around. when the 5 chor control us, they convert the single source of energy we all have into bad enegry (bad actions and bad thoughts). The key is to not get obsesses/addicted to anything, but to utilise everything in moderation or to meet the objective - be it dietary intake, career commitment, academia or this aspect of grisht jeevan. I have heard many Sants talk about converting kaam jor into naam jor. As has been eluded to already, these actions use a high amount of energy, which is the reason many athletes (esp Boxers) refrain from kaamic activity before competition. Those serious about bhagti follow a similar pattern. This does not mean that they do not have physical relations with their spouse, it just means that their main objective is bhagti, and the physical relation is a lesser priority. Love and affection in marriage is not to be looked down upon, Guru Tegh bahadur advised Dasmesh Pita as such - to love your Wife more and more each day - but this means mentally, spiritually, emotionally as well as physically. To grow with her. But our primary purpose of existence is to pooj and do simran of satnaam, which is why all other aspects of life must be controlled. This same conversation is true for Sikhs who get obsessed with any other form of maya i.e. making money/career progression, sport, fashion/body type (gyming for the perfect body seems to be a trend today) etc etc. Obsession with anything will only lead to you having less energy/time/inclinationo for prema bhagti. Again, not to negate other things, we must do well in all aspects of life, but not to the point at which they negate our bhagti. The challenge and on-going struggle in life for a Khalsa (and anyone for that matter) is to find that perfect balance whereby they can be successful in the world, fullfill their roles as child/spouse/parent/friend and also make great strides in their sikhi endeavours and bhagti.

Many of us look at these topics to literally and immaturely, we don't try and understand the superb psychology and stategy of Guru Gobind Singh bani and the writers and parcharaks of the puratan era (18th C). How did the Khalsa panth keep getting populated and rejuvinated when it was being systematically removed from the face of the Earth by those who were threatened and in Raj? Parcharaks drew in large numbers from the Hindu fold, by showing respect to the devtai but at the same time, showing their subservience to the Master of both Worlds - Guru Gobind Singh. Hindus are of many folds, if you take the most popular devtai (many of whose sakhiyan are actually very inspiring) and subtely enjoin/unite them under the hand of the tenth master, you open flood gates to a whole world of potential Khalsai. Our semetic strategy of removing and insulting all non Sikh elements and proclaiming monopoly on God will never work if we want to grow the Panth and spread Sikhi. The 'factual' element of these sakhiyan is of lesser importance, all that matters is the artth (underlying philosophy) which many of us sadly miss. We should quit our phobias and make effort to understand more deeply the wisdom of old. You will find in many cases, it does not contradict Gurbani. Guru Gobind Singj is said to have always carried a copy of Hanuman natak in his kamarkasa. If we bother to read the story of Hanuman, we may actually Be inspired by it and realise what it means to be a shargrid of the highest calibre - his love and devotion to his Guru/Parmatma, Sri Ramchandar was a masterclass in discipleship. We of course have are own traditions to look at and consider even more importantly like the majestic devotion of Bhai Lena to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, but that does not mean we cannot respect and also be inspired by others too. Knowledge removes the need for low level insults and phobias of all kinds. There cannot ever be any panthic ekta if all we do is ridicule the diversity of traditional beliefs, ithihas and traditions that exist. We don't have to agree, but at least 'try' and take something positive from them, and respect that other Guru Pyare hold those beliefs dear.

I saw this documentary a few years ago. Mongolians are an amazing people, even though their traditional way of life is now fast disappearing. Smallest and toughest horses in the world and biggest raptors used for hunting, I think its only the Mongolians that have tamed and use Golden Eagles (4th or 5th biggest bird of prey in the world) for hunting, most nations use Hawks or Falcons only, not Eagles. Golden Eagles are amazing, they used to be the apex predator of the sky in thr last century in thr British Isles until they reintroduced the Sea Eagle to Scotland. I went on a bird of preyesque holiday around 5 years ago to 'Eagle Island' commonly known as the Isle of Mull, and saw the Golden and Sea Eagle head to head! Golden Eagles a highly intelligent hunters, in Oct (from memory) on Mull, hunting season on Deer opens. The Stags and Deer seasonally know this is the time to esacape and climb up the Bens. Many Rangers I spoke to, tild me they had witnessed G-Eagles attacking Stags on cliff edges, clawing their eyes, so they lost their foothold and dropped to their death hundred off feet down the mountain. It really is amazing seeing Raptors in the wild, Peregrines and Harrier Hawks are amongst my favourite (if you want to know what a bullet feels like missing your face, feed a Peregrine - fastest animal on the planet). Harris Hawks are the best to keep long term, they are very protective, have a pack mentality (in nature they commonly hunt in packs) and will follow you around in the countryside and keep a close eye on you if take take them out and let them loose. Its good for Singhs to have exposure to these animals to see what true hunters aura and ability is like, helps inspire the warrior spirit in you. But not for the sqeamish, esp when you have to feed the birds!!! Lots of tearing and blood and guts!! Much like a battlefield!

Puratan Khalsa tradition is also to ensure the mother to be has open darshan of shastar in her house every day. This familiarises her and makes her comfortable with shastar and also creates love and respect form them via daily nit-darshan. The continuous exposure also gives rise to bir ras, all of these emotions are absorbed by the child.

It depends on which jathas maryada you are following. If you are not concerned by jathebandiyan and follow panthic (mainstream rehit maryada) there is no ban on colours, you wear what you like. If you want to follow a puratan rehit, then again, you need to choose one, because there are many, and out of those only a one or two mention colours from what I remember. If someone gives you instructions, ask them to quote the original source (rather than a modern website), then you can at least make up your mind based on correct and direct information.

No sorry, can't scan without permission, it's someones copyrighted work. I can post anywhere in the UK for £3.50. Yes it's all in English.

I have some Gatka manuals by Ustaad Nanak Dev Singh Khalsa, which contain all the main pentrai/sword movements etc. PM me if you are interested, you can collect or I can post. They are £10 each.

An important change needed in our Kaum today is that parcharak need to start stating their source. Traditionally, kathha of Ihihaasik granths was done ie Suraj Prakash or Panth Prakash, so people knew where information was coming from. Today we have numerous parcharaks and sants giving us 100 different versions of 1 sakhi, when there are only perhaps 2-3 sources of that sakhi. A big reason this has (and still is on the large part) overseen is because our kaum has becmoe uneducated. western youth generally don't understand or can't read Punjabi, so never know the puratan sources and the older generation has become occupied in work/maya, has emigrated over the last cenutry and whole host of other things, focuses less on Sikhi, so this culminates in everyone taking the parcharaks/sants word for it, and many of these people present sakhis in their own decorated way, sometimes massively changing the the srtory (taking out elements they personally dno't agree with it) or other times adding things in which boost the popularity of their jathhaa. Personally I think the a Sakhi should be quoted, then presented in full, and then, the parcharaks should interpret and give opinions (as we do with footnotes in essays or translation projects. To say Yogi Bhajan said so is certainly not enough. To ridicule the sakhi because it came from yogi bhajan is also not good. What needs to be established is the what source yogi bhajan used for his facts (using yogi bhajan only as an exampel from the thread). Going back the thread, 1.5 seconds sounds too accurate, I expect if this fact is written in ithihaas somewhere the acutal translated word used would be 'moment' rather than second. If so, the trajectory of the statement would be more towards establishing baba Ajeet Singh as a superior and skilled Warrior, rather than give you statistical information about his performance. Same with running fater than a horse and 'challenging' savha lakh. The aim would be to show khalsa aspirants that the khalsa spirit would give a Singh the belief to run against a horse or to 'challenge' savha lakh, rather than to 'win' It's about courage and belief, not the end result. Sadly, much is lost in translation. You would be surpised how many stikes an expert can land with a sword, stick or dagger in a few seconds, it all depends on how close opponents are, and what type of strike it being used i.e. turning, circling (momentum), quick stabs etc etc :-) With a curved sword like a shamshir, 'slashing' would be the prefered method of attack, and one can slash with momentum and and in circular motions, along with rotational footwork/good positiong, one can recycle enegry and continue the attack on the next opponent etc (assuming not fighing in a unit). The problem is when people who have never kicked a football (couch pandits) become commentators on football!

Sadly our people generally want everything for free, especially when it comes to Sikhi. This is one of the main reasons our progression as a kaum is at so slow to non-existent. We don't invest in quality resources, yet invst multi-million pound Gurdwara and extentions left, right and centre. Until we make 'Sikhi' something of value again things will not change. We need highly educated Gyaanis/Parcharaks/Kathhakars, classically trained Raagis - who don't just know 1 raag (to start the set) but know all the raags of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sri Dasam Granth sahib and sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib, as well the folk musical elements in bani. They should also be highly trained in tanti saaj and jori. Gatka Ustaads should not be 2 week Masters, but peopel who have trained seriously and have a high level understanding of fighting applications (with and without gatka) who can train people in fight scenarios, weapons and mutliples in real situations. santhiya teachers should also be professionally trained over a respected time period, havign taken santhiya from a respected institution and personality i.e. Taksaals, Nirmalay etc. They should also nkwo santhiya of Braj, Sanskriti and Farsi. There are many other aspects of seva too. Next question is where do we get these people from, which should by the way, frequent every Gurdwara in the world... We need to make these opportunities of seva viable and highly respected career options. To invest the necessary time to give high quality seva, requires money. We expect everyone to be grisht, but how can these sevadaar give everything to seva and be expected to live on pennies (Gurdwarai pay less than minimum wage to resident gyaanis)...? They are expected to see rich sangat come in once a week, do paid ardaas for them, read for their paid akhand paaths, and watch their kids get every opportunity, whilst they are not able to give the same to their own kids. In Gurus Darbaar - kirtani, gyanis etc were paid by the Guru himself. Guru Sahiban didn't pay pittance to the servents of the court, but lavished them from with the sangats maya. In those days kirtanis/gyanis/dhadhis of the darbaar commanded respect near the same level as the Guru himself, because they were representing him. Today, people chuck a £1 at the kirtani, and don't bother to talk to them outside of the darbaar. We complain about the low level parchaar and kirtan in our guru ghar, but you get what you pay for. Just imagine if we could give patronage to every kirtani or parcharak to be trained to the level of Bhai Balbir Singh or sant Singh Maskeen Ji? Imagine if these sevadaars frequented every Guru Ghar... Sikhi would flourish and blossom beyond recognition. We should happily pay (generously) for quality seva and support any good Sikh initiative going . Only then will our kaum progress.

Against someone who has experience of street fights or even decent martial experience, you would get obliterated if you tried that on the street. I have personally seen it many times, against TWD and Karate champions (European), against over ambitious kickboxers etc. The video you have shwon is especially bad, you can see him advertising the kicks well before they land - anyone with common sense would step back and go in whilst he is rgaining his balance (he has none) or better still step in whilst he is attemptig to kick and take him out whilst he is on one leg. Against someone who has no fight experience and who would freeze in a fight or has too much sports experience wearing pads, or no understandig of 'reading the body' or judging distance, these kicks would be devastating, as they rely on huge momentum if performed correctly. Chinese kicks are much better, they are all hiddenand very sneaky. You can even kick someone in the throat who is standing only a few inches in front of you if you know how :-). Also, southern Chinese boxing and some Silat styles generally incorporates low line kicks/sweeps, which are hidden in the footwork. This in my personal experience is perfect for the street, as you don't advertise, retain your balance, don't expose your back or groin, and surprise the opponent (that 'moment' is the time to destroy him). A good/traditional Wing Chun or Mantis teacher (extremely hard to find, even though there are now hundreds in the UK), will be able to teach great footwork drills and kicks which most definately work on the street, at a higher level, they are made for snapping knees, ankles, discreetly sweeping etc. Bruce Lee makes good use of WC kicks in some of his films, sadly, he also uses many Japanese/Korean 'big' kicks (inspired by Chuck Norris) in order to satisfy the exhibition demanding public :-). Against weapons or multiples these types of kicks are especially hazardous to the initiator. You are better off training and using your legs to improve footwork, non-linear movement, turning ability, closing and exiting range skills, deception etc. Balance is of utmost important in a fight, and is what generally catches people out. Many times, people who get punched, don't fall because ofthe power of the punch (as many think), but because of the rubbish footwork/balance of the vicitim. That is why good boxing trainers (and any good martial arts teacher) spens much time on creating excelelnt footwork. Good footwork is also the key to landing devasting attacks as well as avoiding them. Hope that helps.

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa Vaheguru ji ki Fat-heh On this most auspicious occassion, lakh lakh vadiyan Guru di pyaari sangat nu. Please fill your lives with the highest rehit and udham - make it your priorities to make your bodies and minds strong, develop excellent martial skill, familiarise yourself with Sikh Ithihaas and arth of Gurbani (Aad and Dasam), learn more paat kant, listen to and promote the highest quality kirtan, become passionately involved in some form of seva for the Panth and establish an iron amritvela in order to benefit from the fruit of simran. May Sat-Guru bless and guide us all to put divisions/fences/jathai/sampryada behind us and all continue to unite under the banner of Shahi-Shahaan-Shah Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharajs eternal wisdom.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01g6gf1/The_Story_of_the_Turban/ Watch from 23 minutes.