2024-06-29 22:43:55
A Sikh martial arts competition comes to Cloverdale.
The Damdama Gatka Championship will feature players from around the world and will be held at the Agriplex on July 6-7.
Gatka is a traditional Sikh combat sport and is considered an education in combat.
“This event brings together talented Gatka players to showcase the rich traditions of the ancient Sikh martial art form,” said Vaneet Kaur, communications manager of the Damdama Gatka Championship.
Kaur added that competitors will come from across Canada (almost every province), many from California and other parts of the United States, several from India and some from various other countries.
Spectators will be able to attend the qualifying matches on Saturday July 6 and the championship matches on Sunday July 7.
The competition is organised by the Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji Gatka Akhara (SBDSJGA), which has a site in both Surrey and Victoria. An akhara is both a competition ring and a training school for Gatka, much like a gymnasium, but with a spiritual side. Gatka as a sport is inseparable from Sikhism.
“There is a spiritual and religious aspect to Gatka,” Kaur told Cloverdale Reporter“When you enter the akhara, or when you are about to perform or practice the martial art, there is a prayer inserted there before you begin. »
She said the competitors then bow, salute the weapons they will use, enter the akhara and fight. There are two forms of Gatka, a training form and a competitive form.
Kaur said that on the first day of the competition, the championships will take on more of a festival atmosphere as fighters will participate in various qualifying matches, but there will be no elimination bouts. On the second day, she said competitors would start with more qualifying matches, but would fight for their tournament lives in the elimination rounds later in the day, as athletes fought to be crowned champions in four categories: junior boys and girls. (15 years and over) and senior men and women (18 years and over).
“It’s a fari-soti competition,” Kaur explained. “So this is where two players compete against each other. A go is a leather shield and a out “It’s a stick made of bamboo.”
Gatka fighters will face off one-on-one in two-minute bouts.
According to a SBDSJGA press release regarding the championships, the aim is to “present the traditional elements of Gatka in a contemporary approach.”
This is the second Damdama Gatka Championship. Last year, during the inaugural event, more than 2,000 spectators passed through the gates for the two-day tournament (held at Khalsa School on 124). Kaur said it was a “huge success” and she expects it to be repeated this year, hoping even more people will come thanks to the larger venue.
“This is a first of its kind. There are competitions all over the world, but the way we do it is unique,” she said. “Last year, we had the Punjabi commentators from Hockey Night in Canada doing live commentary while we were broadcasting the event.”
The live-stream will be broadcast on the SBDSJGA YouTube page and will feature several Sikh sports media personalities as well as former Gatka fighters.
The tournament is supported by two main sponsors, Khalsa Credit Union and Ion Properties.
“We hope to put Gatka on the map and really show what this traditional martial art is and we’re really, really excited about that,” Kaur added. “And because we had a very positive participation last year, we extended it to the Agriplex. Last year was incredible. It was a full house.
“We really hope for a bigger and better turnout this year.”
Kaur said entry is free and there will be food trucks on site Saturday and Sunday.
The Damdama Gatka Championships will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 6 and 7 at the Cloverdale Agriplex, located at 17798 62 Avenue on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Visit gatka.ca for more information.
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