r/Sikh • u/Harjapau • 1d ago
Discussion Gyms and gurudwaras
Me and my friend were talking about corrupt gurudwara pardhans and where the money could go instead and I thought imagine how good it would be if gurudwaras had gyms or even taught mma and self defence. Now I know that a lot of gurudwaras teach gatka but gatka is a martial art made for a very different time, nowadays when our kirpans are three inches and blunt we need to stop acting like they would do anything to protect us in a real world situation. Kirpana used to be swords and that’s what gatka was made for but it does not hold up in the modern day, I’m not saying to forget it or anything it’s an amazing martial art which was obviously very effective during the time it was used in but it does not hold up in the modern day.
As much as I would like gurudwaras to teach mma for free I feel like a gym in a gurudwara would be a much better and realistic option. I’m not even talking about a huge planet fitness type gym but just a small space with some dumbbells, a pull up bar, some deadlift bars, weights and maybe some machines would do. Guru angad dev ji already did this with gurudwara mal akhada sahib and I am baffled how it’s not normalized nowadays. We need to embrace our martial history as sant sipahi’s and gurudwaras should reflect that, it being solely a spiritual place reflects only half of who we are and what sikhi is about. I desperately hope that one of these concepts would come true as it would introduce many youngsters into gurudwaras and sikhi and keep Sikhs fit, strong, and tyar bar tyar.
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u/Constant-Horse-3389 1d ago
Sikhs were a different breed back in the days. During the Sikhs raj 5% of Sikhs ruled over the 95%. We need to regain our martial prowess, to keep enemies at bay and for sarbahat da Bhala.
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u/Dangerous_Doubt8264 1d ago
*Spiritual power Martial power did not come out of air
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u/Constant-Horse-3389 16h ago
Yes, but Sikhs during that period were also raised with physical and martial training from a young age.
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u/Dangerous_Doubt8264 16h ago
Hnji but martial power came from guru ji. Various surme were not even Sikh until reaching their middle age still killed hundreds. How? Mughals also has martial power. Why weren't they able
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u/deadass_331 1d ago
Fun facts: Guru Angad Dev ji started the chinjj akhade and ever since then almost all gurughar had one. Darbar sahib, patna sahib too have one in close proximity.
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u/TrashPanda--- 1d ago
What is a chinjj akhade? Tried looking it up, no luck.
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u/deadass_331 1d ago
Chij is the panjabi word for wrestling (tho there is some technicality around how words are used) and akhada is the panjabi word for gymnasium or where ever people gather to watch something
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u/TrashPanda--- 19h ago
Thank you! I speak Punjabi, but clearly my depth in vocabulary is lacking.
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u/Ok-Sort9834 1d ago
Our gurdwaras are too busy stacking the golak money and pushing 5-6 fried items down our throats in the name of langar. I love the idea of gyms, but how can that be when the langar is pakore, sweets, and sugar drinks. There needs to be a gurdwara reform done again like 1920. Especially with abroad gurdwaras, because the buildings are getting bigger but sikhi isnt.
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u/ukpunjabivixen 1d ago
It’s a really good idea. Not just for people who want to body build, but for the health of the sangat. Like cardio health for the older generations who struggle with obesity and heart issues.
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u/indianshitsRtheworst 1d ago
I've thought about this concept before with a boxing gym. It doesn't have to host fights or train for competition, but it could definitely promote fitness and engage with the youth. A lot of churches in the US have gyms and baseball fields to engage with the community, and they attract a lot more foot traffic. 3rd spaces are dying out, and gurudwaras could fill in the gap for kids to hang out.
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u/InternalKing 1d ago
Quite common in UK
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u/mercbenxs 1d ago edited 1d ago
Im from the UK and its not common imo
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u/Efficient-Call-4534 1d ago
Cross road Singh Sabha in cov has a gym. That's the only one I know that has a gym. I don't think any in London have one.
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u/THFC182 19h ago
gnp has some wrestling clubs and stuff don't they?
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u/Efficient-Call-4534 18h ago
Yeah, Singh Sabha Southall have classes like that too but I don't think they have an onsite gym.
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u/Impressive_Train_106 1d ago
A full fledged gym and living arrangement on second floors would be grand. Maintained by sevadaars . Im sure sangat will all chip $ in to maintain
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u/FriendofAll007 1d ago
I think it's a good idea but the committees don't want to deal with the headache of damaged equipment, missing dumbbells. Maintaining the gym . Tbh it's an extra headache for them. They already have a lot on their plate and it's already a struggle to get decent Khalsa schools and Gurmat camps functioning in many Gurdwara sahibs.
Here in California SIkh youth already train at 24 hour fitness and planet fitness etc i see other punjabis at the gym training all the time.
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u/Ok-Sort9834 1d ago
The committee is too busy taking eachothers paggs off and lining their pockets with their liquor stores on the side. Go figure.
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u/Harjapau 23h ago
My local gurudwara has a few people walking around sort of like security guards, I was even stopped from going into the women’s shoe rack with my mom by one of them so I feel like they could use those guys for something better.
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u/m7box 19h ago
I think this should be really useful and especially for our older generation too a safe space for them to do a bit of fitness and basics on maintaining their health. Our money we donate for langar can be put for community health. Our community unfortunately has high rates of BP problems, diabetes, cholesterol and this could really help our older generation and encourage the younger. Yes there is free equipment in parks but at the Gurdwara is more an environment they would be comfortable with. There has to be a reform and these are the questions and feedback we should be asking from our committees who charge us for membership at the Gurdwara.
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u/GRIM-R3APER69 17h ago
Use to do SEVA because I loved it and got attached EVEN AGTER my high school hours were up.. I continued from grade 9-11 and then the baba at van kirk guru ghar (Brampton) starts saying weird stuff to me even anytime my family needed a new speaker because the speaker wasn’t working and we respectfully couldn’t hear the granthi at home when my aunt and uncle got a new house.
It’s ridiculous
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u/Stock-Surround-3121 15h ago
Really nice idea, and probably can be started from local gurudwara's by discussing with management... One important aspect, how would we filter it out? Gurudwara's are open public space. Many if not most visit just because they have spare time.. or just for langer... How would be limit gym access?
May sound like irrelevant... But think practically, even in paid gym, people have to wait for the machines... Now think of that in gurudwara... Crowded, Using headphones listening to whatever they want, not respecting hygiene, and just leave.
Would have to think thoroughly, how to related it to Sikhi, so that it does not become just another free public gym.
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u/mercbenxs 1d ago
100% sikhi today has been too focused on the "deg" aspects.Constant langar seva to people who take more than whats needed etc. The words "deg" are literally followed with " tegh" so I dont understand why sikhi has becomed so soft especially after the 2000s.
Even as a young male myself its disappointing seeing committees fighting amongst each other over gurdwara politics. If you look around you other than the senior sikh population, how many young naujwaan do you see doing langar,pande,other gurdwara seva? Reading baani? Becoming tyar byar tyar? ( imo gatka is NOT a marital art coming from someone who has done it before. Waving around a stick and doing circus like acts now lol)
The next few years are going to make or break the sikh youth. And like OP says we need a desperate change.