Senior Multimedia Reporter
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Four-time stickfighting champion Selwyn John reclaimed his coveted King of the Rock title and was crowned Kalinda King of Trinidad and Tobago after defeating his nephew, Anderson Marcano, in a jaw-dropping bout in Moruga yesterday morning.
To the steady, hypnotic rhythm of bongo drums echoing through the Moruga Multipurpose Youth and Sport Facility in St Mary’s, the two men stepped into the gayelle in the early hours of yesterday morning, blending fierce tradition with deeply personal family ties. As mist settled on the field and camphor burned eerily in the gayelle—fed by camphor and puncheon rum—the drummers chanted, “Jumbie in the ring,” heightening the intensity of the moment.
Tired and blood-soaked from two previous fights, John executed the kalinda dance to perfection, wielding his bois with authority and control.
“Hit him, Uncle! Don’t feel sorry!” one relative shouted from the crowd as John and Marcano squared off. The pair had not been on speaking terms for years, and despite blood pouring from wounds on John’s head, Marcano—who lost an eye in a stickfighting accident in 2007—showed no hesitation, pressing the attack relentlessly.
When John finally landed his decisive blow, striking Marcano and drawing blood, the crowd erupted in applause, sealing his victory.
Hoisted onto the shoulders of fellow boismen, including Gladiators captain Oneil Odle, a bloodied but resolute John described the win as bittersweet. A four-time champion, he called on the State to provide insurance and sponsorship for stick fighters, arguing that men who risk their lives to preserve culture deserve greater protection and respect.
“The money too small, but every year we come and fight. Kalinda is in our blood,” he said.
Reflecting on the clash, Odle described it as “a bloody victory.”
“I went there expecting to win and ended up with defeat. Tonight, we are all winners,” he said. However, he criticised the competition setup, pointing to the slippery stage and saying it should have been constructed from plywood to reduce the danger to fighters.
Marcano, meanwhile, spoke candidly about the personal cost of the sport. “This stickfighting led me to lose my eye,” he said. “But I have a family, and I am a construction worker. Despite this, I am very well able to provide.”
He added that while he was not close to his uncle, Selwyn John, it was John’s late brother, Kenneth John, who had been his mentor in the art of stickfighting.
When the results were announced around 1.30 am, John’s Rio Claro Gayelle claimed first place, alongside Terrance Marcano and Jaevon Primus. Second place and $30,000 went to Gladiators, captained by Odle, with Anderson Marcano and Sean Lange. Third place was secured by Spartans – No Surrender No Retreat, led by Denzil Harricharan, Ainsley Alcia and Kesto McIntosh. Couva Gayelle, captained by Daniel Barclay, with Kenson Woods and Lebbeaus DeLeon, also featured in the finals.
The gayelle proved treacherous that night, causing several boismen to slip during bouts. Eventually, a blower was brought in to dry the surface before each fight. Vendors sold hot corn soup, chicken foot souse and roast pork sandwiches, along with a range of drinks, as spectators stayed through the night.
Speaking to Guardian Media after the finals, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Michelle Benjamin said the Government intended to take stickfighting to a global stage through stronger marketing and increased recognition.
She added that the State would work toward providing better incentives for boismen, acknowledging their role in safeguarding a powerful cultural legacy. Saying the artform had not received the respect it deserved, Benjamin said she was proud that the finals were held in the birthplace of stickfighting.
