Tag: Pok-ta-Pok

Ulama Pok-ta-Pok Mesoamerican Ball Game Tournament 2017-Present

Results

YearWinnersState/Country
2017Yo Creek Village (Orange District, Belize)
2018Yo Creek Village Ek Balam (Black Jaguars) (Orange District, Belize)
Ulama Mesoamerican Ball Game Tournament Champions 2017-Present [Reference: 1-2]

Report

The Pok ta Pok team from Yo Creek Village in Orange Walk District in Belize won the first Tournament in the revived Ancient Mesoamerican Ball Game now known as Ulama to the Mexica (Aztecs) in Central Mexico and Pok-ta-Pok to the Maya in Chiapas, Yucatan and Quintana Roo (South East Mexico), Guatemala and Belize.

10 Mexican and one Belize team entered the Tournament which was played by the Ancient Olmec, Mayan and Aztec civilizations. The Tournament was held in Guatemala.

The following year, Ek Balam (Black Jaguars) from Yo Creek Village as they were now known, won again.

The Sport is played with the hips, with objective to knock a rubber ball weighing 4.4 pounds past the opposing team. It is known as Ulama in Mexico and Pok ta Pok in Belize.

Ulama Mayan Ball Tournament 2017
Ulama Mayan Ball Tournament 2017 [Reference: 3][Photo Credit: Ctv3 News]
Ulama - Mayan Ball Game Tournament 2017
Ulama – Mayan Ball Game Tournament 2017 [Reference: 4][Photo Credit: Amber Griscaye]

References

Websites

[1] Ctv3 News (2017) Belize Wins Ancient Mayan Ball Tournament [Internet] Available from: http://www.ctv3belizenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7990:belize-wins-ancient-mayan-ball-tournament- [Accessed 28 June 2019]

[2] Amber Griscaye (2017) Mexico v Belize in re-creation of the Maya Ball Game Ulama [Internet] Available from: https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/180521.html [Accessed 28 June 2019]

[5] News 5 (2018) Pok ta Pok, an Ancient but re-emerging Sport in Belize [Internet] Available from: https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/174771 [Accessed 28 June 2019]

Images

[3] Ctv3 News (2017) Belize Wins Ancient Mayan Ball Tournament [Internet] Available from: http://www.ctv3belizenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7990:belize-wins-ancient-mayan-ball-tournament- [Accessed 28 June 2019]

[4] Amber Griscaye (2017) Mexico v Belize in re-creation of the Maya Ball Game Ulama [Internet] Available from:https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/art/belize-maya-team-win-ball-game.jpg [Accessed 28 June 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Richard Mulcahy & Fiona Connolly-Mulcahy and Kimmage Development Studies Centre @ The Holy Ghost College, Dublin 6W.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | GAA World Archive

Last Updated: 10 November 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.