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From unusual adaptations of everyday games to entirely unique inventions, these are five obscure sports you should try at least once.
Games and sports have been played worldwide for centuries. Documented since early civilisation, practices such as hunting and running have evolved alongside humanity and are still commonplace today.
While some sports have stood the test of time – chess and wrestling, for example – others have wilted away over the centuries to make room for modern contenders. Today, the arena is filled with new and unique games and sports, some of which are downright baffling.
Care to learn more? Read on to find out the five obscure sports you should try at least once in your lifetime.
5. Toe Wrestling – an English invention
The game of toe wrestling is as straightforward as it sounds. Originating in the 1970s, toe wrestling is the brainchild of a group of friends from Staffordshire in England.
On one occasion, hanging out at the Ye Olde Royal Oak Inn, they discussed their collective frustration at England’s lack of sporting prominence. On that day, toe wrestling was founded.
The game consists of two players interlocking their big toes on what is called a “toedium”. Essentially, it is arm wrestling with toes.
4. Wife Carrying – a Finnish sport
First established in Sonkajärvi, Finland, the sport of wife-carrying is again simple and straight to the point. There are several contradicting stories on how this sport came to be, but the practice remains the same.
Wife carry (or it could be simply husband or partner carrying, in our books) traditionally consists of a man holding his wife on his back as he speedily completes an obstacle course. The fastest participant is the winner of this obscure sport you should try at least once.
Although this extreme sport may sound bizarre, it’s actually a rather popular event world over. There have been competitions in Australia, the United Kingdom, Asia, the United States and Asia.
3. Chess Boxing – when two games become one
Chess Boxing is a sport that combines both chess and boxing to create a unique outcome. Demanding both agility and strength, this is without a doubt one of the obscure sports you should try at least once in your life.
Although this may sound like a spoof, chess boxing is a highly represented sport. It is governed by the World Chess Boxing Organisation (WCBO) and the World Chessboxing Association (WCBA).
The first-ever chess boxing match took place in Berlin in 2003 and since has evolved to worldwide status. Chess boxing consists of 11 rounds of three minutes each, which alternative between chess and boxing. The game tests both the mental and physical strength of its players.
2. Tuk-Tuk Polo – a unique hybrid
The sport Tuk-Tuk Polo takes two elements (a tuk-tuk vehicle and the game of polo) and fuses them to create one unique hybrid sport.
Invented in Sri Lanka in 2016, Tuk-Tuk Polo is one of the newer entries on our list, but don’t let that fool you: it has made quite the mark in the international extreme sports arena.
Tuk-Tuk Polo essentially works with the same set of rules as if it were played in its original style, with the player on a horse. However, instead of a horse, you have a tuk-tuk.
In Tuk-Tuk Polo, each team has players driving two tuk-tuks. In each vehicle, there are two people. One is responsible for driving the tuk-tuk, the other is responsible for hitting the ball. It’s as simple as that!
1. Extreme Ironing – the most obscure of all
When contemplating the sphere of extreme sports, there are many unusual contenders to consider. Extreme ironing, however, is way up there as one of the weirdest and most wonderful.
As the name implies, extreme ironing consists of daredevils embracing adrenaline-pumped destinations while getting their ironing done. The Extreme Ironing Bureau states that it is “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.”
Although it is considered to be a playful take on the craze of extreme sports today, it is, without a doubt, one of the obscure sports you should try at least once in your lifetime.
