Every year, every day, a wide range of bizarre, wonderful, and sometimes dangerous sports are practiced across the globe. Love chess and boxing? Put the two together – there's a sport for that. Ever wondered how farmers used to cross Dutch waterways back in the day? All you needed was a very long stick, and quite a bit of skill. Enter, the impressive sport of Fierljeppen. Did you know that the Cotswolds is home to the world shin kicking championships? Visit the annual Cotswold Olimpicks in spring and you may come across the brutal 17th century sport in action.
The world is home to many unbelievable sports just waiting to be discovered. Learn more with our guide to the weirdest sporting events in the world.
Toe wrestling
Think arm wrestling, but with your feet, and you'll come close to the bizarre spectacle that is toe wrestling. Originating in 1970s Derbyshire, England, you can still find some open-entry tournaments if a toe dual piques your interest (though be prepared for a foot inspection beforehand!). Once in the ring, competitors lock toes and attempt to pin down the opponent's foot to gain the upper hand... or upperfoot. Find out more on the official World Toe Wrestling Championships.
Bo-Taoshi
Across the globe to Japan now, where, if you know where to look, you'll encounter the big group sport of Bo-Taoshi. Essentially a giant game of capture-the-pole, two teams boast a group of 150 players per side. One team's job is to defend a tall pole, while the other group tries to topple it below a certain angle. Initially an exercise performed in Japanese military academies, Bo-Taoshi is usually played during annual school sports festivals or military events, rather than professional leagues.
Chess boxing
Essentially a fusion of chess and boxing – an unlikely combination some may say, but Chessboxing has found its niche and flourished. The sport was conceived from a seemingly far-fetched idea by Dutch performance artist Lepe Rubingh in 2003, which he based on a science fiction graphic novel called Cold Equator by Enki Bilal.
Competitors alternate between rounds of speed chess and boxing in the ring. To win, you either need a knockout or checkmate. Events of the popular chessboxing are run year-round internationally in both amateur and professional leagues, from the UK and Europe, all the way to India. Find out more information from the World Chess Boxing Organisation.
Fierljeppen
Fierljeppen, or polsstokverspringen, is a traditional sport originating from the Netherlands. It essentially involves a long pole and a body of water. The challenge is to get from one side to the other using just your strength and the pole. It's a difficult skill to perform, and one that farmers in Friesland, Netherlands, used to do daily to cross waterways.
A jump consists of a sprint to the pole (polsstok), jumping and grabbing it, then climbing to the top of the pole. It's not as simple as that though, as the pole tends to wobble in all directions and learnign to control this momentum is key. The jumper finishes by landing on a bed of sand on the opposite bank to the starting jump point. Competitive season runs through summer and Dutch clubs offer beginner sessions, along with local tournaments. Intrigued? Find out more on the official site, the Fierljeppen Netherlands Federation.
Shin kicking
What it says on the tin, the sport of shin kicking dates back to at least the 17th-century Cotswolds. During a match, two competitors will hold each other by the shoulders while repeatedly kicking each other in the shins until one falls. Traditionally, those involved would stuff straw into their trousers for protection from the brutal blows. Surprisingly, or not, the sport of shin kicking is still practiced today to some degree, as part of the annual Cotswold Olimpicks in late spring. Find out more here Cotswold Olimpicks.
Hornussen
Hornussen is a Swiss sport which could be considered a mix of baseball and golf. Hard to imagine? Instead of a ball, there's a tiny puck called a "nouss" which is lashed by a wooden peg and launched at extraordinary speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour towards defenders, who attempt to intercept the missile with wooden paddles. It's a centuries-old sport played during spring through to autumn. Hornussen has integrated well into modernity, with many competitions now recorded live on Tiktok, or the like. Get involved with a beginner session or watch a training session via a local Swiss club. For more information, check out the Swiss Hornussen Association.
Elephant Polo
Exactly as it sounds, elephant polo is simply polo played upon the backs of elephants. Of course, some adjustments are necessary, like extra-long mallets and a slower, more lolloping speed. On the other hand, chaos is significantly dialled up. Like horse polo, there are four riders (or mahouts) per side, but that's where the similarities end. At 100m long, the field is far shorter, and the games are capped to two 10-minute chukkers. During half-time teams switch sides, as well as elephants. There are several rules, the most key being for the elephants' welfare – no elephant plays consecutive games, and play finishes at noon, before the heat of the day.
The modern form of elephant polo is said to have been formalised as a sport in Nepal in 1982, during a conversation between the owner of a tourism company in Nepal, who also happened to own elephants, and a Scottish landowner, who adored polo. You can imagine the rest. Elephant polo was historically tied to charity tournaments, but has declined a little in recent years due to animal welfare concerns. For more information, check out the World Elephant Polo Association Archive.
Underwater Hockey
Playing underwater hockey is no mean feat. To start, players must dive to the bottom of a swimming pool and push a puck across the floor, using only short sticks for propulsion. All the while holding their breath. They are allowed to wear larger masks in the place of swim goggles and swimming quickly is made easier with the use of fins.
Underwater hockey was invented in 1950s Britain, where it is known as "Octopush", in order to help divers keep fit during the winter months. The game has gained a small but dedicated following from Europe to Asia and international tournaments happen throughout the year. To find out more, check out CMAS Underwater Hockey.
Camel jumping
Originating from Yemen, specifically Bedouin communities, camel jumping is the sport of jumping over as many camel backs as possible. Camels are lined up side-by-side and the more camels the jumper is able to surpass, the greater the prestige accredited to them. Traditionally an event tied to weddings and tribal ceremonies, camel jumping is a cultural sport and not considered a tourist attraction. If you're curious to find out more, head over to the Yemen Tourism Promotion Board.
Not to be confused with camel wrestling, which is a spectacle observed in western Turkey (Aegean region). Camel wrestling involves male camels who wrestle each other during mating season, often to the cheers of handlers and a crowd. Unlike camel jumping, it is possible to observe this 'sport' during specific winter festivals held from December to March. If you're interested, find out more about upcoming events at Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival Information.
Top image: A Yemeni man leaps over two camels during the opening ceremony of the Sanaa Summer Festival in the capital Sanaa. (Credit: Mohammed Huwais / Getty Images)
