Most Violent Traditional Games
Calcio Storico in Italy
This 16th-century game mixes football, boxing, and wrestling and often ends with serious injuries.
Buzkashi in Afghanistan
Teams on horseback fight to drag a goat carcass into a goal—chaotic and fiercely aggressive.
Juego del Palo in Canary Islands
A traditional stick-fighting sport where opponents duel with long wooden staffs.
Highland Wrestling in Scotland
Bare-knuckle grappling and tossing rivals in the mud, with little regard for safety rules.
Mokomoko in Papua New Guinea
A tribal bare-knuckle fighting game that settles disputes with intense public brawls.
Tarahumara Kickball in Mexico
Played over miles of rough terrain with high-speed chases and intense physical clashes.
Survivor-Style Wrestling in Nigeria
Known as Dambe, fighters use one arm to punch and the other for defense—no gloves, no mercy.
Olympic Sports That Were Removed