Teach abroad: 9 sports to discover while teaching

Are you the active sporty kind? Teaching overseas opens doors to a whole range of sports and activities you may never heard of.

Forget about looking for a football team or rugby club, here’s 9 more unique sports you can get involved in when you teach abroad:

1. Kabaddi

What is it? A contact game involving two teams, 14 people, and some really deep breaths.

Players must cross into the opposing team’s side of the court, then touch a member of the opposing team, and return to their own side.

Sounds simple? Not so fast. From the moment you cross the center line, you must chant the word “kabaddi” nonstop using a single breath. Failing to return to your side of the court, or running out of breath forfeits your chance to score.

Who plays it? Kabaddi is the national game of Bangladesh, Nepal and the chosen game of several states across India.

How to get involved: If you teach abroad in any of the countries mentioned, you’ll likely come across this sport. Just talk to your local colleagues for the low down on joining in.

2. Jianzi

Pro tip – take note of the old women. Hands down, they’re the masters.

What is it? A bit like Hacky Sack, but played with a toy made from feathers fixed to a base of metal and plastic rings. It’s more springy, and flies differently to a hacky sack.

A variety of games can be played with Jianzi. From single person “keepie-uppie” as we say in the UK, to passing it around a circle, or even over a net like badminton.

Who plays it? You’ll see this being played all over China, by people of all ages. If you teach abroad there, you’ll surely see it.

How to get involved: Just get one from your local shop and take it to a local park – there’ll certainly be others playing.

They cost around 3-4RMB ( less than $1), but make sure to buy a few as they last only a few days at a time.

3. Sepak Takraw

What is it? Takraw is like volleyball, but played with a small rattan ball, and relies on using any body part other than your hands. While somewhat similar to jianzi/hacky sack, it’s much more difficult to control.

Jianzi are similar to badminton – you can kick them pretty hard without losing control. Takraw on the other hand, requires precision and a gentle touch. Kick it a little too hard and you’ll be running some distance to catch up with it.

Who plays it? This game can be found all over South East Asia. Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia all play it, with slightly different preferences.

How to get involved: If you teach abroad in the countries mentioned above, just check out your local parks, beach, or ask your students where you can play.

4. Wife carrying

What is it? Unsurprisingly, exactly how it sounds. You have to race across challenging terrain, including rivers and fields, with your wife over your shoulder. The winner is the husband/wife team which completes the course in the fastest time.

Who plays it? Mad men, with competitive wives in Finland.

How to get involved: Don’t worry if you’re not married just yet, or you don’t teach abroad.

Any female-male partnership is OK, and if you search around you’ll find leagues springing up around Europe, and North America.

5. Bo-Taoshi

What is it? A full-contact capture-the-flag type game played in Japan. Two teams, numbering up to 75 people each, take turns to attack/defend a raised flagpole.

Defenders surround the pole, and try to ensure it stays upright. Meanwhile, attackers charge at the pole and try to topple it below a 30 degree angle.

Who plays it? It’s traditionally played by Japanese school teams, police forces and army cadets.

How to get involved: This is a bit of a niche sport. If you want to get involved, you can check with local expat communities, or ask staff if you teach at a university.

6. Kite fighting

What is it? A duel to the death, for kites. Opponents pit their kite flying skills against each other, using glass-coated string to cut each others kites free.

Who plays it? You’ll find this game all over the world. It’s especially popular in Asian countries, and is also found in South America. If you teach abroad in Nepal, Korea, India, Brazil, or an Army Base in the middle-east, you’ll see it for sure.

How to get involved: Depending on where you are, check out beaches, parks, open spaces and even look for people playing from their rooftops. They’ll be able to hook you up with a local shop.

7. Pacu jawi

What is it? A water-skiing race from one side of a paddy field to the other, powered by two bulls.

It originally started as a way to celebrate the end of harvest, and has now become a highly competitive event drawing huge crowds.

Who plays it?  Farmers,  bull breeders and the brave play this sport across Indonesia, and Southern India.

How to get involved: If you teach in Indonesia, you’ll have chance to find one of these events no problem. If you’re lucky, you might get a chance on some of the smaller bulls, but don’t worry if not – it’s a great spectator sport.

8. Judose

Pro tip – It makes a great way to decide who’s buying the next round of drinks.

What is it? A pirate version of sumo wrestling.

Players must hop on one leg and use their raised knee to topple their opponent. Eye patches and shouting “arghhhh” are optional.

Who plays it? It’s played by men and women across China. While there’s been efforts over the past few years to take this sport international, it’s struggled to take off. Though this isn’t surprising, it’s actually pretty fun.

How to get involved: You don’t even need to teach abroad to get involved with this sport. Just go for it.

9. Swamp football (soccer)

What is it? Football, but played in bogs or swamps.

Teams compete to wade through the muddy bogs, and use their feet, chest or head to pass the ball through their opponent’s net.

Who plays it? It started as a Finnish army training exercise, to build up endurance and stamina, but has grown in popularity.

How to get involved: If you teach abroad in China, India, Turkey, or Europe, you’ll likely find some groups to get involved with.

Do you already teach abroad?

Let us know about any unique sports you’ve seen on your travels, or any tips you may have for the ones we’ve covered.