News & Views

Is Shin-Kicking The Next Olympic Sport?

Cotswold Olimpicks and Shin Kicking Association of BritainYes, shin-kicking is an ancient "sport" in England, dating back more than 400 years. 

Essentially, it is two men holding onto each other, while taking turns kicking the other in the shins, until one competitor goes down and cannot get up. 

The national governing body for shin-kicking is SKAB---Shin Kicking Association of Britain

SKAB’s motto reads: If it ain't broke, yer not kickin’ hard enough!

Competition took place recently at the Cotswold Olimpicks, where shin-kicking is a featured event.

The gathering takes place on a hillside overlooking the picturesque town of Chipping Campden, 90 miles northwest of London.

Other events include tug-of-war, as well as sack and wheelbarrow racing.

Thousands attended, as they have for a whopping 400 years. Readers will be happy to know that while injuries still can occur, broken bones are rare. 

Enjoy the video below. 

 

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Bruce has traveled the world, both working for and covering a wide array of the sports world’s greatest events. Below is a sampling of the level of experience and perspective he brings to ifollosports.com.

OLYMPIC GAMES:  
Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Beijing 2008     
*Editor of the Official Report of the 1984 Olympic Games

PAN AMERICAN GAMES:   
Caracas 1983, Indianapolis 1987, Havana 1991, Mar del Plata 1995, Winnipeg 1999



WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES:   
Zagreb 1987, Duisberg 1989, Sheffield 1991, Buffalo 1993, Fukuoka 1995, Sicily 1997, Palma de Mallorca 1999 

USA TRACK AND FIELD:     
World Championships (Helsinki 1983), World Junior Championships (Athens 1986), World Cup (Rome 1981), World Cup (Havana 1992), Pan American Junior Championships (Barqisimeto 1982, Orlando 1986)  Editor of USATF annual calendar project (1980-1991) and Cross Country handbook (1979-1991) 

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: 
World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.

ASSOCIATED PRESS     
Correspondent covering the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA Bruins basketball, track and field, and swimming 1977-1989
  

A California native, Bruce is a 
graduate of UCLA and resides in Venice Beach.

 

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