Stress Ball Battles in China

Many people trace the early days of stress balls to China, hundreds and hundreds of years ago. The Han Dynasty, one of the largest and most powerful empires in history, used walnuts to train warriors for combat by squeezing them during moments of high anxiety. It was said these salty snacks improved focus and manual dexterity during battles. Plus, they were tasty to eat!

Turns out walnuts must not have been very good training partners. The Hans fell at the Battle of Red Cliffs, leaving room for new rulers to take over in China. Many other dynasties came and went until eventually the Songs took over in 960 AD. This influential empire upgraded the traditional walnut training by instead using balls carved from stone or metal. At the time, iron production was double that of England and the Songs had material to use for extraneous purposes.

It wasn't until the Ming Dynasty came to power in 1368 AD, however, when stress balls reached their full potential. In the city of Baoding, the aptly named Baoding balls were mass-produced and made of iron, jade, or solid stone. Rather than squeezing, the Chinese would roll the balls around in their hands, creating a soothing sound. Each ball was decorated with a design that encouraged relaxation, harmony, health, and other positive vibes. These objects went beyond the Hans and Songs by reportedly doubling as both weapons and meditative objects. Warriors could grip the balls and throw them at their enemies causing significant damage. At least they still had the encouraging image painted on the outside!