You know how you’ve got shins? Well, imagine a sport where all you did was slam your feet into someone elses shins until they fell down. That my good sir, is Shin Kicking.The year was 16-something in Dover’s Hill, named for founder of the Cotswold Olimpick Games, Robert Dover, near Chipping Campden. Know where that is? Neither did I. I looked it up though, it’s about two hours northwest of London.

Training for the event used to include smacking your shins around with hammers to toughen up the bone. That was back in the 17th century though and things were pretty different back then. Yep, this sport was a mainstay in the Cotswold Olimpick Games until it folded in 1850. There was a resurgence of the games in the late 1900s and sure enough, shin-kicking is back in full force and enjoyed every year around June.

Steel-toed boots are no longer allowed (as they were in the 1600s) and competitors generally stuff their pants with straw to dampen the blow. Current event organizers successfully claim no broken bones occur in their competitions, only bruising. What a relief.

To begin, you grab the other lad by the collar or shoulders with arms straight, and start wailing on his shins with your soft shoes. The boundaries are basically non-existent, so competitors have the ability to gain leverage by moving around.

When watching, you’ll see that shin kicking is essentially a hockey fight if there was no ice or sharp shoes and instead of punching you were kicking dudes.

Whilst participating, if the pain becomes unbearable you can yell “SUFFICIENT!” Either that or the referee determines that a successful throw has taken place and will rule in favor of the thrower. A throw may only take place during the action of a kick.

Just like toe wrestling, shin kicking matches are best two of three.

A referee for the match uses a stick to control the match, stepping in if things get out of control. He or she has a large staff or stick, and is called a stickler. It’s rumored that this is where “stickler for the rules” originated.

The Shin Kicking World Championships will be held again in 2018 where current champ Adam Miller will defend his title…and his shins.

h/t to scungillipig for the reminder to add a video

Here’s another with more of an idea of the rest of the Costwold Olimpick Games