5 Unconventional Sports to Stay in Shape
Most of us have the same routine when it comes to exercising—you run or bike on the treadmill, lift weights at the gym, and maybe even play some basketball in your free time. But if you’re looking to shake things up and keep your workouts interesting, consider trying one of these five unconventional sports that will help you stay in shape without getting bored.
1) Football
Football is an American sport that is played between two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, which is led by a quarterback, attempts to advance down the field by running with or passing the ball, while the defense, led by a coach and defensive coordinator (and also consisting of eleven players), aims to stop them and take control of possession for their team. American football evolved from rugby football and can be considered to be its descendant. It was born as such because it evolved through various cultures across several continents as it spread from Great Britain in its earliest form during colonial times.
2) Taekwondo
The Korean martial art of Taekwondo isn’t just a way to defend yourself; it also makes you stronger and healthier. You’ll learn taekwondo basics through carefully planned practice routines, including sparring (sparring is optional). Taekwondo improves your hand-eye coordination, flexibility, balance, and stamina—basically, everything you need for a healthy lifestyle. As you get better at taekwondo, your energy levels will go up and so will your endurance—great news if you have an active lifestyle outside of practice! Practice regularly and prepare for tournaments as you gain more skills.
3) Roller Derby
Roller derby is a physical sport played on inline skates. Two teams of five members each compete against each other, playing both offense and defense simultaneously. There are four periods, called jams, and one 20-minute overtime period. The goal of roller derby is to score points by passing an opposing player while skating through various obstacles in order to score points (jams) against your opponent’s jammer (who is like a quarterback). Instead of tackling or obstructing another player, they must either avoid them until they have passed them or block them using their derby stick, which looks similar to a hockey stick. It takes about 3 months for people to learn basic skills for roller derby; though it takes years to master. You can find different types of roller derby such as East Coast Derby, Old School Derby Rules, Flat Track Derby Association (FTDA), Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), Men’s Roller Derby Association, junior leagues such as Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA), etc. Keep reading to find out more unconventional sports that will help you stay in shape: American Quidditch League: This sport is based off a fictional book series Harry Potter; however it was created as an alternative version of rugby that was played with broomsticks and muggles alike. It has many similarities with basketball; you even shoot hoops instead of throwing balls at baskets.
4) Kendo
What’s an Olympic sport that’s all about beating people with bamboo swords? Kendo, of course. Kendo is a hybrid martial art and sport from Japan that uses wooden swords—called shinai—and protective armor called bogu. Like other martial arts, it’s broken into three parts: kihon (basic movements), kata (formal sequences) and Kumite (fighting). Traditional fencing armor is used during matches, which are conducted on a circular field. Anyone who wants to participate can join a local club and learn how to fight with shinai and bogu, although you might have to find your own opponent—kendo doesn’t require any formal body contact or physical takedowns.
5) Bouldering
If you want an extreme workout, try bouldering. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that involves short, high-intensity climbs up steep rock faces without ropes or harnesses. You can boulder on artificial walls at climbing gyms and some parks have dedicated boulder areas where boulderers train. Even though it doesn’t require harnesses and ropes, bouldering is still dangerous—people die from falls every year—so use caution if you decide to give it a try. In addition to getting your heart rate up, bouldering is also a great way for climbers to practice moves. As you get better at difficult boulder problems, you’ll improve your technique and muscle memory when attempting more advanced climbs outdoors.
