Regular readers will know that at Strange Games we love Slapsies. The ultimate, brutal, playground game that has the magical combination of steady nerves, skill and pain. Simply hold your hands together, prayer like, your fingertips touching those of your opponent then try and strike the back of their hand with the palm of your own before they withdraw. Everytime you hit you get another go. The game is perfect and has remained unchanged for decades...but now, there is a new variation. We present Balance Ball Slapsies. Just as violent but in BBS you must kneel and balance on one of those large rubber exercise balls opposite the other player. The first player to fall from their ball or give up because of sore hands loses the game. This brings fantastic new dimensions to the game, you need to temper the speed of your attempted slap with the need to retain balance and stay on your ball, and if your opponent's hands escape you can find yourself in an undignified heap on the floor. Marvellous!
High Noon is a game that is a little like a combination of a playground clapping game and rock paper scissors, but is much better than both. It is harder to explain than it is to learn and play...but here goes. For two players, each faces the other over a table. Like a clapping game each player makes their moves simultaneously. The game begins with both players hand slapping the table (no:1 in accompanying picture). In their second move each player then decides whether to slap their left shoulder (pic 2) which is a safe move or to bring their hand up to their right shoulder (pic 3) which loads the gun, or to fire the gun (pic 4) at their opponent. After this second move each player then slaps the table again (pic 1) in unison and moves to their third move. The Hand Slap move must be made alternatively with one of the other three. A player successfully shoots the opponent (and wins the game) if they make the 'Fire' move at exactly the same time their opponent makes a 'Reload' move. Also, players can not fire the gun unless it has previously been loaded and they must reload before the each attempt at firing is made. Once players have learnt the rules then it is best played as fast as possible. Keeping the rhythm whilst watching what your opponent is up to and deciding whether to attempt a shot or a reload become mind-bending at speed. And once you have mastered the basic game why not go for mental meltdown and play the the two arm version. The video below should (hopefully) make clearer my description of this superb game.
Staying with the theme of strange wrestling we present Newspaper Wrestling. An unusual game for two people and an ideal use for a newspaper that's been read. Simply place a sheet from a newspaper flat on the floor. Both players stand on the page - they will be standing very close to one another even if they use a broadsheet. Now, on a start command, each tries to push (or pull) the other off the paper. Any technique is valid in this claustrophobic combat. The first player that places a foot outside the paper, or causes it to tear, is the loser. Once you have mastered the art of broadsheet newspaper wrestling why not move up a category to tabloid wrestling.
Table Wrestling is a sport with a history that goes back to Roman times where slaves were forced to to mount their master's table and try to circumnavigate it whilst wagers were made...or it could be just an inspired made-up game by a group of bored sixth-formers in Worcester. Whichever it is, Table Wrestling is undoubtedly one of the greatest and strangest Wrestling events.
To play, simply get a table (a school size one works well, but one with more character can sometimes give greater opportunity for hand holds) lie on top of it (face down is best) then try and go 360 degrees around it without touching the ground with any part of your body. The most common technique is to stretch a hand all the way underneath to grab the opposing edge before the rest of your body follows and you fall to the floor. Then simply pull yourself underneath and then, hopefully, back onto the top. It's a little like keelhauling - only with a table and no risk of drowning. Once you have mastered the basic move you can advance to travelling around the table length ways or if you are especially advanced in a figure of eight movement. For the hardcore table wrestler you could even attempt the 'altitude' version where you balance 1 table on the top of two others before going around it. If you are particularly speedy why not try and beat the world record which stands at 10 rotations in 1 minute!
For the player that struggles to get their body all the way around then the two player game (illustrated in the accompanying photo) might be the one to try. Each player hangs over one side of a table and attempts to dislodge their opponent by any means possible...the winner is the first to get three falls or a submission.
combination of steady nerves, skill and pain. Simply hold your hands together, prayer like, your fingertips touching those of your opponent then try and strike the back of their hand with the palm of your own before they withdraw. Everytime you hit you get another go. The game is perfect and has remained unchanged for decades...but now, there is a new variation. We present Balance Ball Slapsies. Just as violent but in BBS you must kneel and balance on one of those large rubber exercise balls opposite the other player. The first player to fall from their ball or give up because of sore hands loses the game. This brings fantastic new dimensions to the game, you need to temper the speed of your attempted slap with the need to retain balance and stay on your ball, and if your opponent's hands escape you can find yourself in an undignified heap on the floor. Marvellous!
combination of steady nerves, skill and pain. Simply hold your hands together, prayer like, your fingertips touching those of your opponent then try and strike the back of their hand with the palm of your own before they withdraw. Everytime you hit you get another go. The game is perfect and has remained unchanged for decades...but now, there is a new variation. We present Balance Ball Slapsies. Just as violent but in BBS you must kneel and balance on one of those large rubber exercise balls opposite the other player. The first player to fall from their ball or give up because of sore hands loses the game. This brings fantastic new dimensions to the game, you need to temper the speed of your attempted slap with the need to retain balance and stay on your ball, and if your opponent's hands escape you can find yourself in an undignified heap on the floor. Marvellous!
