Games of Strange

Turkish oil wrestling (exactly what it sounds like), an Italian candle race (not at all what it sounds like), jousting (yes, knights in armour with lances), and Choctaw stickball ('the little brother of war') are featured in this premiere episode.

A Briton attempts four obstacle courses in a weekend. A yearly event in Florence is a violent hybrid of rugby, wrestling, and boxing. The sport of canal jumping becomes a Netherlands staple. Horse-mounted Japanese archers keep an ancient tradition.

In an episode devoted to sports made by finding new purposes for old tools, the high-flying new sport of extreme pogo, a Spanish event for building human tower, a ping pong-soccer hybrid, and high-speed racing in wooden boats are all profiled.

Discover the growing sports of competitive slacklining, a combat game played only at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, a bloodless, acrobatic sort of bullfight in Spain, and a half-frozen race that could only be conceived of in Canada.

Some strange games have ancient roots. Others are modern inventions that seem straight out of a dream. From the Scottish Highland Games to a volleyball/soccer hybrid played on a bouncy castle, what all these games have are competitors with heart.

Footgolf and sepak takraw (foot volleyball) borrow from soccer, but while the former is a modern invention, the latter is an ancient competition. Plus, check out jet boats that accelerate to 140kph in 1.8 seconds and a gymnastic competition in India.