Sepak Takraw: Kick Volleyball

In our never-ending quest to discover new or hybrid sports, we came across Sepak Takraw (literal translation: Kick Volleyball) which is a cross between soccer and volleyball that combines elements from gymnastics, and martial arts as well.

This fast-growing and popular sport in Southeast Asia is called Takraw for short and is played on a badminton doubles-sized court. The Takraw ball is traditionally hand-woven and made of rattan stems or very hard plastic weighing approximately 250 grams.

Two teams compete for higher scores by spiking a ball into the opponent’s court. Each team gets three chances to kick, knee, shoulder or head the ball back to the opposing team. Like volleyball, there are passes, sets and spikes—but the strokes must be made soccer-style: no hands or arms allowed.

The result is a fast, extreme game played by both men and women. If you liked Shaolin Soccer, you’ll love this. Check out a doubles match moment:

Some unusual winter sports we’ve covered in the past include snow kiting, snow kayaking. and ice sailing. Looking for an alternative warm weather pastime? Try beach tennis or roller soccer.