Some 180 competitors took part in the 64th finger wrestling championship on Sunday in the town of Pang in the southern state of , about an hour’s drive southwest of Munich.
Known in German as Fingerhakeln, finger wrestling is popular in the German Alpine region and neighboring Austria. The earliest depictions of the sport, which originated as a way to settle disputes, date back to the 19th century.
What is Germany’s finger wrestling sport?
The contest was part of the Panger Folk Festival. According to local media, the finger wrestling competition was held in several age and weight categories, starting with youth and juniors.
Georg Hailer, president of Germany’s oldest and largest finger wrestling club, the Fingerhakler Schlierachgau, said there are nine clubs in Germany and four more in neighboring Austria.
“It’s not dangerous at all,” Hailer said. “Of course, there will be open wounds and small injuries on the fingers from time to time. It looks worse than it really is, because there’s blood.”
What are the rules of Fingerhakeln?
Fingerhakeln is highly organized and follows strict rules, starting with exact measurements for both the table and the leather strap. By custom, only men compete in Fingerhakeln.
Two contestants sit on opposite sides of a table. Each puts one finger — usually the middle finger — through a small leather loop.
As soon as a referee gives the signal to start, each competitor tries to pull the other as quickly as possible across the table. The whole thing usually only takes a few seconds.
“There are different techniques — how do I sit at the table?” Hailer said. “How do I transfer my power as quickly as possible to the loop? And of course, you need a well-trained finger.”
Contestants can sometimes suddenly lose their grip and fly backward, but there are special attendants sat ready to catch them. The winner moves on to the next round.
Later this summer, the Bavarian championships in Mittenwald will give finger wrestlers another opportunity to test their strength.
Edited by: Alex Berry
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