8 alternative sports to try in Hong Kong

You’re in Hong Kong. You should own this sport that originated in the region around three centuries ago. It was created by a Buddhist nun, Ng Mui, who was a legendary martial artist. As many famous movies have shown, in 1949 it was brought to Hong Kong by the sport’s most famous master, Ip Man. He taught Hong Kong’s most famous son, Bruce Lee (and there are movies about that, too).

For more info check out Wing Chun Hong Kong

Are you Mohawk enough!? If you are into physical sports and find rugby too soft, and you don’t mind being bruised black and blue, then lacrosse – the Native American version of hockey – is definitely for you.

This sport took its name when French missionary, Jean de Brébeuf saw Iroquois people play in modern-day New York in 1637. He called it le jeu de la crosse, literally “the game of the curved stick” – even though the stick looks more like a funky fishing net.

For more info check out: Hong Kong Lacrosse Association

Use your qi! Want to look like Donnie Yen in Rogue One? No problem. This sport, which literally means “martial arts” in Putonghua, is an exciting blend of gymnastics, kung fu and sword fighting. It first became a formal fighting style during the reign of Emperor Huangdi, around the year 2698 BC.

It’s changed a bit over the last 2,000 years, but you can still see plenty of exciting competitionto this day.

For more info check out: Hong Kong Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre or Hong Kong Wushu

Osu! Discover your inner-self by learning the traditional Japanese warrior mentality, by stepping into their culture and the art of samurai.

Literally “the way of the sword” in Japanese, this sport hails from 11th century Japan during the Heian Era (794-1185), where it was practised by samurai warriors, who were prepared to sacrifice themselves for their own feudal clans. Nowadays, kendo teaches students to have respect for the sword itself, and builds stronger mental toughness.

For more info check out: Kentokukai Kendo Club or Gudo Seishinkan Kendo Club

Let’s play a little Féile na nGael! Feel like a Celtic Warrior with this unique blend of football, rugby and handball. It has links to older forms of football, more widely known as caid.

Gaelic Football was invented in Newcastle, today’s Northern Ireland, in 1308 by John McCroan. Fifteen players on each team score points by kicking or punching the ball into the net or through the rugby posts.

For more info check out: Hong Kong Gaelic Athletics Association

That’s a home run! Develop your hand-eye co-ordination, team-spirit and general fitness with baseball. The earliest references of baseball was played in 18th century United States, where New England children were playing variations of rounders and cricket. The rules were then made official by Daniel “Doc” Adams in 1857, using diamond-shaped bases, foul lines and the three strikes rule.

For more info check out: Hong Kong Baseball Association

Treading water will get you far in this one! If you want to bring swimming and handball to another level, and don’t mind being shoved and almost drowned, then try water polo.

Scottish aquatics pioneer William Wilson developed the game in Glasgow in the late 19th century, and it was officially recognised as a game by the Swimming Association of Great Britain in 1885. The first game took place along the River Dee in Aberdeen, Scotland.

For more info check out: Hong Kong Water Polo or Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (under Water Polo section)

Harness the power of the elements! Did you know that windsurfer Lee Lai-shan won a gold medal for Hong Kong at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?

The ancient Polynesians were the first people to try any form of windsurfing (think Moana), but the sport started to take off internationally in the 1980s, and it was made an official Olympic sport in 1984.

For more info check out: Hong Kong Windsurfing Association or Hong Kong Water Sports Centre’s Windsurfing Course Description