Yoga and Pilates have their fans, but many guys prefer very different sorts of activities. There are plenty of sports that will have even the most macho of men feeling invigorated or even intimidated. A quick look at five especially manly sports will reveal that there should never be a reason to feel wimpy while working out.
Raw, unfiltered masculinity is probably not as fashionable as it used to be. That has left some men feeling as if there were no appropriate outlets for the aggressive, intense energy that an excess of testosterone can give rise to.
In fact, though, there are plenty of sports where attributes that were traditionally considered “manly” are still desirable and welcome. Men who wish to give their bravery, strength, or assertiveness free reign can consider trying sports like: Ax throwing. Visit a high-quality Ax Throwing Bar and it will quickly become clear why this formerly obscure sport has become so popular. Even just watching a properly balanced ax spin end over end to land with a loud thunk in the target is truly satisfying. Accomplished throwers have such an accurate aim that they can make two axes land less than an inch apart. In addition to being proudly manly, ax throwing is also truly accessible. With a little bit of instruction, in fact, just about anyone can learn to throw and compete, making for plenty of great times to come.
- Free solo rock climbing
- It takes a lot of courage to climb a sheer rock wall even when using ropes and other safety-related accessories.
- Free solo climbers
Do away with every form of protection and rely on nothing but their skills and unwavering focus to keep them safe. A major movie from 2018 told the story of how one free solo specialist scaled Yosemite’s 3,200-foot El Capitan alone and without any safeguards. Honnold’s feat impressed even those who like to think of modern men as emasculated and weak compared to their predecessors.
- Stick fighting.
- Mixed martial arts has never been more popular, but there are manlier ways to fight. MMA forbids weapons entirely, but there are traditional forms of hand-to-hand combat that embrace them.
- Nguni stick fighting
for instance, sees participants smacking each other with stout, solid pieces of wood. Originally a martial art in the truest sense of the phrase, stick fighting has evolved into a sport with rules meant to help shield players from long-lasting harm.
- Ultra-endurance bike racing.
- Being manly does not need to mean indulging in violent behavior or risking death on a daily basis. Pushing beyond personal limits regularly and consciously takes a great deal of willpower and determination. Self-supported ultra-endurance bike races task participants with getting to the far-off finish line as quickly as they can. Events like Great Britain’s “GBDuro” have cyclists covering a thousand miles or more while barely stopping to sleep or even rest.
- Power lifting.
- Olympic weightlifters have to be a lot faster and more agile than might be thought possible for such large, muscular people. Power lifters who focus on bench presses, squats, and deadlifts ignore such niceties in favor of pure, brute strength. Some successful power lifters go on to compete in so-called “strongman” competitions with huge prizes.
Activities like these make it clear that there is still plenty of room for characteristics that were once considered the hallmarks of, especially manly men. In fact, even those who scoff at such notions can enjoy participating and competing in these sports.
