[Sports Day] Pole Toppling: Tips, Strategies, and Winning Practice Methods

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
lighterutatane
A person from the melodic hardcore boom generation who loves music, photography, and eating. I’ve been going to live houses for over 20 years. I’m at the age where summer festivals are starting to feel tough physically. I sometimes try shooting live photos and videos for MVs. I’m not great at English, so I often listen to straightforward Japanese rock that hits directly, but if someone recommends something, I’ll listen to anything—Western or Japanese—broadly and casually. I like cooking while listening to music; it’s a nice way to relieve stress.

Alongside cavalry battles, pole toppling is known as one of the star events of school sports festivals.

Did you know that places like the National Defense Academy are famous for their pole toppling, and many people visit every year just to see it?

The event is won by knocking down a tall pole set up in the center of the opposing team, but it also mixes elements reminiscent of rugby, American football, sumo, and martial arts, making it a main attraction for highly charged boys’ competitions.

In this article, we introduce tips for winning at pole toppling, divided into defense and offense.

Pole toppling is a contest of both stamina and strategy—plan carefully and fight with a solid game plan!

Practice methods for certain victory (1–10)

Defense team / center

The position that supports the pole at the center can sometimes get pushed and almost crushed.

You need to get used to being pushed.

Also, practice to prevent attackers from climbing the pole when the offensive line comes into the center.

Train to brush them off so they can’t climb onto your shoulders or over your head, and so they can’t grab the pole—build up your arm strength.

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Offense team: breakthrough practice

The most important thing for the offense is to “break the wall.” To break the defensive wall, you need solid training to master tackling.

Keep your hips low, slip into your opponent’s space, then push or pull—since it’s a contest of engagement, practicing tackles is essential.

Among defensive walls, it’s also important to devise strategies, such as matching strong attackers against physically larger and stronger defenders.

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Offense team: practice attacking with a stick

We choose agile people for the pole-climbing position, but being agile alone isn’t enough.

You also need the power to break through the defensive wall.

Tackle practice will, of course, be useful here as well.

Training that anticipates interference while climbing is also helpful.

Once you’re up, practice as a team how to topple the pole and in which direction to bring it down, so you can strengthen your coordination during training.

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Considerations for performing safely (1–10)

Bō-taoshi is a sport that has increasingly been avoided in recent years due to safety concerns.

To conduct it safely, several rules and considerations for attire are necessary.

Taking into account factors such as participants’ age and gender to prevent injuries, here are injury-prevention and safety measures that are actually being implemented.

Clothing and other adjustments

First, regarding attire: although pole-toppling is often done in gym clothes, many schools have participants go shirtless to reduce grabbing, snagging falls, or clothing tightening around the neck.

Bare feet are common for footwear.

Wearing headgear is best, and participants should keep their fingernails and toenails neatly trimmed.

Above all, be thorough and meticulous with safety measures.

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Summary of the Stick-Toppling Game (1–10)

Devise a solid strategy

We’ve covered the finer tips and sure-win tactics for pole toppling, but what’s truly crucial is how you divide your teams and how thoroughly you plan your offensive and defensive strategies.

While pole toppling might seem like a physical clash, it’s actually a battle of wits—sound strategy is the key point.

Adaptability matters too, but to avoid getting swept up in the moment, make sure every team member fully understands a solid, shared game plan.

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