The Timeless Sport of Polo
Introduction
Polo, often referred to as the “sport of kings,” is a thrilling and historic game that showcases the perfect blend of skill, speed, and strategy. With roots dating back over 2,000 years, polo has evolved into a globally recognized sport, attracting enthusiasts from different cultures and regions. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player, this fast-paced equestrian game offers excitement and a unique connection between horse and rider. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of polo, covering its history, rules, strategies, and why it continues to captivate sports fans around the world.
What is Polo?
Polo is a dynamic team sport played on horseback, where two teams of four players each compete to score goals by driving a small ball into the opposing team’s goal using long-handled mallets. Polo matches are usually played on a large grass field, and the game is divided into periods called “chukkas,” each lasting about seven minutes.
The agility of the horse, known as a polo pony, combined with the coordination and skill of the rider, makes this sport not only physically demanding but also highly tactical. Players must work together as a team, strategizing to outmaneuver their opponents and take control of the ball.
Pole sports, or poling, merges dance and acrobatics using a vertical metal pole. Athletes climb up, spin from, hang off, flip onto, jump off, and invert on poles. Poling requires agility, strength, balance, endurance, and flexibility. A 2017 study of 52 female pole dancers indicated that pole-dance fitness improves strength and posture. Poling can serve as a form of cardiorespiratory exercise and can improve muscle strength and flexibility. Pole-sports athletes include men and women of a variety of ages and physical abilities, including para-athletes, who perform alone or with others (for example, in doubles competitions).
Poling developed into a fitness activity and sport during the 1990s and 2000s, with national and international pole competitions. Poling has become a dance, fitness activity and sport, and continues to evolve. The International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF), formed in 2009 by Tim Trautman and Katie Coates, is endeavoring to make poling an Olympic sport. The federation has held world championships since 2012, and poling was one of seven sports granted observer status by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in 2017. Professional pole-sports leagues have been formed, notably Oksana Grishina’s O.G. Pole Fitness (which holds its annual championship at Mr. Olympia) and the Pole Championship Series (which holds its annual championship at the Arnold Sports Festival).
In a pole competition, each athlete generally performs a routine to music. Athletes are judged on their ability to perform complex movements (e.g. spins and strength and flexibility poses), choreography, style, and expressiveness. Poles in IPSF pole-sports competitions are brass, 45 mm (1.77 in) in diameter, with 4m (13.12 feet) of usable height. In competition, athletes regularly use a static (non-spinning) pole and a spinning pole. Their skin helps performers grip the slippery poles, and athletes wear clothing which exposes the skin on their shoulders, waist, arms and legs. The IPSF requires competitors to cover their pelvis, gluteal muscles and (for women) breasts. When using Chinese poles (which differ from IPSF poles), thicker clothing protects the body.
History of Polo
Polo’s history can be traced back to ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), where it was played as a training game for cavalry units. Over time, the sport spread across Asia, reaching India and eventually finding its way to the British Empire. The British, captivated by the sport’s elegance and competitive nature, brought it to the West, where it quickly gained popularity, particularly among the aristocracy.
Today, polo is played all over the world, with tournaments and clubs spanning continents from Argentina and the United States to the UK and Australia. Its international appeal has solidified polo’s place as a prestigious and widely admired sport.
poles have been used in various sports, dances, and recreational activities, including mallakhamba, the Filipino dance Singkil, maypole dancing, and circuses. For example, mallakhamba traces its origins to the 12th-century malla-yuddha, a type of wrestling in India. It commonly uses a 2.25-metre (7 ft 5 in) wooden pole and a cotton rope. The practice has a spiritual component, involves acrobatic and yogic movements, and was first developed as a tool for wrestlers. Mallakhamba has grown into a contemporary sport:
When mallakhamb re-emerged in the nationalist period before Indian independence, it was practiced separate to wrestling. At this point, paradoxically, the actual form of mallakhamb in its new incarnation became influenced by English competitive sports and took on the structural framework of colonial British gymnastics. It was at this point that mallakhamb became an organized sport and was most often practiced in Western-style gymnasiums and urban sport grounds
According to Qifeng and Xining, acrobatic Chinese pole-climbing was first mentioned 2,000 years ago. Its techniques arose from tree-climbing in agriculture. Chinese poling is an acrobatic activity which has been part of Cirque du Soleil and is taught for recreational purposes in aerial gyms, such as Aerial Athletica in Las Vegas.
Poling for fitness and sport grew out of strip clubs and striptease. Not all strip dance clubs have poles, however, and not all strippers make a pole central to their performance. Classes in “exotic” pole, pole fitness and pole dance have been offered in strip clubs, bars, gyms and specialized pole studios.
This included Image Studio in Canada in the 1980s, where male and female “exotic dancers” were trained in pole dance, floor work, and choreography. Fitness model, performer and former stripper Fawnia Mondey-Dietrich is often credited with developing some of the first instructional pole dance videos in the 1990s. Pole studios (studios focused on teaching pole) have sprung up in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. They offer classes focused on fitness and athletics as well as those with erotic components.
Students in pole classes learn how to perform spins, supporting their body weight with their hands. They learn how to climb the pole, invert (flip upside down), and perform complicated maneuvers or tricks.
Pole classes are physically challenging, and poling requires a high level of understanding how the body’s points of contact work with the pole. As pole athletes develop skill, they can use fewer body points of contact with the pole and make more aerial moves without being on the ground (including deadlifting their bodies from a stationary aerial position parallel to the pole into an inverted – upside-down – position). In addition to strength and flexibility, pole sports can be painful. Researchers have begun studying the physiological effects of poling and potential risks for injury.
Poling has not developed into a fitness activity and sport without tension. Some feminists say that poling is part of the larger sexualization of culture and is objectifying. Pole classes have provided opportunities for students to bond with and support each other, however, and encourages athleticism. Poling has sex-positive aspects, may challenge gender and sexual stereotypes, and studies have indicated that polers can feel empowered.
Some of the first pole studios promoting pole to the general public for fitness, leisure, and sport were started by strippers, such as Tantra Fitness. However, tensions have developed between some strippers and fitness-sport polers, such as when strippers have not been welcome in pole studios and competitions, or when hobbyists have distanced themselves from stripping.
Strippers have argued that distancing can be divisive, be stigmatizing, serve as a source of cultural appropriation, and ignore the fundamental contributions made by strippers to poling. For example, a Twitter debate occurred, with polers using the hashtag #notastripper to distance poling from strippers; strippers and supporters used the hashtags #yesastripper and #eroticnotexotic.
Poling is now practiced in classes, in professional and international competitions, strip clubs, and onstage in non-strip clubs; Felix Cane and others have performed in Cirque du Soleil. The IPSF hosts world competitions in pole sports and ultra, artistic and para pole.
Basic Rules of Polo
To understand polo better, here’s a breakdown of the key rules:
- Teams: Each team consists of four players, and they are numbered from 1 to 4, each with specific roles such as attacking or defending.
- Chukkas: The game is divided into 4 to 8 periods (chukkas), each lasting 7 minutes.
- The Polo Field: The field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, making it one of the largest playing fields in sports.
- Goal Scoring: Teams score by hitting the ball into the opposing team’s goal, with the ball typically traveling at high speeds due to the powerful strikes by the players.
- Polo Ponies: Horses play an integral role in the game. These agile, fast, and well-trained horses are called polo ponies, even though they are not technically ponies but rather full-sized horses.
Polo Equipment
To ensure the game is both safe and fair, players must use specific equipment:
- Helmet: Protective helmets with a face guard are mandatory.
- Mallet: A bamboo cane mallet with a wooden head is used to strike the ball.
- Polo Ball: The ball is typically made of plastic or wood, about 3 inches in diameter.
- Knee Guards: Players wear knee pads to protect themselves from potential collisions.
- Polo Saddle: Unlike regular horse saddles, polo saddles are specially designed for quick movements, giving players better control during the game.
Polo Strategies
Polo is much more than just riding fast and hitting the ball. It’s a game of strategy where teamwork is paramount. Here are some essential strategies used by teams:
- Zonal Play: Players are assigned zones on the field, with each one responsible for a specific area. This helps in organizing both defense and attack.
- Hit and Run: A fast-paced strategy where players hit the ball far ahead of themselves and then race towards it.
- Marking: Defensive players will closely follow their opponents, trying to block or steal the ball to disrupt the other team’s strategy.
Why Polo is Gaining Popularity
In recent years, polo has experienced a resurgence in popularity. Polo tournaments and events attract large crowds, with enthusiasts drawn to the sport’s elegance, excitement, and competitive nature. Some key reasons for its rising popularity include:
- Prestigious Events: High-profile polo events such as the Argentine Open, Cartier Queen’s Cup, and U.S. Open Polo Championship have increased media attention, drawing new fans.
- Social Aspect: Polo matches are not only sporting events but also social occasions where people gather to watch the game, network, and enjoy luxurious amenities.
- International Appeal: Polo’s global nature, with tournaments held worldwide, allows fans from different cultures to enjoy the sport.
Conclusion
Polo is more than just a sport; it’s a thrilling experience that combines athleticism, teamwork, and strategy. Its deep-rooted history, combined with the grace and power of both the horse and the rider, make polo one of the most fascinating and timeless sports in the world. Whether you’re watching a match or learning to play, the sport of polo offers an exciting and unforgettable adventure.