Games Games
Global Warrior Games Rhythm, strategy, and play from warrior traditions around the world.
Sprouts 18–36 mo Little Ages 3–5 Rising Ages 6–8 Champions Ages 9–12
Soft objects only. Tag with an open hand. No contact games get rough.
Run this station Quick workout
Spin this station Two random drills from this station. Spin again if you want a different pair.
1 Filipino Tinikling Rhythm Hop Tappers tap the noodles twice, then open them. Warriors hop in and out — in, in, out — without getting caught when the noodles clap shut. Set up
Two adults or older students kneel with pool noodles a foot apart. Mats under them.
Do this
Tappers tap the noodles twice, then open them. Warriors hop in and out — in, in, out — without getting caught when the noodles clap shut.
Done when · They hop in on the open beat and out before the noodles clap, two times in a row without a touch. If the noodles stay still, success is the foot pattern in-in-out, on time.
Little: Noodles stay still and wide so footwork comes first.
Older: Speed up the tap or add a harder pattern.
Play this drill 2 Brazilian Capoeira Ginga Step one foot back into a lunge, return to parallel, then the other side. Arms guard the face in a flowing sway. Stay moving. This is the ginga — a dance of being ready. 3 Ghanaian Arima Fortress Tag One Tapper starts in the middle. Warriors run fortress to fortress. Fortresses are safe. Tagged players join the Tapper. Last warrior free wins. 4 Korean Jul-Gonu Line Duel Pairs start at opposite ends and may only travel on the lines by hopping or walking. Block your partner so they have no move. No jumping over anyone. 5 Australian Kangaroo Bounds Crouch and pinch the joey between the knees. Bound to the finish without dropping it. Race or relay. 6 Filipino Sipa Foot-Volley Keep the sipa in the air with the side of the foot. Solo or in a circle. Count the streak. 7 German Captain's Crossing Sailors call, “Captain, may we cross your ship?” The Captain names a way to move — crab crawl, one-foot hop — then tries to tag them as they cross. 8 Māori Pūkana Focus Face Before a hard challenge, open the eyes wide and set a fierce, focused face. This is not a silly face. It is courage you can see. 9 Dodge Rock Non-elimination dodgeball. A hit means five warrior squats on the side, then straight back in. Throws stay below the shoulders. 10 Samoan Sasa Rhythm Clap Coach leads claps, thigh slaps, and arm paths. The circle copies and holds the rhythm together. 11 Malaysian Five Stones Toss one stone up, snatch one from the floor, catch the toss. Repeat until every stone is collected. 12 Langa Hopping Tag The tagger hops on one leg. Everyone else runs on two. Tagged players become hopping taggers. Game ends when the whole clan is hopping. 13 West African Yote Human checkers. Teams place a player on an intersection. Capture by hopping over an opponent into an empty space behind them. Captured players step out. 14 Zimbabwean Pakapaka A growing clap pattern. Start clap-clap-slap thighs. Each round adds a move, like a cross. Partners stay locked in rhythm. 15 Myanmar Chinlone Circle Keep it off the ground with feet, knees, and head — never hands. No winners. Only how long the circle can stay together. 16 Chinese Eagle and Chicks The front is Mother Eagle. The Fox tries to tag the last chick. Eagle blocks with the arms while the line stays connected and slips away. 17 Italian Lupo delle Ore The clan asks, “What time is it, Mr. Wolf?” The wolf calls an hour and they take that many big steps. Close in, the wolf may shout “Lunchtime!” and chase them home. 18 Stick Pull Both grip the stick. On go, pull your partner up using legs and core only.