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Finger Jousting, or Finger Fencing as it is sometimes known, is a possibly ancient game that combines jousting and sword fighting yet requires neither horse nor blade.

In its simplest form, two players stand facing each other and clasp their right hands together as if about to arm wrestle. Then, on a given command, each player extends his index finger (their ‘lance’) and battle commences. The objective is to jab your opponent before they jab you. At no point may the players’ hands lose contact with each other. This means that jabbing the other player is often a lot less straightforward than you might initially think; with feints, sideways moves and full body twists all yielding results.

For a basic game, the first to score wins, or you can apportion different points for striking different body areas: legs and other arm gets one point, chest and back gets two points, the head gets three points. The jousting arm itself must never be hit, and the unused arm may play no part in the bout.

The game’s governing body, the World Finger Jousting Federation (which is run by the self-styled Lord of the Joust, Julian Gluck) has built up a glossary of finger fighting terms and rules (see Internet Resources for website) which includes such gems as:

Bobbo Lance: A straight jousting move wherein a player cocks their right elbow back towards their chest, pulling their opponent closer.

Gesture of Good Disposition: A physical motion executed before and after every match as a sign of gratitude towards the opponent. Approved tournament gestures are handshakes, bows, head nods and man hugs.

Taking care of your fingernails is a sign of respect for your opponent and shows an interest in maintaining a healthy body.

The length of a competitor’s finger shall not be longer than 15cm.

Illegal fingernail length is an automatic disqualification unless an approved glove is worn or the fingernail is trimmed immediately.