Txingas: Weight Carrying From Basque Rural Sports
Txingak eramatea is a Basque herri kirolak event where you carry two weights, one in each hand, as far as you can without putting them down. We adapt it with water jugs sized to each student to learn to carry with a neutral spine and pace the effort.
How to play
- Origin: txingas are weights with a handle; in the event you cover an out-and-back course without setting them down. Set up six 15-meter lanes (4 min).
- Technique: lift the jugs from the floor by bending the knees, back straight, shoulders down, eyes forward; each student picks a jug a third full, half full or more (5 min).
- Individual pairs test: one carries, the other counts the 15-meter legs and corrects posture (6 min).
- Team relay: each member carries one leg and hands off by setting the jugs down with good technique (6 min).
- Total the team's meters and stretch forearms and shoulders (4 min).
Rules
- Use only tightly capped jugs with the amount of water each student chooses; nobody decides for someone else.
- Stop as soon as your back rounds or your arms shake: the leg still counts.
- Set the jugs down, never drop them.
- Walk, don't run: the original event is about endurance, not speed.
Variations
Easier
Jugs with little water and 10-meter legs.
Standard
Half-full jugs and 15-meter legs.
Harder
Full jugs and a course with a turn around a cone, like the original event.
Adaptations
- Back injury: carry a single light jug hugged to the chest, or be the counter.
- Limited mobility: carry the jugs on the lap while pushing the chair, or do a leg with one jug hanging from the arm.
- Visual impairment: lane marked with a rope to follow with the foot, and a partner calls the end of the leg.
Learning goals
- Use safe technique for carrying loads.
- Pace effort in a strength-endurance task.
- Learn a traditional Basque rural sports event.
Equipment for a class of 25
- water jugs: 12
- cones: 12
Teacher tip
Five-liter supermarket water jugs are perfect, and each student adjusts the load. Stress that it's a strength-endurance task, not a contest of who carries the most.
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