high kick

The Inuit one-foot high kick is a traditional competition that is similar to the two foot high kick.

In this competition the competitor stands on one foot, jumps in the air and hits a ball or piece of seal such as a ringed seal, which is suspended from a gallows and then lands on the same foot.

The one foot high kick tests the strength and agility of a hunter. It was also used to signal a successful hunt in some communities.[http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/Curriculum/NativeGames/games.html One Foot High Kick]

A short film made by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver shows Arctic Winter Games champion Johnny Issaluk performing a one foot high kick.{{Citation|last=Hamilton|first=Mark|title=Inuit High Kick|date=2013-04-22|url=https://vimeo.com/64586456|access-date=2018-09-08}}

The two-foot high kick (akratcheak) is a traditional Inuit jumping event that occurs at many Arctic sports competitions. In the two-foot high kick, athletes must jump using two feet, touch a hanging target with both feet, and land on both feet, maintaining balance.{{cite web |url=http://www.weio.org/Webpage/About_WEIO/Games.html |title="Why These Games" |accessdate=2008-04-27 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109041340/http://www.weio.org/Webpage/About_WEIO/Games.html |archivedate=9 January 2007 }}. World Eskimo Indian Olympics. Originally accessed 2008-04-26. The event is often considered the most demanding Arctic sport.[http://www.yasc.ca/TraditionalSportsDescription/tabid/67/Default.aspx "Traditional sports descriptions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211175219/http://www.yasc.ca/TraditionalSportsDescription/tabid/67/Default.aspx |date=2012-02-11 }}. Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle (2007). Accessed 2008-04-26.

The event has its origin in subsistence whale hunting: when a whale was taken, a messenger would run to the village and kick both feet in the air once within eyeshot. Villagers would then know to prepare to harvest the whale.

As of 2007, the men's record in the event was {{convert|2.64|m|abbr=on}}; the women's record was {{convert|1.98|m|abbr=on}}.Block, Melissa. [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12178364 "Eskimo-Indian Olympics Capture Native Traditions"]. All Things Considered. National Public Radio (July 23, 2007). Accessed 2008-04-26.

Balance on one foot while holding the other. Kick a target straight above with the balancing foot to reach a target, then land on the balancing and kicking foot.{{cite web |title=Alaskan High Kick |url=https://citci.org/partnerships-events/nyo-games/competitive-events/alaskan-high-kick/ |accessdate=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630054337/https://citci.org/partnerships-events/nyo-games/competitive-events/alaskan-high-kick/ |url-status=dead }}

{{Commons category|Inuit high kick}}

{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube|id=WuOZs2HFNFs=|title=Video of One Foot High Kick}}
• "[http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/Curriculum/NativeGames/games.html The Games]", ANKN.UAF.edu.
• {{YouTube|id=1rxgtiHgszY&feature=related|title=Video of athlete kicking 7'10"}}

{{WEIO}}

Category:Individual sports

Category:Inuit games