How to Get Your Foot in the Door with Toe Wrestling

There aren’t many sports stranger than toe wrestling. The process of the game is fairly straightforward. Opponents are both on the floor across from each other and both put their feet within two wooden markers. Then the players link toes trying to pin each other’s toes against the side of the marker.

While it may sound like a friendly game to be enjoyed in between pints, competitors take the game very seriously. Injuries happen frequently. Alan “Nasty” Nash, arguably one of the sport’s finest players, has broken toes and suffered from cuts and bruises during his career.

Allegedly, Alan’s technique is to come in hard and fast, injure the first person he plays, and scare off all other competition. We can’t say his method doesn’t work. He won his first championship in 1994 and has won 15 more times since then.

The second best toe wrestler is Ben “Total Destruction” Woodroffe. He started playing at a junior level when he was 14, now at 32 he is a very serious player. So serious that he had his toenails surgically removed to improve his game (now that’s commitment). He is currently out of commission due to a double ankle fracture incurred while practicing with Alan.

These two have consistently been fighting for the title resulting in injuring each other over the years. Does this mean they have a difficult relationship outside of the game? There doesn’t seem to be any truth behind this as the two co-own the World Toe Wrestling Federation (WTWF). True athletes (even those involved with strange sports) love the game and usually appreciate it when others do too.

Where Did It All Begin?

Toe wrestling was thought up by four men over pints in the local pub in 1974. After a world cup loss, the four complained about how British nationals weren’t winning championships. Then they had an idea to create a new sport that a Brit would be good at. Then they could guarantee a Brit would win the championship.

The first two ideas of ear wrestling and push of war (don’t ask) didn’t take off but toe wrestling was the winner. The plan was a success and one of the original four was crowned the winner. The competition picked up some attention and the following year a visitor from Canada entered and won the title. Saddened by again losing the title to a foreigner the four drinking buddies lost interest.

Thankfully toe wrestling found a resurgence and it is again popular today with events being held in Pakistan, China, and India. The championship though is always held in the same place as it began, Ashbourne in Derbyshire, England.

One must imagine those four men would be pleased to know that know a British national has held the world title 16 times. If Alan wins again this coming summer, he will win the record for most titles held by a sportsman in the world. Maybe if they knew this they wouldn’t have given up quite so quickly.

Toe Wrestling Rules

As with any game, there have to be ground rules. The rules for toe wrestling were made when the game was first created but remain largely the same today:

• Players feet are inspected for infections, injuries, and contraband
• Competition is held barefoot
• Rear ends must remain on the floor
• Both hands must stay on the floor
• The non-wrestling leg must be in the air at all times
• The match starts with the right foot, then left, ending with the right foot again
• Three rounds are held with the winner needing to win two out of the three rounds

How You Can Get Involved

Toe wrestling is a people’s sport so no qualifiers are required. Anyone can compete. There are men’s and women’s categories. There are even youth categories making it a true family event. Currently, Lisa ‘Twinkle Toes’ Shenton is the women’s world champion and Dolly Millward holds the kid’s title. If you want to work on your game, start by strengthening your toes. Also important are posture, core building, and leg strength.

Sadly many sporting events including toe wrestling have been canceled due to COVID 19. This spring the World Toe Wrestling Federation (WTWF) was pleased to announce the 2021 championship will be held on August 29th. This will be Alan “Nasty” Nash’s final championship before his retirement. Will he win a record 17th world title?

Alan’s biggest competition would have been from his WTWF partner, Ben. This is now up in the year with Ben still healing from his ankle fracture. Frankly, the title is anyone’s to take. Remember when Alan started he won the title the first time he competed. If you start work now on getting your ‘little piggies’ in shape perhaps you will be ready by August to give “Nasty” a run for the title.