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LUJSONG BAKA ( TRADITIONAL GAME)

 


Traditional Filipino Games: Luksong Baka

Traditional Filipino games

Building Strength and Power

Here I am again with another traditional Filipino game. Today, let me introduce to you, Luksong Baka, which literally means “Jump Over the Cow” in English.

Traditional Filipino games
Luksong Baka is best played outdoors. (Photo credit to the owner)

Traditional Filipino
Luksong Baka

Luksong Baka originated from the province of Bulacan, in the Central Luzon Region of the Philippines. This game involves a minimum of 3 individual boys and a maximum of 10. Although kids may adjust the maximum number of players, especially when there are many participants. Its objective is for players to successfully jump over the baka (cow), also called the tayȃ or “it”,  without hitting any part of the latter’s body or falling over him.

No equipment is required in playing Luksong Baka, except for these three skills:

  • Mobility, or the player’s ability to move easily and freely. The more agile the player is, the higher he can push himself up.
  • Stability – it’s the player’s ability to keep his body parts steady, especially on his waist.
  • Strength – once the player is stable, he can jump as high as possible without hitting the baka

These skills are a player’s “POWER”, enabling him to successfully jump over even at the highest level of the game.

Luksong Baka Mechanics

  1. In choosing the first “baka”, all players must place a hand over another (palms down), and at the count of three, they release their hands simultaneously, either showing palms up or down. The player who displays a different position of the hand from the rest should be the first baka or “it”.
  2. The baka then assumes his position at a designated “jump over” spot. On the first level, he takes a crouching position and the rest of the players jump over him – one after another. When all the players have jumped over, the baka raises his position a bit higher for the next level. He repeats this process until he reaches the standing position or until a jumper errs.
  3. The jumpers must spread their legs wide apart to avoid hitting the baka when they jump.
  4. The jumper who hits the baka will take the place of the baka, and the baka now becomes a jumper.
  5. When the level goes higher, the jumper may use his hands for balance by putting them together over the baka.

So, if you feel like testing your “mobility, stability, and strength”, gather your friends together and play Luksong Baka. It’s a good form of exercise, too.

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  Luksong baka  :   Jump over the Cow ) is a   traditional Filipino game   that originated from   Bulacan . It involves a minimum of 3 players and a maximum of 10 players and involves them jumping over the person called the   baka , the main goal of the players is to successfully jump over the   baka   without touching or falling over the   baka . No equipment is required in playing  L uksong Baka , except for these three skills: Mobility, or the player’s ability to move easily and freely. The more agile the player is, the higher he can push himself up. Stability – it’s the player’s ability to keep his body parts steady, especially on his waist. Strength – once the player is stable, he can jump as high as possible without hitting the  baka These skills are a player’s “POWER”, enabling him to successfully jump over even at the highest level of the game. Luksong Baka Mechanics In choosing the first  “baka” , all players...
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