The most brutal sport in the world | Calcio Storico

Max Lahiff travels to Italy's cultural capital of Florence to bear witness to the outrageously physical Florentine tradition of Calcio Storico. #CalcioStorico #NextOfKin
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[@filippogherardini5610]

I'm florentine and I'm an Azzurri supporter this documentary is something else about calcio storico. You entered inside our traditions like a local, what you have done is extraordinary. I'm really glad people from around the world get interested in our traditions, even if it's brutal and criticised we are really mad for what represents our history. Never seen something like this about my city congrats to you and your team!!!🙌

[@tyronekavanagh9914]

I'm from the UK and I wish I knew about this sport! I got bored of football (soccer) by the time I was 12 and I would of loved to trained in this sport instead! Not only is there running, but there's fighting and it's a useful life skill to have if you need it... it's incredible and I wish I could be apart of it! I'm medically unfit now, but I'd definitely watch it!

[@JohnSmith-bh8um]

And thank you for sharing your culture. Something I would pay and travel to see myself. Thank you

[@rafiqkatana]

Mate, if I had the money ...I'd be there every year to see it in person. The world *needs* a sport like this. I can Respect a sport like this. There's nothing else like this. It's an Art.

[@peterRobinson10101]

Its fantastic! im overwhelmed.

[@rafiqkatana]

@@peterRobinson10101 Totally.

[@nielcutter3804]

I love how these Italians honoured and preserve their traditions and still making history. 😊

[@kamusuaike7942]

Como asesinos y ladrones? Q orgullo

[@ferrucciognagni1329]

@@kamusuaike7942 point n.1 yes, we Italians are also thieves and murderers as surely as you are regardless of the country you live in. point no. 2 in addition to this, however, we are also very good both in the scientific, cultural, humanistic fields, etc., and I don't know if your country can boast of having made history in Europe and not just from the Roman Empire onwards. point no. 3 if you want to make fun of us in a friendly way I will hug you fraternally and invite you to drink a good glass of wine, but if you try to offend us with that glass of wine you have to rinse your mouth with it. I hope the concept is clear because I don't speak English and I used the translator

[@alessandrom7181]

@kamusuaike7942 This is not ArGAYntina, this is Tuscany, Florence specifically, the cradle of Renaissance, art, sculpture, Leonardo Michelangel, Galileo, Dante and it is way safer that every part of yor country. 🤡🤡

[@deefman123]

This is like British bulldog, the banned school game where two sides face off and each side sends one over to try and run through the whole line to get through the other side by any means. brutal game. except the residents of Florence have venerated it to high art.

[@mckappe]

@@kamusuaike7942 Forse parli del tuo paese.

[@janfunriebeeck]

With the rise in popularity in both MMA and Rugby, this has huge potential

[@bluesquiddemon]

The toll this would have on your body though, I see why it’s only done once a year

[@dominiqueruppen5721]

17:37__they should get rid of those blind-sided cheap shots, though. But like you said, Calcio Storico will probably go world wide in a decade or so.

[@diegofiorillo6412]

Um… do you know how long this has been around?

[@billygoatgruff2900]

It's roughly 1000 years old. So if it ain't mainstream now it's never gonna be

[@jamiewhitwell4976]

I’m not sure - I think the sheer scale of the violence is enough to put the vast majority off. The only reason it still goes on in Florence is due to its sheer cultural weight and importance to the different districts. I think that would be hard to export anywhere unless it was significantly watered down making it closer to rugby.

[@florianm.h.muller6181]

Many years ago I went on school trip from germany to florence and our history teacher arranged for a visit to a so called "traditional football match".He did not know waht he was geetting us into at all. It was raining and even before the "game" started, the sprectators started a heavy brawl agains eachother outside the pitch. We couldnt beleive our eyes when seeing the guys actually fighting full on and ambulance on the pitch on a regular base. Our teacher was shocked and asked us to leave immediately, but we stayed as long as possible. I never forgot the reality of this "game" and the sheer violence, I had never seen before. It changed the way I was looking at the world. I knew how, from then on, hwo vulnerable each person is, never mind how strong they might be physically. If someone comes in from behind ....., if you face 3 guys ... . A deep experience. Best wishes.

[@thesleeplessmn]

1st goal was clearly offside.

[@jonathanweir6084]

Beeautiful....

[@Singularetantum]

Great story!

[@christophlieding734]

If you ever come back to Germany you can stay at my place for sure. Maybe we both can go to Italy and watch it from the sidelines. To old now and a little bit fragile kind of. Old knee injury and dentures. I live in the so called mid west. Great entertainment = awesome. Love the Italians.

[@strammerdetlef]

@@Singularetantumwhich actually never happened as so many on ytube storytime. bc in NO WAY some german would even get a SINGLE ticket for that highly outsold event, yet even for a whole class.

[@toppytopp5851]

Anyone else notice Italian UFC fighter Marvin Vettori supporting the Rossi at 20m19s? 😆

[@gabrieleg5321]

Training and friend's in florence ,he was Born in North of Italia

[@BenAshworth-cd8jl]

Great spot !!

[@Aquilifer321]

This was and is a battle between neighborhoods. In Florence during the Renaissance you couldn't kill, so you competed in this sport, the neighborhood that won was the strongest and most respected in the city.

[@BoabyGeorge]

sounds a bit like modern day football with their firms or "hooligans" as the media likes to brand them should get this sport into the UK would do well I think

[@Aquilifer321]

@@BoabyGeorge yes, originally it was a bit like a clash between hooligans. However, this sport has very specific rules and no one cheats, they fight honestly ,with fair-play 😄

[@davidbenyahuda5190]

The reason they couldn't kill at the time was because the rulers of Florence the Black nobility of Florence, the Medici were Israelites. Shalom 😊

[@Aquilifer321]

@@davidbenyahuda5190 I don't think the Medici family was Jewish, in any case murder was prohibited everywhere, not just in Firenze. Shabbat shalom to you

[@davidbenyahuda5190]

@@Aquilifer321 You are correct. Jewish people are the imposters ie they are Caucasians pretending to be human ie Black people. The Medici were Israelites ie Shemites ie Black people. You don't think a book that starts with Genesis ie human origins is about so-called white people do you? Google Black European Royalty and Heraldry. White supremacist scholarship is for entertainment purposes only. Shalom 😊

[@MrBrasile87]

UFC fighter Marvin Vettori @ 20:19 min 💪🏼

[@dellecapacitailcoraggiofis7536]

nobody can finish Vettori ;)

[@PARCE93]

Good eye, damn

[@mondo88]

lol nice find

[@Silverback1969MoonLandingLies]

Well spotted!

[@Silverback1969MoonLandingLies]

Well seen!

[@domoetker3967]

90% of this game involves beating your opponent so badly that they can't play anymore. I've been looking for a sport for a long time that bridges the gap between modern football and traditional gladiator fighting. Thanks. Really thank you.

[@boltzmannbrain6607]

Have you considered therapy ?

[@lamesurfer1015]

@@boltzmannbrain6607Yes. It seems he's considering Calcio Therapy.

[@strammerdetlef]

@@boltzmannbrain6607soy much?

[@boltzmannbrain6607]

@@strammerdetlef get treatment

[@OutThereVideos]

Russian wrestleball would check that box as well

[@mauricegarvey4631]

Such vivid colour and atmosphere - Italian heritage is something else - beauty and the beast in terms of the presentation of the contest and background with the beautiful city of Florence. Great short documentary. Would love to see a team of modern football players thrown in with this lot

[@martux6815]

they woudn't last a minute, they are not mentally and phisically prepared to tank all those hits, and it's extremely exausting for the players

[@1998TDM]

@@martux6815 Dunno, 27 Aussie rules players would have quite an impact.

[@Easun36]

One of the best documentaries I've seen about our glorious tradition. You really dug deeper and fully understood what it truly means to all florentines. Thank you Max Lahiff, thank you RugbyPass. Viva Fiorenza!

[@bitesize7817]

Wow! This was excellent and engaging. Max Lahiff is a natural travel/short film presenter - curious, articulate and excited.

[@theram46]

If only wars could be fought like this, there would be no collateral damage.

[@mirkochicco9620]

The smartest comment I've read. Il commento più intelligente che ho letto sino ad ora.

[@ManuRomer0]

Increíble nuestros hermanos italianos como siempre los verdaderos gladiadores 💪🏻🔥

[@danielemezzadri4528]

Grazie per le belle parole. Soprattutto che siamo fratelli e non cugini...

[@bluekg13]

One thing you for got to say is that they are all volunteers. They are not getting paid one cent for this. Its all for fame and glory. That is the crazy part of this game.

[@yanguskhan8513]

as volent and brutal this game maybe be, i love how after the match, you can see many hugging each other from opposing sides. they maybe from different neighborhoods, but in the end, theyre all florentines. the respect is still there for each other.

[@SlavicAffairs]

I absolutely love everything about this. The brutality of the sport, the historical aspect, and the local affiliation and identity. Well done fratelli italiani!

[@BatkoBrat]

You sound ex Yugoslav :D

[@nondvcordvco4244]

nice to meet you here brate

[@TheRealMarcusFalco]

I grew up in Florence playing Rugby, and I have many friends that were playing Calcio Storico. According to research performed by Matteo Poggi, Calcio Storico might have been one of the games that inspired the game of Rugby. Calcio Storico was also played in Leghorn, a port city that used to have an English community that was living and working there. The English community was really integrated with the activities of the City of Leghorn, participating in the Calcio Storico tournaments. According to this research, some of these Englishmen that were living in Leghorn might have introduce this game to England when they went back home. Matteo Poggi's book is called Leghorn 1766 because the English Community was in responsible for the organization the Calcio Storico tournament. kzbin.info/www/bejne/joisi4edmJaqaZI here is the link of the Interview in Italian

[@fleauryanh528]

Interesting

[@jonathanweir6084]

Makes sense!

[@BSteel583]

Rugby evolved from games played on foot and using a ball that had been played in England for literally hundreds and hundreds of years, since the Middle Ages. Those games were also very violent with few rules. When I see illustrations of them there were many more participants on each side (sometimes hundreds), so maybe this game had some influence in the idea of limiting the number of players that can be involved

[@TQuattro46]

@@BSteel583 middle ages? the fckn romans brought that game to the british isle 2000 years ago

[@christophlieding734]

Danke from Germany. I love this "game" and I love the Italians. Good day and take care.

[@IrlBandit]

Max Lahiff is such an articulate, intelligent and equally amusing chap, I love his narration here but his podcast rants are bloody great too - now off to see how to get tickets for the next "Calcio Storico"!

[@mario8833]

This documentary was amazing. I am italian but really didn't know much about Calcio Storico. Really appreciate your work mate. You gained a subscriber❤🙏🏻

[@mrdioniso1624]

At 20:19 a wild Marvin Vettori with sunglasses and red t-shirt appears. For those who don't know, he is an italian MMA fighter who fights in UFC.

[@kingplays5369]

The cinematography on this one is superb. Well done mate 👍🏼👍🏼

[@pauledwards7340]

Reminds me of Welsh Valley rugby many years ago ! Even the spectatators joined in especially in the local derbies .

[@user-zz5wk8dr3w]

Would love to go see this,the Italians never forget where they come from and are one proud race,love the Italians,and what a custom this is

[@nathanbedfordforrest9546]

Stop allowing blacks and Arabs into your country.

[@1971jwing]

What an incredible display of human power and community. Well done, and great health to all

[@edwardhudson9851]

"What is beneath your feet?! Agron: “Sacred ground, watered with tears of blood"

[@anthonymorris1360]

Never heard of this tournament so this was a great documentary. Thanks so much! All the best.

[@titou1again]

Dude, winners or losers, these guys have real courage

[@peterRobinson10101]

This is awesome. I now want to tour Italy. Fantastic.

[@danielemezzadri4528]

Vieni...e dimenticherai i luoghi comuni che si dicono sull Italia 🇮🇹

[@EveLovesChristJesus]

My good friend is the only guy from the UK to have a place on the team. An awesome sport 100%

[@georgemcelroyII]

It's the first time I have ever seen this sport. Respect for all the dudes who participate! Thanks for sharing.

[@-LuckyU-]

Thank you for sharing your amazing experience with us. The video was awesome

[@eus9]

Brilliant documentary on a wild sport that I'd only seen a bit of before. Must take some nuts to get in that arena!

[@nathanvandermeer]

I'm feeling that Ancient Rome vibe here .. this is awesome

[@aminoto-3]

Cracking little documentary.. could’ve done with a much longer version, getting to know more of the guys involved… this is a proper gladiator sport, mass brawl with a ball… and some loosely adhered to rules. Fantastic.!

[@jony6toes307]

Truly exceptional video... Respect to all involved

[@R.J._Lewis]

Nice touch with "you should see the colosseum, Spaniard."

[@portaccio]

Fantastic insights there. Congratulations 👏👏👏

[@knowyourenemy1304]

Proud to be Italian 🇮🇹

[@smik2518]

If you are proud to be Italian because of this fascist-fest then I’m sorry for you

[@Watusifarm]

If I was from Florence in my 20s I’d be dying to be on a team. The idea of battling where men before you have for so long is so incredible! Just getting to be a part of it!

[@johndoejoeblowshmoe8676]

Warriors live forever they just go by different names throughout the generations

[@martincolvill5453]

Absolutely love this. It reminds me me of a similar game we played in our SE Portland,Oregon neighborhood in the 60s. We called it war.

[@waluiggi3337]

congrats for the documentary! i like it so much

[@mrbeans2425]

I am so happy i stumbled upon this Video! HUGE Rugby fan but this is one of the most savage sports Ive ever seen!!

[@krlauf5307]

excelently presented, thank you... a mad wild game, so intense and brutal ....

[@lapocaldini8438]

Gloria a Firenze⚜️

[@damianop100]

Beautiful. What a man is Max Lahiff!

[@user-wu2lh7di2l]

I’d have liked that to be longer man. Awesome video.

[@Christophtov]

I especially appreciate around the 5 minute mark the guy describing the rules with demonstrations using biscotti’s and other Italian pastries. Mamma Mia!

[@christiancardenio497]

Those biscuits were "cantucci", specialty of Tuscany. They are so good! :)

[@danielemezzadri4528]

Quell uomo è un grande giocatore di rugby

[@Captain_Mojo]

Very natural and traditional. Love it. England had something similar once when football used to be played in the streets of a village and it was very similar. Keep the tradition. It is a mesmerising beautiful event 👍👍

[@philmckenna5709]

Ashbourne in Derbyshire still does it.

[@LS-xk8jg]

This documentary was amazing!!

[@richardeverett6701]

Wow im a huge mma fan and have never heard of this before and it's really crazy and really cool we dont have anything like this in the USA and seeing the views of the city was incredibly cool you can tell how old and see how this looks like it kinda goes back to like the i want to say renacaunce and im sorry if i misspelled that again wow ive always wanted to go to Italy sometime in my life and now i will plan my trip around atleast a match but preferably the final match. Italy has always been on my bucket list and now i ll probably need 3 weeks just to see all the things I want to see there what a bunch of bad asses ❤ to Italy

[@SXMSXMSXM]

Some Henry III dude said: To small to be a real war, but to cruel to be a game. I agree. ( 1:00 min )

[@bobbygriffin6662]

This game is begging to made a video game! Can u imagine the chaos you could create in an online match?

[@craig9000]

Great doco mate. Thanks!

[@florencemclaughlin3606]

Fascinating! Bravo. Just wish we could see more of the game being played instead of all the cutaways.

[@multipletanksyndrome]

Anyone else see those images of Florence and think.... I've climbed that in Assassin's Creed?

[@luceinbattaglia9425]

😂🔝

[@Statusinator]

I didn't even need a map to find my way when I actually went to Florence, my time as Ezio served me just as well!

[@StefanoCorsiniAvvocato]

This is not properly a sport, is a celebration of culture and history.

[@nathanbedfordforrest9546]

No, it’s a sport.

[@kdkdkdbdkddn3]

​@@nathanbedfordforrest9546nah fam

[@rockandmeatroll]

Excellent cinematography! what a film to watch 😂

[@swealer]

Max, thank you so much for that documentary! I live like 600km away (southern germany) and NEVER ever heard about that. Its a brutal gladiator like match but what i found most interessting is the culture and tradition behind it!

[@raphaelrousso7124]

Super reportage , géant commentateur et que de Panache ! Forza Firenze e Italia !

[@JustMe-ty2rp]

This was amazing to watch, thank you for sharing. Florentine is a such a beautiful place, the people seem amazing and I love the richness of tradition. The young man in me gets pretty excited and thinks it would be a great thing to try; but the old man in me says "I am wayyyyy too fng old for that crap" lmaoooooo. Very cool. Now time to learn about Lethwei.

[@adrianozaccagnini5414]

Bravo MAX, bel documentario. Sono sicuro ti piacerebbe partecipare anche a te una volta :)

[@shyrahman4506]

What a mad sport

[@fightworld0]

Love italy best place of world

[@DarrenSpurway]

Need some more of this want to learn as much as possible on this war game

[@alexmilne9251]

Well presented and what a spectacle, last of the gladiators ❤ it 👍🤕

[@mariobardazzi5464]

Minute 20:20 you can see Marvin Vettori UFC fighter MMA.

[@LionDowsett]

When he said people injure their ACLs often I kinda thought it was bs until I saw 17:36 holy mother

[@scottydees2748]

Awesome. Reminds me of the games of FOOTY we’d play back

[@Michael-gq9ou]

My family stumbled across the stadium the day before a game, my dad and I decided to go and it was probably one of the coolest sporting events in the coolest setting I’ve seen. I still have my azzurri shirt somewhere!

[@lewistrowbridge7514]

Them some big boys out there damn

[@byronbotha8219]

Max Lahiff needs his own food & travel show - it would be fantastic 👌

[@MbisonBalrog]

He did cook bolognese one time on YT.

[@Vaterunser904]

Gracias muy bueno el video chicos

[@matthew-tx6is]

Max Lahiff voice over at the start was insane !!!

[@drinkdrinkdrunk]

Bloody interesting, top work.

[@WillardsChips]

Gladiator Rugby!!!!

[@rakhit]

Another area of the world not affected by the weak. Absolutley brilliant and historically wonderful..

[@TQuattro46]

thats the best foreign documantation i ever saw about calcio storico 👏🏻👏🏻

[@wallybingbang4350]

That's a lot of testosterone - I love Italy and never heard of this - ❤ 🇮🇹

[@LJSiar]

Beautiful. No wonder Machiavelli was such a G!

[@TheWelcome999]

Excellent documentary!

[@kjaerdian7864]

Wow, absolutely fantastic

[@skinnybob6784]

Crips and Bloods should take notes.. Way better conflict resolution, might even build some respect for each other.. I know, it's a pipe dream, but still.. Been to Rome many times, this should be my next destination, respect. Love from Norway, my viking blood approves..

[@jpap99]

For one of the most artistic cities in Italy we have this brutal medieval 'sport'. Personally I'd pay to go watch this.

[@tm75_88]

Everything of modern world was born in Florence: architecture, painting, sculpture, engineering, banks, bourgeoisie, political parties, democracy, italian language and yes... football and rugby too

[@mirkochicco9620]

Come darti torto?

[@l.d.t.6327]

cough Greece cough.

[@gobboefelice5608]

Non esagerare

[@mirkochicco9620]

@@gobboefelice5608 Che sei di Siena?

[@James-tt7mr]

Saw this on Netflix, absolutely mental

[@CharlesOmondi]

Definitely on my bucket list

[@boldbeam4534]

Bring the ref from Calcio storico into rugby please. Things would get emotional

[@Antipodean33]

gotta love the old traditions, especially when it's kept alive and well

[@ds2476]

This is awesome! I wonder what the ultimate team would be? Maybe UFC in the front row, rugby 7s players in the second row then what for the goalies? Quick players who can tackle I guess; maybe rugby league players or American football?

[@Rust_valleyracing]

This is like murder ball when we were kids except we played it on concrete and tarmac in school play ground 😂😂😂

[@victorfoster3009]

At least something to satisfy the gladiator instincts.

[@Chaa-nal-anda]

Only one word -Respect .

[@robwray7842]

Really enjoyed this ❤

[@bigearedmouse17]

In England in 1199 the two Shire,s of Leicester and Warwick also played a Sport of this type and is also played annually every Shrove Tuesday...

[@crazykittenvideos855]

I just stay in and cook pancakes 😅. I’m not man enough to get involved in a game like that!

[@alessandrom7181]

Never heard of that honestly and i search for this type of historical contexts often.

[@deathtdow]

​@@alessandrom7181 Yeah this kinda ball game was THE ball game played in medieval Britain.

[@TheProdiga1One]

@@alessandrom7181 yeah, I think I read about it a while back. It was eventually banned by 'i forget which king', because too many people were getting hurt and even killed. He needed the men to stay health for real wars.

[@philip2774]

Can’t believe Ive never heard of this. Definitely noteworthy.

[@mandarino_official]

I didnt know this existed now i hope one day I ever get to see this in person, would be insane

[@Boerkoppie]

Give us a Max Lahiff travel series!

[@dampsam]

Great Film, look forward to see who wins this year

[@vermist1467]

Respect 👊🏽💪🏽