Games - Pencil fighting

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	Games - Pencil fighting

Pencil fighting is a two-player children's game popular with elementary and middle school students. To play the game, each player needs a pencil. On each turn, one player holds their pencil by the ends, horizontally, and the other player swings their pencil down in an attempt to break it. The players alternate until one of the pencils breaks.

The basic rules include:

Standard "number 2" pencils must be used.
Pencils must be of a certain minimum length, usually as close to "unsharpened" as possible.
The person holding the pencil must keep their hands a minimum distance apart. (Making the breakable area shorter not only makes the target smaller and harder to hit, but increases the difficulty of breaking the pencil, due to the extra support). They must also make every effort to hold the pencil in place as the other pencil hits it. A simple overhand grip is usualy used.
A partial break does not count (although it virtually ensures the next attempt will break the pencil).

Variations include:

Instead of the breaker holding the pencil and swinging like an ax, the top of the pencil is held in place, while the bottom end is pressed towards the other pencil. The top of the pencil is released, causing the tension in the pencil to be released as it flies down and hits the other pencil.

Due to the potential for injuries, especially when a pencil misses its target and hits the other player's hands, some some schools have specific rules banning pencil fighting.

Pencil fighting has been done in schools since at least 1975.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Pencil fighting ]

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