How to Pencil Fight
Pencil fighting is a competition that came out of schoolroom boredom in the '80s. In a pencil fight, the object is to break your opponent's pencil with your pencil.
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Instructions
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Hold the pencil in both hands if your opponent is striking first. Clench your hands in a fist with your thumbs on the sides of your index fingers. Hold the ends of the pencil between your thumbs and index fingers. Keep the pencil waist high and horizontal.
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Keep the pencil steady as your opponent strikes. If your pencil doesn't break in two, take aim at your opponent's pencil.
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Wait as your opponent sets his pencil. Then, strike his pencil with yours. The most conventional method is to hold your pencil vertically by the tip end with one hand. Pull back on the eraser end with your other hand. Let go of the eraser end and let it chop down on the middle of your opponent's pencil.
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Continue alternating turns striking each other's pencils. The player who first breaks her opponent's pencil completely in two is the winner.
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Tips & Warnings
Unless you decide to set rules stating otherwise, anything goes as long as only your pencil comes in contact with your opponent's pencil and you strike it from above and not below. Put your body into your hits and try different hand positions to get more power.
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Comments
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@Brad: Same in my South Carolina middle school about the same time.
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Brad Roberts
Jan 27, 2011
We were doing this in Texas elementary schools in the mid-70's. It probably goes back even further than that. Football pencils! Remember those? Good times! -
pencilitis
Nov 10, 2010
@Jane Smith: Well said, Buzzkill McGee.
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anarchynow
Aug 18, 2010
Pencil fighting is rad! One tip when on defense is to slightly "bow" your pencil up toward your oponents pencil. The idea is that it will flex when struck and absorb some of the impact; thus being less likely to break. Back in the day, many pencil fighters opted for "flexible" pencils (the Choice brand comes to mind). Pencil fighters would even soak a pencil in vinegar overnight to help increase its flexibility. Flexible pencils were thought to be better because they allowed for a harder strike, and could also flex when hit by the opponent's pencil.
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Jane Smith
May 20, 2009
This is an extremely irresponsible article and has no business being included as a related title to any education article. Although I am sure it is fun, the possibilities for injury make this a bad idea even if it were only classed as a related article to such brilliant games as beer pong.
