Balinese Traditional Game

Tajog or Stilts, a Unique Balinese Traditional Game

At school, Balinese children are not only taught about the Balinese language but also some traditional games. As a consequence, Balinese children start to learn how to socialize while playing traditional games in the nearby field at an early age. Though must say they also spend hours playing online game and play station.

Three Balinese traditional games which are popular among the children are Gala gala, Bakiak/Terompah, and stilts. These three games are also competed in Pekan Olahraga Desa (Village Sports Week) besides Madagongan. Gala gala is a game involving two groups; each consists of 5 persons. The field size is 21 meters in length. This field is divided into three parts horizontally. In the meantime, a line also divides the field into two parts vertically.

Stilts Game (Tajog Game)

One group acts as a line keeper and another group is the player. Each person in line keeper group stands on each line to keep someone from another group getting in. Once a person from the player group succeeds to pass the last line without being touched by the line keeper, the group will get 1 point. Each person who has passed the last line has to go back to pass the first line to get another point. Whenever the line keeper touches the player then their position as line keeper and player is reversed.

Besides Gala gala, Balinese children also learn how to play stilts. Stilts is the name of a couple of bamboos containing footrests so someone can stand on them and walk or even run. When playing Tajog you will look like having very long legs. Keeping the balance while walking or running is the challenge of this game.

How you can try to play stilts?

Nobody can play Tajog without learning or practicing. The first exercise is standing stepping Tajog. Both hands holding each Pangisian left-right. For starters, you should enlist the help of a friend to hold Tajog it from the front. Or leaning against a wallTajog. Furthermore reverse direction, back against the wall, then up, then walk slowly. To avoid the danger of Penjekan should be installed rather low, then gradually increasingly rising. If you've mastered up and walk without assistance, then followed by a practice run.

In celebration of the great days, the game Tajog not only presented in the form of a quick run-velocity but also in the form of demonstrations. For example, Nengkleng, is leaping on one leg, muter, namely Nengkleng accompanied play next Tajog overhead. Also each other and push each other football which led to one of the players collapsed.

How To Make Tajog?

Initially prepared in the same two long bamboo poles. For children, the length is about 1.65 m and 1.85 m for adults. At the bottom of the timber is fitted Penjekan trampled flat-shaped bracket. The end of the bracket attached to the bamboo and the other end is used for the feet. In order to feel comfortable footing, timber size should be selected which matches the size of your feet. Part of the bamboo down Penjekan called Batis (foot) and the section above Penjekan called Pangisian (grip).

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