Editor Ruby Loxley talks you through the weird and the wonderful of UofG’s lesser known sport societies
The University of Glasgow is home to hundreds of different sports clubs, providing a society for every student. The Glasgow Guardian has researched the wildest sports societies available to our students; from jumping out of a plane to squeezing between cracks within a cave, the University can pride itself on inclusivity through its unlimited opportunities. Not only do these societies allow you to meet new people, grow confidence, and find a new skill, they also let you add a new hobby to your bucket list!
The first club that has caught our eye is the Caving Society, also known as the Potholing club. The club’s introduction describes what their key objectives are for their members: “Exploring cave systems brings a sense of challenge and lets you conquer your fears like nothing else.” Caving truly has to be one of the most intense, yet rewarding, sports that many people across the country have an interest in. Whether it’s in Scotland, Yorkshire, or the Peak District, the University of Glasgow’s Caving Society allows you to push your own boundaries whilst meeting new people who are looking for the same adrenaline rush as you. The society’s trips out of Glasgow take place on weekends, leaving Friday evening and returning late Sunday night. Notably, the majority of their members go caving on the Saturday (although some may take the opportunity to do it all again on Sunday)! If you are looking for the perfect match of thrill, intensity, and even a little fear, the Potholing society is definitely a good place to start.
From underground to above the clouds, Skydiving is the second unique society that we recognised. With practices and jumps taking place from Skydive Strathallan, the society offers consistent training and fear-breaking sessions before taking that first solo jump. All jumps are completed solo from Strathallan, meaning you learn everything beforehand, from the safety of the ground, provided by excellent, local instructors. Despite being a complete beginner, this society encourages you to become confident enough to take that first leap, literally. Once self-trust and resilience have been proven, the skydiving society advises its members to aim for their skydiving license, meaning you can head over to Skydive Strathallan whenever you may need that adrenaline hit to continue your progression. Similarly to the caving society, all social trips and training are done during the weekend.
Kendo, meaning ‘way of the sword’, is the third wild society that the university has to offer its students. The Japanese martial art uses bamboo swords and full body armour during a sparring match between two fighters. The aim? To strike their target in specific parts of the body. This might sound very chaotic, I know, but the sport follows a strict sporting etiquette of respect, humility, and self-discipline. These characteristics are emphasised in the society’s introduction: “The ultimate goal of kendo is not merely to win but to achieve mental and physical discipline, developing the character of the practitioner through rigorous training.” Whilst the previous societies have been all about finding self-confidence and that much needed adrenaline rush, Kendo provides its members with modesty, humility, peace. The club has experience competing across the country, accommodating both men and women, winning medals, receiving belts, and building confidence. Kendo can definitely teach us all a thing or two.
The clubs listed above will all have their individual stalls during Freshers’ Week at the Sports Fayre. Representatives of the clubs will be available to answer the many questions that you may have and provide you with further information about their wild sports. If these clubs are not for you, the university has hundreds of other sporting societies, for experts or beginners, available to anyone and all.
Image credit: University of Glasgow
