Transcript:

CONKERS - Rules and TechniqueAmbience: ConkersHere's a program from our archives.Winter's coming on, and across Great Britain, the sound of the conker can be heard throughout the land. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Conkers is a popular British children's game that's been co-opted by adults. Players are equipped with nothing but a horse chestnut, also known as a conker, threaded on a string. John Hadman is the Secretary of the Ashton Conker Club in Northamptonshire, England."It's a game for 2 people, and it's entirely aggression. Whoever wins the toss of the coin can decide to hang their conker up or to take first strike. In the traditional game, you take 3 swipes at your opponents conker with your own. (2:31) It's then your turn to hang up your conker and let your opponent have a go. This continues until one of the conkers breaks completely off the string, and the one with the remaining conker, however battered, cracked or tatty-looking, is the winner of that game.""There's no defense at all. When you're playing, it's natural to flinch when this thing is being swung at you, especially if it comes very close to your knuckles. The best thing to do is look away and think of England or something else."In the game of conkers, besides thinking of England, there are elements of style and technique to consider."There are various stances or swings that they take. Some people favor the overarm swing, where the conker comes down vertically. Others go in from the side or diagonally, reckoning that it's perhaps easier to go against the softer part of the nut -- there is the side-slash, the forward side-slash, and the back-hand side-slash."We've been listening to a program from our archives. Check out our website, pulseplanet.com for a link to my latest project - a novel. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.