AngeleDeSavigny: Consultation version approved 23 June 2026

2026-08-15T02:34:34Z

Consultation version approved 23 June 2026

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{{ChapterInfo|Equestrian Handbook|38|Appendix - Dakyu rules and equipment}}
''Sir Saito, Calontir, (date to be confirmed)''
[[File:Dakyu.jpg|thumb|Dakyu players]]
Dakyu is a period Japanese horse game. Originally from China, dakyu was played in Japan as early as the Nara period, making its way there via Korea.
A cross between polo and lacross. There are a couple versions of it: Kagemiryu-style and Yamagata-style. Originally from China, the game was played by Japanese nobles between 8th and 10th century and was revived in the 18th century to a more polo mallet-style, but is still played in older forms today at historical festivals. It was believed to be good training for warriors on how to wield a spear from the saddle.
We have been playing this for about 15 years across a number of kingdoms in the SCA. Here are the combined rules I use when I run it. These rules are based partly on how both versions were played in period, and what we determined works best for fun and safety in the SCA. I think we are keeping the spirit of the game and everyone seems to really enjoy it. Feel free to make your own rules changes when you play. This is just what we found works after a lot of trial and error.

==Game play==
2 teams of 4+ enter the field from the far end of field. There are 5 game balls on the field for each team (10 total of 5 red and 5 blue). Balls are randomly placed across the field by marshals before each round. Each rider has a 7 1/2 foot long bamboo racket with a small net at the end in a color that matches their team and the headbands they are wearing.
Each side tries to scoop up their color balls and throw them between a single goal made of 2 upright poles, 6 feet apart, located at one end of the field. Any throw that doesn't go between the goal posts and goes behind them will be thrown back into play by a marshal to a random location. At 10-15 feet away from the goal, a ground bar keeps riders from getting to close to the goal. We use poles laid on the ground. Horses that cross that barrier must leave immediately back into play. Players may block the other team from scoring with racket or horse, and you may pick up the opponent's color ball for just long enough to throw it further from the shared goal. General rule: no carrying an enemy ball more than one stride before throwing or dropping it. But you may repeatedly pick it up and throw it. Players may carry a ball from their own side in their net for as long as they want, or throw it. It must be thrown from outside the ground barrier and pass between the goal posts to score. Note: any ball that scores correctly is not returned to play.
Every time a goal is made, a gong or drum is sounded depending which team scored, and/or a scoring marshal or scorekeeper will announce loudly the team color and how many balls of that team's 5 has been scored. Example: "Blue has 2 of 5 balls scored!" Once a team has scored 5 of their color balls, the marshal or scorekeeper announces the "agemari" (yellow ball) is in play for that team. A single 6th yellow ball is thrown randomly onto the field. The team with 5 balls scored must now attempt to capture and throw that yellow ball through a higher and smaller round hole goal (harder to hit goal). We use a hula hoop suspended 3 feet off the ground located in the center of the 2 goal posts. We have also used a wooden wall with a hole cut about 4 to 5 feet off ground.
The team without 5 scored balls must finish scoring their 5 balls in the easier goal and may block and throw the yellow ball, but not score it. If the 2nd team scores their 5th ball, they may then capture and score the same yellow ball, if not scored before then. Only 1 yellow ball will be put into play each round.
A round of play ends and victory goes to the 1st team to score all their 5 color balls in the big goal and be first to score the yellow ball into the raised hole goal.

===Sudden-death rules===
We add this rule a few years ago to make the rounds shorter and more exciting. And because sometimes no one playing can score the yellow ball in the smaller goal. Once the yellow ball is in play for both teams to score, a 3 min sudden-death timer begins. If neither team has scored the yellow ball in the small raised goal within 3 minutes, sudden death happens and any team with 5 colored balls already scored may score the yellow ball in the larger goal between the posts for a round victory. We usually announce "1 minute till sudden death" and again when sudden death begins. Optionally, 5 mins after sudden death ends, the round ends in a tie, if no team can score the yellow ball between the goal posts.

===Penalties===
*Riders may strike the front and back of their rackets on opponents' rackets to make them drop a carried ball. Riders must be warned to avoid hitting rider or horse in the head. And repeated racket to flesh contact. And to avoid high sticking or overly hard hits between rackets. Breaking these safety rules gets you a warning, pulled out for a round or the day depending on the severity and at marshal's discretion.
*Throwing a ball of any color out of play(usually out of the arena or marked boundaries) is a penalty. Play continues but the rider who threw the ball out has to ride to that area it left play and wait till the ground crew can throw that ball back onto the field into a random spot. Once the ball is returned to play the penalized player can return to game. Usually this most often happens when a rider throws an enemy ball to hard and it leaves play. Since the other team can't score that ball the throwing player is penalized till the ball is back in play. We usually have ground crew on each side of the field whose job it is to fetch and throw those balls back in play. The exception to this rule is any ball thrown out of bounds on the end of the field the goal posts are on. Anytime a shot missed the goal and goes out of play no penalties. The ball is returned to play randomly.
*Throwing the yellow agemari ball out of play by a player whose team cant score it causes a hold until the ball is returned to play. This keeps the team still trying to score their 5 balls from just repeatedly throwing the agemari out of play till their other members score the other balls. Note: a missed shot on goal or throw out of bounds with the agemari by a legit scorer does not cause a hold. Scoring players must wait till the groundcrew returns the agemari to play with a throw to a random location on field.
*Some pushing of horse on horse and horse contact will occur. But no high-speed ramming or t-boning another horse is allowed.
*No grappling from player to player or grabbing another player's racket, reins or horse.
*Any horses that become to excited or bite or kick repeatedly will be removed at marshals discretion.

===Final comments===
This game is much like bushkazi. Your horse should be good interacting close with other horses and a bit of high-energy activity going on around it. Like bushkazi, it's good to have horses of different kinds, some that can block, fast horses that can chase, and teamwork is important in this game. We usually warn riders to be aware of other horses panicking, and to back off and lower the energy level, if another rider's horse is being scared by being charged or crowded. Marshals should be on the lookout for this as well, and act as needed. Any horse that repeatedly is spooked is asked to leave the field or move to the edge to let their horse acclimate and calm down. Also any horse that bites or kicks is asked to withdraw as well.

==Equipment==
[[File:Dakyu rackets.jpg|alt=Dakyu rackets|thumb|Dakyu rackets]]

===Game Balls===
You can make them out of leather or cloth for a more period feel. But we have settled on using red, blue and yellow rubber racket balls. They are easy to get and easy to replace. And if thrown into a player or horse won't hurt them even if thrown hard. And a horse stepping on them doesn't hurt ball or horse.

===Rackets===
7 1/2 feet of roughly just larger than thumb-sized bamboo. Lash a piece of heavy wire or split bamboo into a hoop at one end. Note: I did not find bamboo held up to rough play so I settled on heavy wire. Stretch netting across the hoop. It should be just tight enough to allow a player to scoop a ball up. Too tight and the ball can't be picked up but too lose you can't throw the ball out of net. My advice play with one till you get what you like for tension. Then make the rest that way. I have used cloth netting and plastic fish netting. Both hold up really well. And can be repaired or tightened on the fly with a piece of electrical tape between net and hoop. Place a tennis ball or some other large safety device on the other butt end of the racket to protect eyes or players and mounts. Sometime racket butt ends can hit a person or horse. I split tennis balls and placed them on the end. I painted the tennis balls to match the team colors.

===Goals===
My lite travel set is 2 portable holes with 2x2x8 posts in them and a portable hole with a 3 foot hoolahoop attached for the yellow ball goal. Bad side of this lite kit is your ground crew person at that end works harder to return missed balls to play. You likely need two at that end.
My fancier goals have wood or cloth walls so if you miss the goal the ball bounces back into play. This version is easier to score and ground crew but not often practical to haul.
[[File:Dakyu being played.jpg|alt=Dakyu being played|thumb|Dakyu being played]]

Equestrian:Appendix - Dakyu rules and equipment - Revision history

AngeleDeSavigny: Consultation version approved 23 June 2026