Strength and Cultural Athletes Competition, World Record, and Exhibition March 22 - 23, 2025
Join us at Southeast Heritage Games at Apalachee Regional Park for a view into the world of strength and cultural athletics, including world-record attempts. A two-day festival celebrating strength, endurance, athleticism, heritage, community, and life. Come out and share in the excitement, learn more about sports that interest you, and even speak with the athletes!
Cultural Athletes
North Florida is home to many forms of ‘games’ that have a rich cultural history from around the world. We are thrilled to feature many of these forms through competition and/or exhibition.
Aikido – North Florida School of Aikido
Discover the North Florida School of Aikido, where martial arts meet gentle leadership. Aikido is not about blocking or using force in conflict—instead, we guide and redirect incoming force, opening a path to a peaceful resolution. Our Tallahassee-based dojo offers beginner to advanced classes in a welcoming, non-competitive environment. Through Aikido, you will develop confidence, balance, and resilience while learning conflict avoidance and effective self-defense. Join us to experience this art of harmony and connection. Visit our website or stop by for a free introductory class!
Click here to vistit North Florida School of Aikido’s website
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu featuring Warmageddon
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), or submission wrestling is a combat sport and martial art that focuses on takedowns, control, and submissions, allowing a smaller, skilled fighter to dominate a larger opponent using chokes and joint locks. BJJ is about strategy, patience, and precision, making it one of the most effective and respected forms of combat in the world—perfect for self-defense, competition, and a staple in the mixed martial arts community.
WARMAGEDDON is where the world of elite submission grappling collides with the raw intensity of athletic passion. Featuring high-stakes superfights, cash brackets, and no room for hesitation, WARMAGEDDON is the proving ground where grappling warriors clash for glory, dominance, and love for the sport.
Canopy Long Sword
Dedicated to education and instruction in historical European martial arts. Canopy Long Sword will provide demos of a variety of weaponized martial arts every hour.
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Greco-Roman Wresting
Embodying values of commitment, discipline, accountability, respect, sportsmanship, resilience, adaptability, leadership, dependability, and integrity. Featuring our friends form Grappling House Wrestling Club.
Click here to visit Grappling House Wrestling Club’s website
Kung Fu
Sifu Jesse Frank and his team from Tien Lung Kung Fu. More TBA
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Cultural Athlete Sign Up: If your athletic cultural heritage hasn’t been represented, please forgive us. We’re reaching out to those we have contacts for. Want to participate? Please contact Lyric Kali, Event Coordinator at [email protected] for initial details. Our Athletic Director will then reach out to you.
World Record Attempts
We have five world record attempts at this year’s Games. All of our attempts are by individual athletes in strength and will actively try to achieve a best new performance in their specific skill.
- Block Press (Open Weight) – Andrew Clayton
- Block Press (Lightweight) – Josh Harper
- Stone Over Bar – Tyler Davis
- Circus Dumbbell – Meg Latta
- TBA
World Record Attempts follow specific guidelines and are evidenced-based. Judges will be on hand for verification.
World Record Attempts will be on the stage within Heritage Village.
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Strength Athletes
Minimum $5000 Prize Pool
All participating athletes and accompanying persons will be asked to sign a standard waiver and release to participate in the events.
Get your downlodable Waiver & Release here.
Saturday Events
Budkar Stone Press
This is a trump style event where any number of reps on the heavy option beats any number of reps on the lighter option. The athlete has :60 to clean and press the stone for as many reps as possible. Solid lockout with head through will be required. All supportive equipment is allowed.
This is a historic block press from India. The original stones were shaped like our modern blocks but chiseled into shape and had hand holds cut into them . We will be using Will Development to make our stones and have some form of hand holds made into them.
Xavante Log Carry
Athlete will start 5′ back from the implement and run to the log lifting it to one shoulder then carrying it 100′. Fastest Time wins. Unlimited drops but the log must cross the line on the shoulder if it rolls across or is dropped before it crosses the line it will incur a :02 second penalty. all equipment allowed
This a slight twist on a cultural event of the Xavante, one of the indigenous tribes in Brazil. In their culture they would carry logs up to 80kg for miles. Our logs will range in diameter as the weight increases but all will be able to be gripped from the ends to in the traditional way.
Edo Ladder Deadlift
Athlete will start strapped in on a modified car deadlift frame. After each successful lift a keg will be dropped into a basket on the implement and increase the weight by 50lbs. If the athlete reaches the max load he will then have :60 to complete as many reps as possible. The athlete with the most reps wins.
This event ties in with a folklore story from the Edo tribe of Nigeria and Benin city. The story is a lesson on overreaching.
Mas Wrestling
Athletes will start both feet on the block and reach down to take their grip on the stick. Both athletes must use a double overhand grip! Once the grip is set and both athletes’ arms are both locked out, the judge will give you the signal to begin. each match will be best of 3. Belt and sleeves allowed. no straps
This event will have a unique scoring system allowing athletes to score more points towards their total score on this event. Also allowing athletes from different classes to go head to head.
This event has ties back to the Sakh, Inuit, and Viking cultures. We are using a mix of the rules from the various cultures for this event.
Sunday Events
Mast Carry
Athlete will have 3 heights to choose for their pick height. The athlete will start under the mast and use the chains and rope on the mast to get their position. On the start command the athlete will carry the mast down the 60′ course for the fastest time. There are unlimited drops but sliding will incur a :02 penalty. all equipment allowed
The mast carry legend is about Orm Stórolfsson, an Icelandic strongman who is said to have carried the mast of a Viking longship for three steps.
Basque Anvil Lifting
Athlete will take their anvil and lift from the bottom plate and touch the top plate for as many reps as possible in 2:00 . The height of the top bar will be adjusted to 18″ above the head. no equipment allowed
This is a traditional Basque strength event where the anvil has the shape of an elongated T and is traditionally used in shoeing horses. Champions manage some 80 lifts in 2 minutes.
Celtic Cross Carry
Athlete will pick the stone and carry for max distance turns every 50′ . The lighter stone option will be picked from a platform due to its shape while the heavy stone will be lifted from the ground. no tacky allowed all other equipment allowed
This event is a blend of a traditional husafel and fefor carry with ours being made into a wonderful art piece by Will Development.
Sherpa Sandbag Power Stairs
The athlete starts hands on the first of 3 sandbags and has 2:30 to get all three bags up the stairs and over the crossbar at the top. The athlete has the option to move them to the top in whatever fashion they want shouldering or lapping and dropping on each subsequent stair.
Sherpa are renowned for their ability to transport large quantities of gear and supplies over challenging terrain, sometimes exceeding their own body weight; this is deeply ingrained in their culture and lifestyle due to their mountainous environment and reliance on carrying goods for trade and survival.