Bringing an ancient sport into the modern era
Every Sunday morning behind a Sikh temple in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, a group of athletes gathers not for a casual workout, but to revive an ancient tradition. The Brisbane Bulldogs tug of war team trains with a clear mission: to honor a sport steeped in history while adapting to today’s competitive landscape. At the center of this effort is coach Graham Egan, whose approach blends disciplined technique with a steel-eyed belief in teamwork.
Balance, not brute force
“One of the things I’ve been trying to teach our guys is, don’t go like a bull out of a gate,” Egan explains. The coaching philosophy goes beyond raw strength. Tug of war at this level demands a precise rhythm, a patient build, and a trust in the line’s collective energy. The Bulldogs’ practices emphasize timing, grip, foot placement, and the subtle art of letting the rope do the work. In a sport that looks deceptively simple, the real magic lies in how a team coordinates its pull across seconds that feel like minutes when every muscle is singing in unison.
The ritual behind the rope
Behind the temple’s bustle, the team calibrates itself like a well-oiled machine. Warm-ups focus on core stability, shoulder girdle strength, and the hypertuned endurance that keeps athletes locked in during grueling pulls. In the quiet moments before each drill, players study the rope’s tension and anticipate the moment to surge. The ritual is as much mental as it is physical: a shared focus, a ritual of breath, and a moment of calm before the storm of competition.
A community sport with a competitive edge
Brisbane’s tug of war scene is more than a series of pulls. It’s a tight-knit community where families, supporters, and local clubs greet every match like a homecoming. The Bulldogs represent a blend of cultures, highlighted by the multicultural energy surrounding the temple’s precinct. Sport here is not just about medals; it’s about sustaining a pastime that connects generations, honors tradition, and teaches resilience. In this setting, the ancient sport is not relic but living practice, evolving with modern training methods while preserving its core ethos of teamwork above individual prowess.
Strategies that separate the contenders
Competitions test teams on multiple fronts: grip strength, leg drive, and the seamless transfer of force through the rope. Egan’s training program includes grip conditioning, explosive starts, and sustained power during the mid-pull. A key strategic element is positioning—knowing when to push, when to hold, and how to read an opponent’s rhythm to exploit openings. The Bulldogs study opponent patterns, adjusting their own tempo, stance, and line lengths to gain small but meaningful advantages. In tug of war, small margins matter, and a well-timed surge can shift momentum in seconds.
Looking to the future
As the team trains under Brisbane’s changing skies, the hope is to attract more participants from diverse backgrounds and demographics. A sport with ancient roots, tug of war thrives when new voices join the line, bringing fresh insights into technique, conditioning, and strategy. The Bulldogs’ ongoing mission is to maintain accessibility—open practices, community outreach, and a focus on safety—while pushing the practical boundaries of what a modern tug of war team can achieve.
Conclusion: keeping the rope moving
The Brisbane Bulldogs’ Sunday mornings are more than a workout; they are a statement about how ancient sports can endure with the right blend of strength, strategy, and community. Under the guidance of coach Graham Egan, the team demonstrates that keeping a tradition alive requires discipline, patience, and a shared belief that every pull on the rope is a step toward preserving a living piece of athletic history.
