This is what happens.

Meet traditional Calcio.

Calcio Storico is one of the most strange and old games ever played since the Renaissance. It has always been played in Santa Croce Square in Florence and known as Giuoco del Calcio Fiorentino (Florentine Football).

It is considered as a mix between football and rugby – with a good dose of bare-knuckle boxing, and started in 1530 but faded put during the 18th century. In the 20th century it was associated with the celebrations of Saint John’s Day, Florence’s Patron Saint Day.

Marcos Nevel / photo: The Daily Telegraph

By now you probably already know Jiu-Jitsu’s good for your health, that it works every muscle and joint in your body, not to mention that it’s as effective as it gets as a martial art. But that the gentle art can help you win a ball game… now that’s probably news to you.

Australian rugby team the Bulldogs will be taking on the Rabbits next Sunday in some National Rugby League action, and they’re putting their chips on Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling training to help them win the championship—all so they’ll have the gas tank to go hard from start to finish and, especially, the gripwork to topple their adversaries.

“We practice fight techniques in order to control the opponents and help control the tempo of the game as well,” said Bulldogs coach Des Hasler.

The Bulldogs’ gentle-art training is overseen by Gracie Humaitá black belts Marcos Nevel and Mauricio Cavicchini. “They’re pleased with the work. The Australian newspapers are doing articles on us and everyone’s talking about how we’re training Jiu-Jitsu with them,” remarked Cavicchini.

The Sunday game will take place at Melbourne’s ANZ Stadium, and 70,000 tickets have already been sold.

Check out some of the Bulldogs’ Jiu-Jitsu training for their upcoming full-contact encounter.