There are 179 sports that start with the letter K. From Kaartbal to Kwiakul. Sports, as a structured form of physical activity, play a vital role in cultures worldwide, serving as a means of entertainment, competition, and community engagement. Activities can range from team sports, like soccer and basketball, to individual pursuits like athletics and swimming. The evolution of sports has been influenced by various cultural, social, and technological factors, leading to the establishment of governing bodies, international competitions like the Olympics, and extensive professional leagues. Sports contribute significantly to physical health, social bonding, and can even have a positive economic impact on communities through events and tourism.
One interesting fun fact about sports is that cricket, often regarded as a national pastime in countries like India and England, is played by more than 120 countries and has a dedicated following of over 2.5 billion fans worldwide, making it one of the most popular sports globally.
Kaartbal
A traditional Dutch ball game where players throw and catch a ball while moving around a circular playing area.
Kaatsu Cycling
A form of low-intensity cycling that uses blood flow restriction to promote muscle growth and improve endurance.
Kabaddi
A popular contact sport where players take turns sending a ‘raider’ into the opposing team’s half to tag members and return to their own half.
Kabaddi Shoot
A variant of the traditional Kabaddi game where players aim to score points by ‘shooting’ the ball through a hoop-like structure rather than tagging opponents.
Kabadi
‘Kabadi’ is a contact team sport that originated in South Asia. It is characterized by players attempting to raid the opposing team’s half of the field and touch members of the defending team, all while holding their breath.
Kabaya
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use long poles to hit a ball back and forth.
Kabbadi
A contact sport where players try to tag or wrestle opponents while holding their breath.
Kabochan
A traditional Japanese ball game played by rolling a wooden ball called a ‘kabochan’ through a maze-like course.
Kachanga
A hand-eye coordination game where players toss and catch a small wooden block.
Kachia
A racket sport similar to badminton played on a small court, characterized by rapid exchanges and the use of a lightweight wooden racket.
Kachin Ball Game
A traditional Burmese game where players hit a woven rattan ball back and forth over a net using their hands, feet, and other body parts.
Kaeshi-waza
A technique in Japanese martial arts where one parries, blocks, or redirects an opponent’s attack and then counters with a strike or throw.
Kafoukball
A variation of volleyball played with a ball that is not allowed to touch the ground.
Kafourogiannis
A traditional Greek game where two players take turns kicking a small ball back and forth, trying to keep it in the air for as long as possible.
Kagome
A traditional Japanese singing and clapping game, often played by children.
Kai Bo
A martial art that combines techniques from Kung Fu and Karate, emphasizing strikes and grappling.
Kai Fa Guan
A traditional Chinese martial art that combines elements of staff fighting, grappling, and acrobatics.
Kaisho
A traditional Japanese martial art that focuses on developing one’s mental and spiritual discipline through the practice of kata (pre-arranged forms).
Kajong
A Korean board game similar to Go, played with stones on a 9×9 grid.
Kajukenbo
A hybrid martial art that combines techniques from Karate, Judo, Kenpo, and Boxing, developed in Hawaii in the 1940s.
Kakato-waza
A technique in Japanese martial arts that involves striking with the heel of the foot, often used in countering or evading an opponent’s attack.
Kakomi-jigoku
A grappling technique in Japanese jujitsu that involves trapping an opponent’s limb between the practitioner’s thighs and applying pressure or leverage to subdue them.
Kalaha
A mancala-style game where players collect stones in their ‘houses’ by moving them around the board.
Kalama
A traditional Kenyan game where two players take turns placing stones on a wooden board, trying to capture the opponent’s stones or create a continuous line of their own.
Kalari Payattu
An ancient Indian martial art that emphasizes fluid movements, joint locks, pressure points, and the use of traditional weapons like the staff and sword.
Kalarippayattu
An ancient Indian martial art that combines combat techniques, yoga, and meditation. It emphasizes the development of the whole person, both physically and spiritually.
Kalbura
A traditional Indian sport where two players hit a ball back and forth using wooden paddles.
Kalima
A traditional Indian martial art that uses sticks as weapons and focuses on striking techniques.
Kallikaddu
A traditional Sri Lankan game similar to cricket, played with a wooden bat and a rubber ball on a circular field.
Kalokan
A traditional Filipino game played on a small court, where players use a small, soft ball and their hands, arms, and feet to hit it back and forth over a net.
Kaman
An ancient Iranian archery game where players compete to hit targets or knock down objects with bows and arrows.
Kamanja
An ancient African game played with a wooden hoop that is rolled, spun, and tossed.
Kamari
A traditional Libyan game where players take turns throwing stones at a target.
Kamau
A traditional Kenyan game where two players use sticks to try and knock stones off of a platform, while also trying to prevent their opponent from doing the same.
Kamenashi
A Japanese croquet-like game played on a small court using wooden mallets and balls.
Kamenashi Sumo
A traditional Japanese style of sumo wrestling performed on a small, elevated platform.
Kamikaze Frisbee
A variant of ultimate frisbee where players attempt to intercept and catch the disc while diving or jumping, often resulting in spectacular and high-risk plays.
Kamui
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use long sticks to hit a ball back and forth.
Kan-Sai
A traditional Japanese archery game where players compete to hit a small target.
Kanarazu
A defensive technique in Japanese martial arts where the practitioner uses their body to absorb and redirect the force of an opponent’s attack.
Kancha
A children’s game where players take turns trying to knock each other’s marbles out of a ring.
Kang
A traditional Chinese game played on a wooden board with pieces that are moved according to specific patterns.
Kang Bing
A traditional Chinese ice hockey-like game played on frozen lakes or ponds.
Kanga
A fast-paced ball game played with a small rubber ball, similar to cricket but without the bats.
Kangaroo Ball
A unique sport where players bounce on large inflatable balls and try to score goals.
Kanghua
A traditional Chinese sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Kangura
A traditional South African ball game played on a small court, where players use their hands and feet to hit a ball back and forth over a net.
Kanhti
A traditional Indian board game similar to Parcheesi, played with a board and game pieces.
Kanja
A traditional Tanzanian game where players take turns placing stones in holes in the ground, trying to capture the opponent’s stones or create a continuous line of their own.
Kanjam
A disc throwing and catching game where players score points by throwing a frisbee through a target.
Kankouyen
A Japanese sport where two players use small, paddle-like rackets to hit a ball back and forth.
Kapat
A traditional Nepalese wrestling-based game where players grapple and try to lift their opponent off the ground.
Kapla
A construction toy game where players build structures using rectangular wooden blocks.
Kapoenen
A Belgian children’s game where players try to catch each other while following specific movement rules.
Kapoka
A traditional Kenyan game where players try to knock their opponent’s wooden discs off of a platform using their own discs.
Karam
A team sport similar to Kabaddi, where players try to tag or wrestle opponents while holding their breath.
Karate Kata
Choreographed patterns of movements performed in traditional karate as a form of practice and demonstration.
Karete
A Japanese martial art focused on striking techniques using the hands, elbows, knees, and feet, with an emphasis on self-defense and discipline.
Karrom
A tabletop game similar to billiards, where players use strikers to knock coins into pockets around the board.
Karuta
A traditional Japanese card game that involves quickly identifying and collecting matched cards.
Kasina
A traditional Filipino game where players kick a small rattan ball to each other, trying to keep it in the air.
Kata
The formal patterns of movements practiced in various martial arts disciplines.
Katahole
A traditional Indian game similar to volleyball, where players use their hands, arms, and shoulders to hit a ball over a net.
Katana Giri
A Japanese martial art that focuses on the use of the katana sword, emphasizing precision, speed, and control.
Katas
In martial arts, ‘katas’ are pre-determined sequences of movements that are practiced to improve technique, form, and mental focus.
Katate-Dori Judo
A form of judo where the participants grab each other’s wrists or hands and use throws, locks, and sweeps to try to subdue their opponent.
Kataveren
A traditional Finnish skiing game where players race against each other on cross-country skis.
Katchina
A traditional game played by Native American tribes using carved wooden dolls as game pieces.
Kateri
A traditional First Nations game played with sticks and a small ball, similar to lacrosse.
Kato
A traditional Japanese game where players try to knock balls off a platform using wooden sticks.
Katsugi
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use long poles to hit a ball back and forth.
Katumba
A traditional Tanzanian game where players take turns placing stones in holes in the ground, trying to capture the opponent’s stones or create a continuous line of their own.
Kavadi
A religious festival in South India where devotees carry ornate wooden structures called ‘kavadi’ as an act of penance and devotion.
Kayak Polo
A water sport where players compete in kayaks and try to score goals using a ball.
Kayaking
A water sport where a person sits in a small, narrow boat and uses a double-bladed paddle to propel and steer the kayak.
Kayama
A Japanese game similar to croquet, played with a wooden ball and mallet on a small court.
Kayangi
A traditional Rwandan game where players try to capture each other’s wooden game pieces by moving them across a board.
Kazoku
A Japanese sport where two players use small paddles to hit a ball back and forth.
Kazoo
A simple wind instrument where the player hums or vocalizes into a vibrating membrane to produce a buzzing sound.
Kebaddi
A team sport where players try to tag or wrestle opponents while holding their breath.
Keijo
A Japanese sport where players attempt to push each other off a circular platform using only their hips and breasts.
Kekliku
A traditional Albanian game where players use sticks to try and knock stones off of a platform, while also trying to prevent their opponent from doing the same.
Kem
A traditional Thai game where players try to capture each other’s wooden game pieces by moving them across a board.
Kemari
An ancient Japanese game where players pass a ball made of deerskin filled with sawdust using only their feet, without letting it touch the ground.
Kendama
A traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a wooden base with a ball attached by a string, where the goal is to catch the ball on the different parts of the toy.
Kendo
A Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords and protective armor, focusing on developing discipline, martial arts skills, and sportsmanship.
Kenjutsu
A Japanese martial art that teaches the skills of using the Japanese sword (katana) in combat, emphasizing technique, strategy, and mental discipline.
Kennin
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Kenwata
A Japanese sport where two players use long poles to hit a ball back and forth.
Kerplunk
A tabletop game where players take turns removing sticks and trying to avoid dropping marbles through the holes.
Kerridge
A traditional English game played by rolling wooden discs towards a target.
Ketball
A recreational sport that combines elements of basketball and soccer, where players try to score points by throwing a ball through a suspended net.
Kettle Ball
A strength and conditioning exercise that involves swinging a cast-iron weight in specific patterns.
Kettlebell Sport
A strength and endurance sport that involves lifting and moving kettlebells in various ways, such as swinging, snatching, and jerking.
Kettling
A traditional English game where players use long poles to push or ‘kettle’ a ball through a goal.
Keura
A traditional Indian game where players use sticks to hit a small ball over a net or through a hoop.
Kexing
A traditional Chinese sport where two players use small rackets to hit a ball back and forth.
Khat
A traditional Somali sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Khi Kho
A traditional Vietnamese sport where two players use long sticks to hit a ball back and forth.
Kho Kho
A tag-based team sport where one team tries to tag members of the opposing team as they run in a loop around a central area.
Khokhloma
A traditional Russian game where players compete to strike a wooden ball using carved wooden sticks.
Khokho
A team sport where players try to tag or catch opponents while running in a circular pattern.
Khokka
A traditional Russian ice hockey-like game played on frozen lakes and rivers.
Khon
A traditional Thai dance-drama performance that combines elements of theater, music, and martial arts.
Khorz
A traditional Iranian sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Khuru
A traditional Bhutanese sport where players throw wooden darts at a target, similar to the Western game of darts.
Kibbles
A traditional Australian game where players toss discs to knock over a stack of small blocks.
Kick Boxing
A combat sport that combines elements of boxing and martial arts, allowing the use of kicks, punches, and other strikes with the hands, feet, knees, and elbows.
Kickball
A sport similar to baseball but played by kicking a large rubber ball instead of hitting it with a bat.
Kickboxing
A combat sport that combines elements of boxing and various kicking techniques from different martial arts.
Kicking Chicken
A traditional Vietnamese game where players try to kick a live or stuffed chicken into a goal.
Kicking the Can
A traditional outdoor game where one player hides a can while the others try to find and touch it without being tagged by the hider.
Kido
A Japanese martial art that focuses on the practical application of defensive techniques and the development of spiritual awareness.
Kiho
A traditional Korean sport where two players use long sticks to hit a ball back and forth.
Kila
A traditional Indian sport similar to polo, where players on horseback use mallets to hit a wooden ball through goalposts.
Kilenge
A traditional ball game played in Papua New Guinea, where players use their hands, feet, and heads to keep a woven ball in the air.
Kilindi
A traditional African game played on a board with pits, where players try to capture each other’s game pieces.
Kimbo
A traditional Filipino game where players try to kick a rattan ball through a goal made of two upright sticks.
Kinagashi
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use small paddles to hit a ball back and forth.
Kinball
A team sport where three teams of four players work together to hit and control a large inflatable ball.
King of the Hill
A game where players try to push each other off a raised platform or hill, often using physical force.
Kingball
A variation of handball where players try to score points by hitting a ball through a raised hoop.
Kintan
A traditional Japanese game where players use wooden blocks to build structures and knock them down.
Kishiryu
A traditional Japanese game where players use small wooden dolls to act out stories and narratives.
Kite Archery
A sport where players use bows and arrows to shoot at targets attached to kites, testing their accuracy and kite-flying skills.
Kite Boarding
A water sport where a rider uses a large kite to propel themselves across the water on a specialized board.
Kite Buggy
A sport where a person is pulled in a small, low-to-the-ground cart by a large kite.
Kite Fighting
A competitive sport where players try to cut each other’s kite strings using their own kite string.
Kite Fishing
A form of fishing where a kite is used to carry the fishing line and lure.
Kite Flying
The recreational activity of flying kites by using the wind to make a kite hover in the air, often as a competitive sport.
Kite Landboarding
A sport where a person is pulled on a small, wheeled board by a large kite.
Kite Surfing
A surface water sport that combines elements of wakeboarding, surfing, and paragliding, using a large power kite to pull the rider across the water on a small surfboard or kiteboard.
Kiten
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Kito
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use long sticks to hit a ball back and forth.
Kiunga
A traditional Kenyan sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Kixball
A team sport similar to soccer, where players use their feet, head, and chest to move and kick a ball.
Kjanke
A traditional Scandinavian game where players use wooden sticks to knock small wooden balls through a series of wickets.
Kla-Klak
A traditional Indonesian game where players try to knock each other’s wooden blocks off a platform.
Klanken
A traditional Norwegian game where players take turns placing wooden blocks on a board, trying to create continuous lines or patterns.
Klebjaka
A traditional Polish game where players try to knock their opponent’s wooden discs off a platform using their own discs.
Klootschieten
A traditional Dutch sport where players throw a heavy wooden ball as far as possible across fields and meadows.
Knattleikr
An ancient Icelandic ball game similar to field hockey, played with a wooden ball and curved sticks.
Knight’s Chess
A variant of chess where the knight is the most powerful piece, and the goal is to capture the opponent’s king using the knight’s unique movement patterns.
Kobudo
A Okinawan martial art that focuses on the use of traditional Okinawan weapons such as the bo (staff), sai, tonfa, nunchaku, and kama.
Kogo
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Kokeshi Doll Rolling
A Japanese game where players race small wooden kokeshi dolls down a sloped track or surface.
Kon-Kurs
A traditional Norwegian game where players try to knock their opponent’s wooden discs off a platform using their own discs.
Kong Panna
A variant of football where players try to score points by hitting a ball through their opponent’s legs, rather than the traditional goal posts.
Konopa
A traditional Argentine team sport similar to volleyball, played with a large inflated ball.
Korfball
A mixed-gender team sport similar to basketball, where players try to shoot a ball through a raised hoop on the opposing team’s side of the field.
Korova
A traditional Argentine team sport similar to volleyball, played with a large inflated ball.
Kote-Gaeshi
A Japanese martial art technique that focuses on wrist locks and arm manipulations.
Kother
A traditional Indian ball game played on a rectangular court, where players try to hit a ball with their hands to score points.
Kou-Xin-Quan
A Chinese martial art that emphasizes fluid, circular movements and the development of internal energy (qi).
Koura
A traditional Japanese sport where two players use long sticks to hit a ball back and forth.
Kouros
A traditional Greek ball game played on a circular court, where players use their hands, arms, and shoulders to hit a small, hard ball.
Kreisel
A traditional German game where players try to knock each other’s spinning tops off a platform.
Krikket
A traditional Indian bat-and-ball sport similar to cricket, played with a wooden bat and a small, hard ball.
Krockon
A traditional Swedish sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
Kroket
A traditional Dutch game similar to croquet, played with wooden mallets and balls on a lawn or field.
Krokodillenspel
A traditional Dutch game where players try to stack wooden blocks on top of each other without the structure collapsing.
Krolf
A hybrid sport that combines elements of golf and croquet, played on a course with both grass and paved surfaces.
Krum
A traditional Bulgarian team sport similar to basketball, played with a large inflated ball.
Krummholz
A German lawn game similar to croquet, played with wooden mallets and balls on a grassy court.
Krut
A traditional Thai sport where two players use long sticks to hit a ball back and forth.
Kubb
A lawn game where players take turns throwing wooden batons at upright wooden blocks, with the aim of knocking them down.
Kubbol
A traditional Indian game where players use sticks to hit a small, hard ball back and forth across a playing area.
Kubbs
A lawn game where players take turns trying to knock down wooden blocks, or ‘kubbs’, with wooden batons.
Kuk Sool Won
A Korean martial art that combines techniques from various traditional Korean fighting styles, emphasizing both physical and mental discipline.
Kukeri
A traditional Bulgarian folk ritual and performance involving participants dressed in elaborate, colorful costumes and masks.
Kumdo
A Korean sword fighting martial art that focuses on the use of the Korean sword (geom) in combat, with an emphasis on technique, strategy, and spiritual development.
Kumite
The sparring or fighting component of karate, where two competitors fight against each other with a predetermined set of rules and regulations.
Kun Tao
An Indonesian martial art that combines strikes, grappling, and the use of traditional weapons like the kris dagger.
Kung Fu
A collective term for the various Chinese martial arts, characterized by a wide range of techniques, including strikes, kicks, blocks, and grappling.
Kurash
A traditional Uzbek wrestling sport where participants try to throw their opponent to the ground using various techniques, including trips, sweeps, and takedowns.
Kururin
A Japanese game where players compete to keep spinning tops balanced on a rotating platform.
Kusti
A traditional Indian form of wrestling, where two competitors grip each other’s belts and try to push, pull, and throw their opponent to the ground.
Kutiyattam
An ancient form of Sanskrit theater from the Indian state of Kerala, which combines elements of dance, drama, and martial arts.
Kwiakul
A traditional Canadian Indigenous sport where two players use their hands to hit a ball back and forth.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.