A finger fight may seem like a juvenile and pointless exercise to some, but in some German towns it attracts some of the biggest and burliest blokes around.

Fingerhakeln, or finger wrestling, dates back to 17th century Bavaria and Austria where two age and weight matched competitors sit across each other at a table and pull a small leather band between them.

The player who succeeds in pulling the opponent across the table is declared the winner.

Competitors frequently wear a Gamsbart, which is a decorative accent made from a tuft of hair from the neck of the chamois – a goat/antelope species native to Europe.

Photos: Getty