Before the arrival of gymnastics and sports brought by European colonisation, the Malagasy had already developed a rich and diversified corporal culture. Among the abundance of games, the paper focuses on two fighting techniques which are rooted in the history of Madagascar and still popular today: moraingy [bare-knuckle fistfight] and savika [fierce battle between man and zebu]. In addition to physical activity, these practices have educational, initiatory, social, ritual and sacred functions for the community.