Stone Jumping

 From the age of 7, the boys on the island of Nias practice the ancient art of boulder jumping. As their age increases, so does the height of the boulders they dare defy. For the young men of the Nias tribes, the time would come when they would have to prove their courage and maturity as a warrior through a series of tests. Warriors of Nias must first be strong. Next they must be skilled in martial arts and trained in black magic. The last and final test for the warriors is to leap over massive stones, measuring as high as 2 meters without so much as touching the surface. Stone jumping on Nias Island is referred to as HomboBatu or Fahombo, and is a tradition that has been faithfully practiced and preserved for centuries.

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