The Highlanders are on the mat but it is all for the good of their game.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has been putting his team through the techniques and moves of martial art jiujitsu over the past month as he looks for an advantage going into next season.
The players are not getting into lengthy fights to submission in learning jiujitsu, but Joseph said it was more about using the skills of the sport to better their rugby game.
"It is about guys increasing their flexibility and and their ability to get off the ground quicker," Joseph said.
"The way rugby is now it is everyone's job to really contest the collision area, not just the openside and blindside flanker.
"But you have to be able to do that, and do it well."
Jiujitsu is a sport which involves getting advantage on the ground, and getting a body in the right position straight away to be on the ascendancy.
"Some guys are not flexible enough and find it hard to get into the right body position.
"What we are doing here is about being able to control your body.
"Being able to move from an awkward position where you can not do anything into a dominant position as quickly as possible. We just want to use the techniques from here to help our game."
Joseph said he had been alerted to the potential of the sport by former Otago and Highlanders flanker Kupe Vanisi, who had always got his body into good position when playing.
The players are helped in the art by jiujitsu instructor Ryan Henry at the Dunedin Fight and Fitness Academy, and near the end of the session include a rugby ball in grappling and holds.
Joseph said players had improved markedly over a month, and had found the sessions intense and helpful for their game.
He said it was always good to do something different, away from the rugby field, but often players got bored if they did not see how a different exercise could improve their game.
But the players could really see the benefit of the jiujitsu and its impact on aspects of the game.
"Plus it gives them a mind set of getting down and helping out a team-mate, really working hard to get an advantage."
What is jiujitsu?
Sometimes known as Brazilian judo, it uses holds, grapples and body position to beat an opponent rather than a one-off strike.
It has an emphasis on getting an opponent to the ground to force a submission involving joint-locks and chokeholds. Weight advantages are negated as technique is more important than outright strength.
