Ever wonder what happens when someone decides that “chewing food” is just too mainstream? Get ready to explore a world where the main course consists of cold, hard steel.

While most people struggle to swallow a large vitamin without a glass of water, there is an elite group of individuals who treat the esophagus like a scabbard for weaponry. This is the journey from ancient Indian holy men proving their divinity to modern-day daredevils navigating the risks of internal organ punctures for the sake of a Guinness Record. It unpacks the history, the demanding anatomy, and the surprisingly significant medical legacy of sword swallowing.

The practice is ancient, medically impactful, and—fair warning—extraordinarily dangerous. Here is the story of those who choose the blade.