Irish Stick Fighting Clips

[kidswarrior]

I find this an interesting practice. It was taught to Glen Doyle (also has a kung fu background) by his father, Greg Doyle.

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=qpIIjrGuNtQ
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=xEQv4guwcA4
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=_blPpVxaLAs
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=d43qH9w5Dow
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=aDhDn8Y1xYg
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=htxSmrJHnVk
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=REvuqH8cRJc
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=6p4Jp1he1uM

 

[stone_dragone]

Thats some good stuff. Nice find!

 

[arnisador]

Neat! Looks like a weighted stick?

 

[kidswarrior]

Neat! Looks like a weighted stick?

The shillelagh, or bata, is historically made with the root of the blackthorn bush as the 'knob' or handle. These will be lighter colored than the shaft of the stick. http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Shillelagh.html But there are many other types of stock, too, as you can see from the clips, as well as the website (no relation to anyone in the clips as far as I know).

 

[arnisador]

The shillelagh, or bata, is historically made with the root of the blackthorn bush as the 'knob' or handle. These will be lighter colored than the shaft of the stick. http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Shillelagh.html

Ah, thanks!

 

[chinto]

yes the European stick fighting was as developed as any in asia.
I have carried a black thorn walking stick as both a walking stick and a weapon in the bay aria. I am an SCA trained fighter and could use it effectivaly and like the hanbo there are a limited number of ways to use a cane length fighting stick.
believe me a stick say 30 inches long used properly will shatter a femur ! ( the toughest bone in the body to brake!!)

 

[kidswarrior]

believe me a stick say 30 inches long used properly will shatter a femur ! ( the toughest bone in the body to brake!!)

So imagine what it will do to a wrist, forearm, inside of the shin, ankle, elbow, side of the face/head. I think of my sticks (and cane) as my *anti-knife.* That 30 inches is a great stress reliever when we don't know what he might have hidden, or even after he pulls a blade (or brass knuckles)--we can reach him, but he can't reach us.

 

[Archangel M]

Please dont take this as an affront, thats was some COOL stuff and the system shown is probably pretty effective, but I am always a bit suspicious of some of these "ethnic arts" that pop up every now and then. "The forgotten art of Native American knife fighting" and "the return of the obscure Eskimo art of seal bone combat". And so on. While Im shure many cultures had their fighting "systems" it seems to me like many people are looking for that "niche" in martial arts to exploit so they latch onto some obscure culture and/or weapons and hit the streets.

Again, not saying thats going on here, I am admittedly ignorant of the history, traditions and lineage of Irish "Martial Arts", just someting that makes me think whenever I see some new "traditional" art come to light.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Here is one of his websites: http://fightingfaction.com/

Personally I enjoyed the videos!

 

[Langenschwert]

Please dont take this as an affront, thats was some COOL stuff and the system shown is probably pretty effective, but I am always a bit suspicious of some of these "ethnic arts" that pop up every now and then.

True enough. However, Glen Doyle is well-regarded. IIRC, Bata is reasonably well-documented. Of course there's stuff like STAV which is completely bogus from a historical standpoint. If you do your research, you won't get taken in by a fraud. For more info, Ken Pfrenger (I think) runs an e-list for bata and pugilism.

Best regards,

-Mark

 

[kidswarrior]

Again, not saying thats going on here, I am admittedly ignorant of the history, traditions and lineage of Irish "Martial Arts",

Yep, I'd say that's true. You might want to do a little checking before crapping on someone's art/practice/studio.

...just someting that makes me think whenever I see some new "traditional" art come to light.

This is not new. Yeah, Glen and his father Greg have their family slant, but the concept/history of shillelagh fighting goes back at least to the 1700s (without my research books in front of me, can't make a better guess than that). You could check out some of the works of John Hurley. They're pretty accessible, and very thorough. If you want a longer reference list, I can get it for you once I get home.

 

[Archangel M]

Thats why I qualified my statement.

 

[kidswarrior]

Thats why I qualified my statement.

OK, no worries. Thanks for stopping in to the thread.

 

[ArmorOfGod]

I emailed Glenn Doyle last month and he told me that he is about to release some instructional dvd's.

AoG

 

[Carol]

True enough. However, Glen Doyle is well-regarded. IIRC, Bata is reasonably well-documented. Of course there's stuff like STAV which is completely bogus from a historical standpoint. If you do your research, you won't get taken in by a fraud. For more info, Ken Pfrenger (I think) runs an e-list for bata and pugilism.

Best regards,

-Mark

Hey count me in as a skeptic too.

I mean...c'mon. The Irish? Able to fight?

Ridiculous!

(Kidding!)

:lol2: :lol: :lol2:

 

[kidswarrior]

Hey count me in as a skeptic too.

I mean...c'mon. The Irish? Able to fight?

Ridiculous!

(Kidding!)

:lol2: :lol: :lol2:

Well, think about it like this. If you take away their (our ) drink, what else is there? Just leaves fighting. So with that much practice, and throwing in the noggin-knocker stick aspect, the survivors are bound to get better, eh?

I emailed Glenn Doyle last month and he told me that he is about to release some instructional dvd's.

AoG

Yeah, I can't wait. Should give those of us who use the stick some fresh ideas for rounding out our curriculum and practice.

 

[Steel Tiger]

Well, think about it like this. If you take away their (our ) drink, what else is there? Just leaves fighting. So with that much practice, and throwing in the noggin-knocker stick aspect, the survivors are bound to get better, eh?

Interesting that you say this. The Doyle family style of Bata is called Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha or Whiskey Stick Dance. Not really that surprising when you think a bout it though.

I found the techniques interesting. Different hand positions and movements to what I am used to. Definitely gives a different perspective on the stick as a weapon. The expected Irish brutality was definitely evident as well.

 

[kidswarrior]

Interesting that you say this. The Doyle family style of Bata is called Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha or Whiskey Stick Dance. Not really that surprising when you think a bout it though.

No, not surprising. So to summarize, drinking leads to fighting, and sobriety leads to fighting. Sounds like a few people of the Irish persuasion whom I've known.

I found the techniques interesting. Different hand positions and movements to what I am used to. Definitely gives a different perspective on the stick as a weapon.

I've found the difference between Doyle's methods and some others, which I'm guessing are more English and French (Tony Wolf, A.C. Cunningham) significant and as you say, interesting. What I come away with from Doyle, is the speed of identifying and striking the target of opportunity in his use of the cutting stroke. Very eye-opening.

The expected Irish brutality was definitely evident as well.

What? Irish brutality? And here I thought they were mostly writers. :boing2:

 

[kidswarrior]

Different hand positions and movements to what I am used to. Definitely gives a different perspective on the stick as a weapon.

And for a short intro to Fairbairn's take, which I think complements this idea of different perspectives on the simple stick, see: Fairbairn

 

[avm247]

Good stuff, reminds me a lot of our (kabaroan eskrima) Bambolia techniques.