Irish stick fighting documentary

[CrackFox]

I watched a bit of it, and it was mostly OK. I got up to the bit where they were talking about the way they used to hold it, and I was thinking "yeah, that's interesting".

Then they cut to a bunch of kids in rows like a karate school, swinging at the air, with Chinese characters in the background. I turned it off.

[DdlR]

Really?

For the record, the school featured in the documentary primarily teaches Asian martial arts and they've added an Irish stick fighting course as well. AFAIK the system they're teaching is Glen Doyle's -

YouTube - Doyle Irish Stick Fighting (Various) Bataireacht

The detail about how the shillelagh was held, with a 1/3rd grip so the upper third protects the elbow, is historically authentic - it was recorded in numerous 19th century sources.

[MGM]

I enjoyed watching the episode and thought it was an interesting commentary on the social and economic issues of the time. I am not too concerned about the authenticity of current interpretations of Irish stick fighting technique as there are only so many options as to how a stick can be used.

[CrackFox]

When I get a chance I'll go back and watch it for the social and historical stuff, that was pretty good.

I also LOL'ed a bit when they described it being taught in hedge schools. "Hedge school" has a fairly specific meaning in the context of that period of Irish history, the idea that kids were being taught stick fighting there is a little odd.

[DdlR]

IMO it's a stretch to interpret William Carleton's writing on that subject as meaning that stick fighting was actually taught in the hedge schools.

[CrackFox]

The hedge schools were mainly attended by middle class Catholics that wanted to get ahead in life. Not exactly the types to to be knocking seven shades of **** out of one another.

[DdlR]

Carleton wrote a good deal on the subject of shillelagh fighting, but the implication I've drawn is that the actual use of the stick at the hedge schools was in the form of teachers beating recalcitrant students. Beyond that, it's important to bear in mind that Carleton was a satirist.

[CrackFox]

Sorry, I misread your previous post. I thought you said it wasn't a stretch.

[DdlR]

I had a feeling we might have been talking at cross-purposes. Anyway, despite some second-hand romanticism re. the actual art of shillelagh fighting, the rest of the documentary is worth seeing.

[shaolin pimp]

Ddlr, are you Irish? why the interest? yeah crackfox the gym seems to be xma type place, I thought it was funny hitting thai pads with sticks.