I am not the author of the work reproduced below:
I include it in this blog because it is an excellent example of the resurgence in HEMA scholarship across Europe in the last decade, because Irish stick fighting is much better preserved than other systems of cudgel fighting across Europe (I have, for example read sources from England in the 1820’s that describe cudgel play as a normal part of a boy’s education, and yet we don’t have many surviving sources telling us of what this cudgel play consisted. This is in marked contradistinction to the survival of English quarterstaff tehcniques) and because, as part of my ongoing Neo-Bartitsu project, I am interested in all forms of stick play and believe that this article, and the forthcoming book, will help me pursue research into Bartitsu.
You’ve probably heard of Irish stick before or at least if you clicked on this article you are no doubt curious about what it really is. The art called bataireacht or boiscín is a peculiar martial art not only because of its history but also because it has only recently begun to rise back from nearly total extinction. It is known around certain circles such as Historical European Martial Arts but even in Ireland you will find very few who know of its existence and even fewer who practice it.
This article is meant as a complete basic overview of the history and practice of Irish stick. It will be part of a book to be published on the subject of the history and techniques of this art.
Source: Sean Sexton Collection
1. Deep roots
like many old martial arts the origins of Irish stick are extremely hard if not impossible…
View original post 8,308 more words
Civilian Combatives 