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Blogger Darren Brennan writes:
 Roger Stone, front, and a few brave volunteers. Below: Let battle commence.
On Sunday, August 29th at the Dartmouth Waterfront Park in Nova Scotia, I attended a three hour training session covering techniques from the Celtic, Filipino, and Japanese stick fighting systems. The event was hosted by the Bushido-Kai Martial Arts Academy and the Celtic Stick Fighting Society of Halifax. It was very exciting and quite the workout!
There was about 50 people who attended and three certified instructors who took us through the paces. It was cool to see the differences between each stick fighting system but it was also interesting to see the similarities between them.
We started with footwork and stickwork patterns of Celtic stick fighting, which led into the Japanese stick fighting techniques of blocking, striking, and take downs. The day was topped off with the Filipino style that consisted of partnering up and practicing a set of stick fighting moves where were encouraged to take it new levels by sparring on the side of a hill, on a park bench, or wherever you wanted to go! At one point, real swords were brought out and used by the instructors. I had never seen anything like this before!
We finished the event with a massive battle. between We split into two groups and we at each other smashing sticks and throwing each other to the ground. Tons of fun and action! Just like you see in the movies! A group photo later and pleasantries exchanged, it was time to rest and have a beer with the group.
For more information about Celtic Stick Fighting, visit the website www.celticstickfightingsociety.com and on Facebook. Also, if you have any comments, feel free to write them
(16 August 2010)
Roger Stone and James Smith demonstrate an defensive move.
Last week we practiced outdoors, which usually results in more aggressive sparring. Normally, we practise inside Roger’s studio where we have to be more careful of our surroundings. However, practising in the park allows us to open up our techniques and take them to the next level. We always begin with a series of warm up drills that complement the elements of the Earth and we worked on the basics of stick fighting (proper footwork, striking techniques, and sparring drills). Once again, the basics must become second nature if you want to build upon a solid foundation.
We focused on the importance of disarming and I was taught four disarming techniques. They are meant to not only block a strike from your opponent, but to deliver a strike and strip your opponents weapon from his/her hands. This is a very effective way to diffuse a dangerous situation quickly and to tip the scales of power quite favourably in your direction. By practicing outdoors, we allowed our sticks to fly about from our hands showing the reality and the effectiveness of our moves. The four disarming techniques we covered were the Snake, the Strip, the Quick Release, and the Vine (S,S,Q,V).
The Snake is a technique where you block your opponent’s strike, then snake your left arm around the arm that he is striking you with and get his arm into a twisted fashion where he is off balance and his stick flies out of hand. Now, you can take him to the ground because you are holding his wrist and he has no balance (or weapon) or you can administer strikes with your free right hand, which is conveniently still holding your fighting stick.
The Strip is more aggressive and one that might shock your opponent. As your opponent strikes you, you block the strike, administer a strike to his mid-section, then bring your stick up and over his arm, grab his weapon and force it out of his hand as you pull away his arm with force. You can easily follow through with a strike to the side of his head to diffuse the situation.
The Quick Release is a very basic technique but you must have incredible accuracy to pull off. When the strike comes your way, you block the strike, then grab the meat of the thumb of your opponent and literally open his hand and knock the stick out of his hand with your stick. Now, he has no weapon and you are positioned perfectly to attack. The tricky part though is to be able to grab the thumb accurately to pry open his hand.
The Vine is the most complicated, but the end result has you using both your stick and his stick to co-ordinate your next attack. You block his attack, grab hold of the end of his stick, step into your opponent and use your stick as a lever over his wrist and under his weapon to dislodge it from his grip. Now, you have both weapons to use that will result in doubling the power of your attack against your opponent from a very close range.
Of course, it is hard to describe the disarming techniques and they must be seen to full understand. If you are interested, come on down for a free lesson. For more information, please visit our website at www.celticstickfightingsociety.com and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2264877844&v=wall&ref=ts).
Also, if you have any comments, feel free to write them.
Previous Week
They say that practise makes perfect. However, I believe that perfect practise makes perfect. To be good at anything, it has to be second nature to you. In other words, you must be able to perform it perfectly without even thinking about it. When it comes to martial arts, it is important to be able to perform defensive and offensive manoeuvres perfectly and instinctively to protect you from your opponent and to quickly diffuse a potentially dangerous situation. I am taught at every class to practice the basics, which remains the foundation of strength in any situation.
For example, to instinctively coordinate your hand and foot patterns to initiate a position of advantage and to administer a combination of moves upon your opponent, you must build your instincts to coordinate such efforts by constantly practising the basic stepping and striking patterns. From the very first class (and I know it will continue well past the last class), I am taught the basic triangular stepping patterns that I must follow in order to either avoid a strike or to effectively block the strike and maintain a position of offensive advantage. Every class we work on the triangular stepping patterns even though we have progressed past this basic teaching.
These steps teach you where to move when your opponent is striking you. Obviously, your choice of step will depend on the kind of strike that is coming your way. Plus, whatever angle you decide to step out or back on, will also decide what offensive strike you will deliver to your opponent. This is the basic concept and the start of offensive/defensive combinations that we practise at every class to make sure that this mode of movement and thinking becomes second nature in any situation. Recognize the strike from your opponent, instinctively step out or step back onto one of the angles (depending on the situation) and follow it with a form of an attack to quickly diffuse and disarm your opponent.
However, this basic concept must be understood perfectly so that you can perform it as effortlessly as breathing. Right now, I am still at the beginning stages of building those lightning- fast reflects (both physically and mentally) to be able to administer a combination with confidence. After receiving a few good whacks on the hand and one on the nose from the fighting stick (and I believe an elbow to the jaw), I know that I still have lots to learn! Of course it is all in good fun and a few good hits from the stick makes it all the more real.
For more information, please visit www.celticstickfightingsociety.com and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2264877844&v=wall&ref=ts).
 Blogger Darren Brennan takes a blow behind the knee from Roger Stone. Don't worry! It's all in good fun.
I have been studying and practicing Celtic Stick Fighting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a few months now and I have to say that I have learned so much about the ancient martial art and the Celtic Culture that I thought I would like to share weekly reviews of the classes.
Not only do I want to spread the word of the Celtic Stick Fighting Society in Halifax, in hopes that others will come out and join the experience, but I would also like to share what I learn from our classes and how it greatly applies to the Celtic culture today.
When I was first approached by instructor Roger Stone to take up classes with him every Thursday, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had met Roger in the early spring during an interview that we were conducting with him and he asked if I would like to give it a try. I thought this is a great opportunity to learn a martial art that was used by my ancestors, considering that I am of Irish descent, and from the moves that Roger demonstrated during the interview, I also thought it was very cool! It was something that I had never seen before. I decided that this was a great opportunity to learn about Celtic culture because during each class not only do we progress through the art of stick fighting, but we take time to discuss the history and origin of the martial art. Each class culminates into a great workout for the body and for the mind!
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| Outdoor Celtic Stick Fighting Class |
James Smith (facing) & Roger Stone |
The Celtic Stick Fighting Society was started up this year by Roger Stone and James Smith. Roger holds a 2nd dan black belt in Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu and is also an associate instructor of Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do & Filipino Martial arts. James holds a 1st dan in Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu and studies the psychology and trends of modern urban violence. Let’s just say that these two guys are very experienced in the world of martial arts and to watch them spar is quite unreal. Not only do they know how to incorporate the Celtic fighting stick into formidable moves for both offensive and defensive tactics, but if the stick is removed from their hands, they are just as lethal.
Now you might wonder why stick fighting is practical in today’s society. Who fights with sticks and swords these days, unless it is during an organized competition, such as fencing? Of course, you are not going to be taking a fighting stick with you to the bar and you are not always going to have the stick with you if a situation occurs where you need to defend yourself. What I have learned, that both Roger and James emphasize, is that it doesn’t matter if you have a weapon or a stick in your hand. The techniques that they teach enable you to defend yourself and diffuse an aggressive situation whether or not you use your bare hands or the Celtic fighting stick. For example, a specific offensive stick strike is automatically a boxing punch when the stick is removed, which means that when you learn Celtic stick fighting, you are also learning important elements of other martial arts that are applicable to any situation. Roger and James bring their own style to Celtic stick fighting and ensure that not only do you learn the history of the martial art but they have made subtle changes to it so that it is very applicable to today that anyone can learn and use.
I will start posting weekly updates and reviews of our classes because I would like to share what is being taught and I what I am learning. It is a great workout and trust me, we are not whacking each other over the head with sticks. We keep it safe and fun, which makes it enjoyable to attend. I encourage you that if you would like to come down and check it out, Roger and James hold classes every Thursday at and Sunday from 12:30–2pm. For more information, check out the Celtic Stick Fighting Society page on Facebook. Also, please read the article about Roger Stone in the summer issue of CelticLife Magazine that can be found in major bookstores and coffee shops. Plus, stay tuned to more weekly blogs!
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