Irish Stick Fighting

Walk Softly But Carry An Bata Mor

 

by John W. Hurley

For many years now, I've tried to understand fighting, violence, and the various interpretations of what is called "Irishness". I have also tried to understand the connections, if any, between the two -  that is, fighting and Irishness. Forever joined at the hip by the catchphrase the "fighting Irish", I knew even from childhood that there was a connection, must BE a connection, even if only a stereotyped one. I mean why else would my brothers and I fight all the time? But then if we were fighting because we were Irish, were we fighting *because* we were Irish or because, ingrained with the stereotype, we *thought* that because we were Irish, we *should* be fighting? Or to try to put it more succinctly, were we fighting *because* we were Irish or Irish *because* we were fighting? Quite a conundrum for an eight year old, and one I would continue to visit after watching "The Quiet Man" (on WPIX on St. Patrick's Day), "To Hell And Back" or any number of other movies depicting fighting Irishmen. And after all these years I think I've finally begun to understand this Keltic Koan.

Only the weak-minded, warped and the ignorant let their lives be guided by stereotypes and lash out in anger because they think that this is how they are supposed to react as Irishmen - I'm Irish ergo I must fight. But the true Irishman isn't like that at all. He will fight, often against all odds and all hopes of winning, because he feels he must take a stand for what is right. He'll wait and give the offending party a chance to redeem themselves, but if they don't mend their ways, well...take an example from the Irish War For Independence. Commandant Tom Barry and his column captured some particularly evil Black and Tans. He warned them that they would be treated like soldiers for now and that they would be released (as the IRA had no POW camps!) but if they continued to attack and terrorize innocent civilians they would be dealt with harshly next time. But when they don't mend their ways, well...let's just say that when Barry ambushed them again at Kilmichael, there were no survivors. 

John W. Hurley is a graphic artist, writer, video producer and researcher, whose father emigrated to the United States from County Kerry, Ireland. Raised in an Irish-American household with a rich military heritage, he began exploring Ireland’s warrior traditions at an early age, and has studied both Irish and Asian fighting styles.  Visit John W. Hurley's website.   Contact John W. Hurley by email.

Notes from Boston - Introductions

Life it seems...  has some imaginative writers!

Who could have penned the script that put the set of circumstances I find myself in today.  Surely it would have been rejected by an editor as implausible, ridiculous, too fantastical!  But yet Life seems to have a very open minded editorial board; and I am thankful for it!

My name is Rob Masson and I teach the Doyle Family System of Irish Stick Fighting, Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha, or Dance of the Whiskey Stick.  My instructor is also Canadian, Glen Doyle, who lives and teaches out  of the greater Toronto area and is the keeper of his family's system.  I am originally from New Brunswick Canada and of Scottish decent (my middle name is Bruce and my Great Grandmother who helped raise me was from Glasgow..  And I own a Kilt!) I emigrated to Boston some 10 years or so ago and have since settled in and married into a wonderful family and made New England my home.  

So we set the stage, a Scottish maritimer in Boston teaching Irish Stick Fighting to Yanks...  Ohhh surely this will be MUST See TV!  *grin*   Perhaps though this amazing confluence of nationalities and skills and backgrounds is apropos.  After all the history of the Irish in North America is a complex one and their martial history is certainly rich in it's depth and complexity.  I have come closer to my Celtic history through meeting people in this community and visiting Ireland to train with Martial Artists there and find in this crossing a great insight into my past and hope for my son's future and indeed our next generations future.

I'm Rob...  I teach Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha in Boston.  Stay Tuned..  You won't want to miss how this goes!  *smile*

Sifu Glen G. Doyle Irish Stick Fighting Seminar in Boston, USA 2008

Visit Sifu Glen G. Doyle's website. Visit Guro Robert Masson's website.

Irish Stick Fighting (Online Lesson 4) Glen Doyle Shillelagh

The 4th hour of a beginner class in Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha (Irish Sticks) - Taught at the Cead Bua Fighting Faction in Milton, Ontario -- Canada. The course is taught by Sifu Glen Doyle. Visit his website.

Family Doyle Irish Stick Fighting

by Sifu Glen Doyle

Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha (pronounced rinkan batta ishka vahaa which translates to: Dance of the Whiskey Stick) is a Doyle (Dubhghaill) family style of traditional Irish stick fighting which was common place in the faction fights of the 18th & 19th centuries.

While most Irish styles used the on-handed methods (much like fencing) the Doyle style evolved from a one handed style to the much more effective two handed style when a family member fused the principles of pugilism into the motions of the stick. Passed on from generation to generation, this two handed style was only taught to individuals with the surname Doyle. A much sought after style, Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha was thought to have derived its name from the fact that the style's creator rented his stick fighting services out to guard illegal distilleries from rival whiskey makers (the other story states that the style's originator liked to drink before a fight).

Passed from Doyle male to Doyle male, Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha soon found its way to Canada via Eddy Doyle a Galway scrapper who left Ireland to start a new life in Newfoundland. From there, the style found itself passed on to Christopher Doyle to Greg Doyle, and finally to the current keeper of the flame, Glen Doyle. Breaking with tradition of only teaching Doyles, Glen has spread the popularity and tradition of Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha to anyone with the intensity and desire to learn it. Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha is a big part of the curriculum at the Cead Bua Fighting Arts Centre, and all students are encouraged to experiment and experience this amazing Gaelic tradition.

Irish Stick Fighting (Online Lesson 3) Glen Doyle Shillelagh Video

Beginner Class (week #3) in Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha -- in Milton, Canada. Taught by Sifu Glen Doyle. Visit his website.

The Bata

by Sifu Glen Doyle

Bata is the Irish word for stick. The Bata, sometimes referred to as a shillelagh, is made from a branch of a tree or from the main "trunk" of a small tree including the root knob. Because blackthorn bushes arevery common in Ireland, batas are frequently made from blackthorn wood although oak, ash and other wood are used as well. According to legend, the wounds caused by a blow from a Blackthorn would heal quicker than others. Any branches growing from the side of the stick are removed but the "bumps" are left in place as they do additional damage when they come into contact with the opponent's skin.

The bata used in the Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha style is approximately three feet long depending on the size of the individual for whom it is made. To determine the correct length, stretch your arms out to the side of your body at shoulder level and make two fists. Bring your fists in next to each other against the middle of your chest keeping your elbows pointed outwards. Measure the distance between your two elbows and add six inches to the total.

The proper length is extremely important for this style because stick punches are launched from both hands. If the stick is too long, it will be too cumbersome to execute proper stick punches. (The key to the control and return of a good Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha stick punch depends on where the end of the stick contacts the forearm during the extended phase of the punch. See the Stick Punch page for more info.)

 

Glen's blackthorn, shown at the left, was inherited from his father, Gregory Doyle. Glen's father made the notches at the top of the stick; each time his stick drew blood, he added a notch. The Canadian flags were added by Glen when he took over ownership of the bata.  Visit Sifu Glen Doyle's website.