Training Tip #1 – Training Safely There are several aspects of safe training. Let’s take a look at each major component in turn. 1. Safety Valve – Our […]
The Combat Shillelagh Blog
Irish Stick Fighting History: How Faction Fights Shaped the Use of the Blackthorn Shillelagh
Yes, faction fights in rural Ireland were absolutely connected to Irish Stick Fighting. In fact, when people start looking into the history of bataireacht, this is one of the first […]
Does Irish Stick Fighting Use One Hand or Two?
Yes. That is the simple answer. It is also a bit of a trick answer, because in most Irish stick fighting circles, you will see examples of both one handed […]
What are the Core Techniques of Irish Stick Fighting?
When most people first hear about Irish Stick Fighting, or bataireacht, they picture two people standing toe to toe swinging heavy blackthorn sticks at each other. And honestly, I get […]
Can you really learn Irish Stick Fighting online?
Let’s answer the question directly: Can you really learn Irish Stick Fighting, self-defense, and combatives principles online? Yes, if the course is structured correctly. That is the key. Bad online […]
The Four Basic Truths of Violent Assault
Violent assault does not usually happen the way people imagine it. Most people picture violence as something with a clear beginning, a dramatic warning, and enough time to decide what […]
Stacked Response: Doing More Than One Thing at a Time
In a real self-defense encounter, simple is good. But simple does not mean shallow. A strong defensive response should not be a collection of disconnected movements. It should be efficient, […]
5 Tips for Reporting a Self-Defense Incident
A self-defense encounter does not end when the physical danger stops. That is one of the most important things to understand. You may survive the immediate threat, create distance, stop […]
Self-Defense Is High-Speed Problem Solving
Real self-defense is not a clean, choreographed exchange. It is not a movie scene. It is not a drill where everyone knows the attack ahead of time. It is a […]
Peyton’s 5: De-Escalation Before Violence Starts
In many potentially violent encounters, the goal should not be to “win” the argument. The goal is to avoid the fight. That may sound obvious, but when ego, fear, anger, […]