At Combat Shillelagh, we spend a lot of time talking about principles. Techniques matter, of course, but techniques are really just vehicles for learning the principles behind them. If you […]
Training Tips
Combination Striking in Irish Stick Fighting
One of the major transitions that occurs as you progress through the Combat Shillelagh system is moving from practicing individual strikes to learning how to connect those strikes together. Early […]
Anatomy of the Shillelagh
One of the most common misconceptions about the traditional Irish shillelagh is that it is simply a stick. From a martial arts perspective, that description misses many of the characteristics […]
9 Gates of Attack and Defense in Irish Stick Fighting
One of the foundational concepts within the Combat Shillelagh Irish Stick Fighting System is what we call the 9 Gates of Attack and Defense. The 9 Gates provide a framework […]
History and Context as a Student of Irish Stick Fighting
A serious martial arts student should do more than memorize techniques. If you are going to invest years of your life studying an art, you should also invest the time […]
Making a Practice Striking Post for Irish Stick Fighting
One of the best ways to practice your strikes and striking patterns is to actually HIT something. When you train with live partners (safely, with safety gear), then you gain […]
Training Safely in Irish Stick Fighting
Irish Stick Fighting is a weapon-based martial art. That reality should shape the way we train from the beginning. A shillelagh, bata, cudgel, or even a simple wooden training stick […]