Proper practice makes perfect. More accurately, proper practice makes permanent. Whatever you repeatedly train, whether it is correct or incorrect, is what your body will eventually default to under pressure. […]
self defense
Principle Based Instruction in Modern Day Irish Stick Fighting
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]