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The Stick & Sword School
160 members • Free
8 contributions to The Stick & Sword School
19h •
Stick punch guard
I am really enjoying the stick punch guard.. I think it will be great for transitioning into grappling. The hands feel a bit exposed but I think that sparring will help me fix that, but at mid to close range It seems like it will be really effective!! Has anyone sparred using it against a fast style like kali or single stick(hema) and do you have any tips on not getting my hands mashed.
1 like • 15h
Hmm, after playing with it a bit I might have answered my own question, basically my hands should be "milling" and always moving. More importantly though I realized that stick punch guard, irish guard, and hanging guard are all actually connected. If someone strikes at the hand just removing it(the hand) and moving the stick it becomes either a hanging guard(if the stick tip moves down and hand holding the stick moves up) or an Irish guard (if the stick end moves up) any thoughts? I remember Colin saying those three guards all have the hands at 1/3rd on the stick. So I realized after trying to move my hand from a hit that they are actually connected. I just need to get moving from one guard to another more fluid. Does that make sense? Gonna put on my gloves and get one of my students to try to hit my hands tomorrow.. they will probably enjoy it more than me. If I don't come back its because I was totally wrong and I can no longer type 😂
22h •
A Sitting Shillelagh?
I made these sticks years ago to show the closed and open dimensions of the ASP baton series. The closed one is 9" and the next one is 16", and both have become sitting/indoor shillelaghs. You see it is hard to practice with a full size shillelagh when sitting in front of a computer, yet hard (for me) to remember things like a 9 angle pattern when away from the video. A 9" stick allows me to go through the motions while sitting and watching so it is easier for my body to remember what I need to do when away from the screen. The 16" one is great for indoor training in small spaces where you risk hitting lights and things on shelves, etc. All you need is a stick long enough to get both hands on. I follow the adage: If it is stupid but it works, it is not stupid.
1 like • 19h
Awesome idea.. it seems like we have some similar ideas about training, I noticed that in how you wrote about working the guards. I practice stick stuff with a pencil a lot, and because I use wood arrows for my Archery practice I have so many little sticks around for training. Not just sitting but sometimes for jo or rokushaku bo, or long spear being inside its best to have "tiny" sticks. Anyway I like the idea of making actual little practice sticks. So smart!!
9d •
Why?
Why learn Irish Stick Fighting? There might be more positive reasons than you think... - something unique with a practical tool that is multi-purpose - Training tool is easily (and of course legally) transportable. - Can be elevated to combat sparring with a partner wearing protective gear to show where weaknesses and failures in training appear. - Not a ton of space required although nothing beats being out in nature with a training stick. - Solo work - mobility benefits. Tells you about how your body wants to and doesn't want to move :) - Low to high energy exercise. - As a last resort - possible self defence using a force multiplier. - Like most martial arts, gets your brain going on what you can do and how to put things together. - Stick can cost nothing if harvested or improvised...up to a classic heirloom Shillelagh (Blackthorn or Oak).
0 likes • 19h
@William Mooney I am going to look up the sticks on temu thanks
2d •
Some of the "shillelagh" I have made.
Here are some of the sticks I have made to train with.. I make them mostly out of yew wood, but also hawthorn, Iron wood, crab apple, and oak. A friend of mine who speaks Scottish Gaelic told me that the word shillelagh might have something to do with willow. The are not black thorn but can still take a beating. Admittedly the middle one is massive but I made it after seeing my first cano corso. Luckily I teach martial arts and bushcraft for work so carving sticks is something I can do at lunch on my work days. The classes are so fun, and as i practice I am starting to see why holding the stick at 3rds makes sense. Even though it gives up reach. I am really looking forward to sparring after a few hundred more reps.
13d •
Classroom Members!
To all classroom members. Please feel free to share what you like (and don't like) about the Classrooms, content and format. As the membership has grown, we would obviously like to see more members sign up and join us in the classrooms. We have new content in the pipeline to be posted end of next Monday - Bare Knuckle - Hurley - about and use. Cheers, Colin
3 likes • 3d
I'm still practicing the guards, going to start learning the footwork tomorrow. I really like how it is organized. Awesome work!!
1-8 of 8
Active 1h ago
Joined Jun 26, 2026