sword very slack this month, stick, a fair bit more- but for want of a better way, i am following as much RBUB as i can... it is what i want to learn, but just so out of reach. On top of that it would seem that so many carpetbaggers are so cheaply trying to rip off the Chief of the style... just for a bit of an insight. It plays upon those of us that are fair dinkum...but i can't do anything about that...just train.
As the demands of my other MA training wain a tad, i am now able to look a little more at my Gaelic goals...and i'm still torn. I am physically required to live up to the Oriental requirements i imposs upon myself through ready availability, but at the cost of GCS practice. This is a hard scoil to over-see; but i hope to have a more regular partner soon.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Wexford out!
been pretty slack with GCS lately, have been doing a LOT of TKD and Filipino sticks.
Interesting talking to a bloke in Ireland, He told me a bit about the "Wexford faction" that i have mentioned here and put in the links- for that they MUST be removed as while i knew them to be reconstructionist, clearly they are more of a sham than that.
Other interesting developments are on the go- stay tuned
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So i got of mo thoin and posted a video of my stick punches on the FB RBUB page for Glen to critique.
Of course i was trying my heart out to be good and i over did it and looked a bit sloppy, but he was gracious and gave me advice that i always say to the kids i teach Filipino stick: slow down!, get it right before ramping up the speed. He responded by video which was very cool and as soon as he said that i knew he was spot on. I was pretty nervous about posting it, which is silly, but there you go! now to keep up the practice.
Interesting talking to a bloke in Ireland, He told me a bit about the "Wexford faction" that i have mentioned here and put in the links- for that they MUST be removed as while i knew them to be reconstructionist, clearly they are more of a sham than that.
Other interesting developments are on the go- stay tuned
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So i got of mo thoin and posted a video of my stick punches on the FB RBUB page for Glen to critique.
Of course i was trying my heart out to be good and i over did it and looked a bit sloppy, but he was gracious and gave me advice that i always say to the kids i teach Filipino stick: slow down!, get it right before ramping up the speed. He responded by video which was very cool and as soon as he said that i knew he was spot on. I was pretty nervous about posting it, which is silly, but there you go! now to keep up the practice.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
I'm sick of me being a stick sook! In other words- do something about it Cris!
got a message the other day from Glen Doyle telling me that he should never say never, and it (a visit to Aus) may one day be on the cards.
This is obviously very exciting to me given it has been about 2 years now that i've been trying my best to learn as much RBUB, 1st from Youtube, and then from the FB group. While i've stated previously i would love to be qualified as an instructor in it, and would without fail up-hold the wishes of Glen to stop it being defiled by dilution and misrepresentation, it is more about wanting to learn it as a cultural link, than for ego or coin. But further to that,if he isn't able to get here, i appreciate that the onus is on me to pursue it, not Glen to chase disciples. I have in the past been a bit annoyed that several people on the FB group that are within driving distance of Glen say things like, "If you really want it, you'll find a way." And while i agree with that sentiment, i'm just frustrated a bit as i want to delve deeper than is currently possible for me. But after this theme crept up again another member of the FB group sent me a personal message saying that that type of thing posted was really in response to North Americans that where whining that there wasn't a school closer to them and that i shouldn't worry or get upset and respond because it was understood my situation was considerably different.
What a nice gesture that was, much appreciated as i'd do most anything i could to learn directly...except inconvenience my family both financially and by the workload that my absence would create for all.
So what does all of this mean? Well, it is about time i posted some video for Glen to critique of my practice. He implied it a while ago that he'd like to see my form, but while i've been practicing, i feel a bit self conscious because i know so much is lost in learning in any other way other than directly under an instructor. But regardless, that is what i'll be doing.
It is a start and it is me being proactive instead of having a cry and a winge about how far away i live... and actually, it excites me, not that i think i'm particularly good, but at least he can have a look and comment.
+-+-=-=_+-+-+-+-+-+-+_+_=-+-+-=-+-
On a slightly different but linked topic; my latest bata ( for my youngest son- it is a little beaut too!) is nearly ready to go into oil and the last one is ready to come out. i made it because a guy i've never met complimented me on the one before that and asked to buy one, but as it isn't a business i couldn't take any money and i also have considerable respect for him as he has continued his martial arts even after serious injury. Timmy has been amazingly patient as i don't have a lot of time to make sticks and the first one i made for him was shaped but broke just before going in to the oil, so the whole thing started again; it has been nearly 7 months since i started for him, so it will be nice to finish up and see a picture of it in his hands.
This is obviously very exciting to me given it has been about 2 years now that i've been trying my best to learn as much RBUB, 1st from Youtube, and then from the FB group. While i've stated previously i would love to be qualified as an instructor in it, and would without fail up-hold the wishes of Glen to stop it being defiled by dilution and misrepresentation, it is more about wanting to learn it as a cultural link, than for ego or coin. But further to that,if he isn't able to get here, i appreciate that the onus is on me to pursue it, not Glen to chase disciples. I have in the past been a bit annoyed that several people on the FB group that are within driving distance of Glen say things like, "If you really want it, you'll find a way." And while i agree with that sentiment, i'm just frustrated a bit as i want to delve deeper than is currently possible for me. But after this theme crept up again another member of the FB group sent me a personal message saying that that type of thing posted was really in response to North Americans that where whining that there wasn't a school closer to them and that i shouldn't worry or get upset and respond because it was understood my situation was considerably different.
What a nice gesture that was, much appreciated as i'd do most anything i could to learn directly...except inconvenience my family both financially and by the workload that my absence would create for all.
So what does all of this mean? Well, it is about time i posted some video for Glen to critique of my practice. He implied it a while ago that he'd like to see my form, but while i've been practicing, i feel a bit self conscious because i know so much is lost in learning in any other way other than directly under an instructor. But regardless, that is what i'll be doing.
It is a start and it is me being proactive instead of having a cry and a winge about how far away i live... and actually, it excites me, not that i think i'm particularly good, but at least he can have a look and comment.
+-+-=-=_+-+-+-+-+-+-+_+_=-+-+-=-+-
On a slightly different but linked topic; my latest bata ( for my youngest son- it is a little beaut too!) is nearly ready to go into oil and the last one is ready to come out. i made it because a guy i've never met complimented me on the one before that and asked to buy one, but as it isn't a business i couldn't take any money and i also have considerable respect for him as he has continued his martial arts even after serious injury. Timmy has been amazingly patient as i don't have a lot of time to make sticks and the first one i made for him was shaped but broke just before going in to the oil, so the whole thing started again; it has been nearly 7 months since i started for him, so it will be nice to finish up and see a picture of it in his hands.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Doyle lockdown
last night on the FB RBUB group Glen Doyle let fly and expressed that he would not travel to train people or grade instructors any more, anyone wanting to train with him must now travel to Milton Canada.
He was clearly PO'd and is jack of those that take a bit of his knowledge and distort it for their own means. I don't know what has happened, but it is a big dissapointment that it has come to this. Not that i expected him to come to Australia for me, my dissapointment is also that he has got to a point where he feels this is what he must do. It must be a burden being the only person to carry on such a legacy.
maybe in a few years when my boys are old enough to train hard with him we could make our way over together and all learn directly from him..what an honour that would be! But until then, Canada is a long way, and a lot of dollars away!
haven't resumed broadsword yet, just so many things on and am training at TKD 7+ hours a week. i hope i don't get dropped from the list!
He was clearly PO'd and is jack of those that take a bit of his knowledge and distort it for their own means. I don't know what has happened, but it is a big dissapointment that it has come to this. Not that i expected him to come to Australia for me, my dissapointment is also that he has got to a point where he feels this is what he must do. It must be a burden being the only person to carry on such a legacy.
maybe in a few years when my boys are old enough to train hard with him we could make our way over together and all learn directly from him..what an honour that would be! But until then, Canada is a long way, and a lot of dollars away!
haven't resumed broadsword yet, just so many things on and am training at TKD 7+ hours a week. i hope i don't get dropped from the list!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Wexford bata
just found a Melbourne Sword Guild that train every Thursday- the other side of town, but interesting never the less. The appear to be French, English and German focussed, so nothing Gaelic/Highland to draw me in, but i'll keep tracks on them.
I see that the Wexford Faction (ISF) have developed their site and are emphatic that they have no lineage but are just trying to revive bataireacht. fair enough. of course it is mainly just interpretation, without solid proof of lineage pretty much everything is the same at some point; furthermore, most martial arts have a degree of interpretation injected into them at some point- sure it may be by people that are in direct lineage from the originators, but so many split, diverge, tweak and change the original thing they were taught.
adding the site to the links
will start up again on the Broadsword this week as my back is much improved
I see that the Wexford Faction (ISF) have developed their site and are emphatic that they have no lineage but are just trying to revive bataireacht. fair enough. of course it is mainly just interpretation, without solid proof of lineage pretty much everything is the same at some point; furthermore, most martial arts have a degree of interpretation injected into them at some point- sure it may be by people that are in direct lineage from the originators, but so many split, diverge, tweak and change the original thing they were taught.
adding the site to the links
will start up again on the Broadsword this week as my back is much improved
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
What am i doing here?
Things i want to study and achieve: some understanding and practice of: Irish collar and elbow wrestling, Scottish backhold wrestling. Maybe mix this up with a bit of Catch wrestling and Gouren. I have done so little grappling, maybe i need to train a few times at BJJ to get a better feel of the mats and floor. Become a Cateran with: The Regimental Style, The Old Style, Sword and Targe, Cudgeling, quickdraw, The Dirk Exercise, and Cleasa. There are 2 electives extra, but i want the quickdraw to compliment the broadsword, the cudgel as an everyday walking stick- (although i'd prefer the Doyle style with its proven history), and dirk as i think it important to have a form of knife, and couldn't decide between the 3 as they both offer something of value to the martial artist i want to become. The most complete study of bata i can get. It starts with the cudgel from Cateran, but ideally i want to get an instructors certification in Doyle Irish stick. This is challenging as Glen only instructs in Canada and the States at the moment and while he has told me of plans to have an online school, i don't know when and he appears very concerned about his family tradition being corrupted. i appreciate this, but as someone with a genuine interest the distance is limiting my capacity to learn so i just have to carry on learning snippets from his fb group videos. Also, there is another bata "school" but with questionable and dubious authenticity; they do a distance learning via dvd. While it is acknowledged that they contain some historical stick techniques, it mainly appears to be a construct. I want to work these ancient and noble arts into a modern form, ensuring they have a modern and practical application- i wouldn't change anything if given transmition to teach (most particularly RBUB, but gain the skill for personal use. I know one can not walk around broadsword in hand, but the unarmed stuff and the stick things fit neatly into a homogenised "modern" world. The Fianna intrigue me. Their tests were feats of agility and combat readiness, how does their training stack up in the modern world? Can they legitimately be studied to advance current combat methods and practices?
caught wrong footed!
have been laid up a bit with my back this last week no TKD and no broadsword. I did do some bokken at TKD which has the same cuts just in a different order.
had my guards video assessed and was disappointed to be told and see that i was wrong footed! It felt weird while i was going through the exercises but for some reason i didn't notice.
Did a little bit of Irish stick on Monday with my boys with the padded sticks i've made.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
First Broadsword academy videos
did my first proper post in the Broadsword academy- proper meaning videos to be critiqued. Favourable responce regarding my stance and angle of cuts, but i need to work on the delivery of the cuts. fairly happy with that, and i have been training well given my back is still fairly bad.
have done a bit of looking into practice/sparring swords and became a member of an fb group for catch wrestling. i really don't know much about wrestling but see it as part of the big picture when it comes to Gaelic combat arts.
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