Slainte!
Been a LONG time since i've been working on the blog, but not on my training.
Update since the last post (16 months worth!)
Well the RBUB instructor course turned out to be a shambles for me and the people i had excited about learning what i believed to be a venerable and true system.
Sadly, the person i was working with to bring it to Australia was manipulating a lot of the happenings to ultimately keep me out of it so he could be the sole teacher here, with the German teacher who i was warned about by a Nth American practitioner. This Aussie basically told me it had all fallen through, but in reality was planning to just have his own students do the course- when i found out it was full steam ahead on the instructors course, this Aussie didn't even respond to me... it would appear St Patricks snakes ended up down under.
I asked Glen Doyle whether this person (Hendrik the instructor certifier) was still accredited, and whilst Glen assured me it was an ok question and that everything was all good, Hendrik had a big meltdown, abused a lot of people and disassociated himself from many. As it turns out i ended up coping the brunt of all of this and it would appear Hendrik is still part of RBUB, and i am on the outer for daring to ask if he was legitimate before teaching me, and Glen blocked me from facebook for who knows what reason.
I am a man of principles and honour, the blatant sycophancy of Glen by nearly everyone- tolerating his poor treatment of loyal supporters, and then blocking me (and others) when we had been loyal solely to his style was too much for me- i hold my head high when it comes to how i treat others, and how i expect them to act. I do not tolerate being treated in such a way when i've done nothing wrong, and find it particularly gutless when said people don't even have the courage or courtesy to explain their actions. Those that allow themselves to be treated in such a way really are spineless worms... certainly not worthy of even training in the arts of such a noble culture.
With that in mind i explained as such and then left the group... my research has now continued in a much more open minded fashion, but mostly through actual employment of real technique.
Now according to the well respected historian of the shillelagh and Irish martial arts J.Hurley, only RBUB is a legitimate style, and anyone that does anything else is not working with a complete system, and/or are just doing oriental styles and calling it Irish. That may be true for many people/styles, but I totally refute that claim for what i have since been doing with my stick work. My sons, and a i have been working extremely hard on distilling movements that are unique to us and totally effective. I have a weapons master qualification in Eskrima (similar to 2nd dan) and nothing we are doing is remotely similar... i am experienced enough to know the difference- as i can tell the difference between the hanbo i learned for years, and the Eskrima i now do...i wonder if a naysayer is experienced enough (with both Eskrima and Irish sticks) to be so arrogant to say we have just changed continents! It would be a foolish observation to make as the only similarities are... well there are none! One has a wooden stick, one has one or two rattans... that's as close as they come! As for nothing else being legitimate because the don't have a history rooted in antiquity: That too is hardly a bench mark of validity as all things started somewhere, all things have a beginning, THAT is enough- no matter what some self imposed regulator believes.
It doesn't matter any way...what we are doing here isn't for the naysayers, the public or the world in general...it is for us...MY family.
So we train a lot, and We are honourable and we are driven... and we are dedicated.
...and we are not answerable to him. Aithnichear duine air a chuideachd... and we choose to keep company with honourable people with open minds.
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The other main training i've been very dedicated at is my Highland broadsword, as well as a lot of work trying to finish up some practice swords- the hard part is finding a basket for the hilt- any advice would be appreciated.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Saturday, December 21, 2013
been a long while since the last one, but very busy time
well it looked like i would get the chance to be certified as an instructor in RBUB by the Chieftains head man in 2 weeks time, but who knows now. i emailed to check that he was still accredited as i'd been told of a falling out, and when he heard this wanted to ban me from attending, i explained why i'd done it; it is important to me that i continue it with approval of direct transmission, and while he said i could train again, i wanted this point acknowledged- it was not a slander at the person with whom i was to train, by all accounts he is a good bloke. we'll see how it pans out.
in the mean time i am setting up my workshop to make weapons to sell as a sideline to my studies and interest in the arts. i'm looking to make some oriental wooden weapons, training bata (i've made 20 for the ISF RBUB seminars here and have developed a good and effective method), and some natural shillelagh. over the winter i cut, straightened and prepared about 60 Hawthorn, various fruit tree (apricot, apple), willow and gum sticks as well as a few cudgels and some experimental weapons- crops, hand hammers (casur labh) etc.
well it looked like i would get the chance to be certified as an instructor in RBUB by the Chieftains head man in 2 weeks time, but who knows now. i emailed to check that he was still accredited as i'd been told of a falling out, and when he heard this wanted to ban me from attending, i explained why i'd done it; it is important to me that i continue it with approval of direct transmission, and while he said i could train again, i wanted this point acknowledged- it was not a slander at the person with whom i was to train, by all accounts he is a good bloke. we'll see how it pans out.
in the mean time i am setting up my workshop to make weapons to sell as a sideline to my studies and interest in the arts. i'm looking to make some oriental wooden weapons, training bata (i've made 20 for the ISF RBUB seminars here and have developed a good and effective method), and some natural shillelagh. over the winter i cut, straightened and prepared about 60 Hawthorn, various fruit tree (apricot, apple), willow and gum sticks as well as a few cudgels and some experimental weapons- crops, hand hammers (casur labh) etc.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
a pretty quiet month for all of my martial arts; TKD and FMA had been reduced to teaching only due to the Master being away and the senior students (myself included) responsible for running the club.
apart from the lack of practice of technique,b i have in the very limited time available to me cut a lot of nice sticks for shillelagh: a nice bunch of Hawthorn, and a few different natives. the process of preparing for drying has taken a lot of time and i have broken a few in the straightening process, but it is an iteresting aside and relevant to GCS as i continue to expand my stick skills other than the esgrima.
apart from the lack of practice of technique,b i have in the very limited time available to me cut a lot of nice sticks for shillelagh: a nice bunch of Hawthorn, and a few different natives. the process of preparing for drying has taken a lot of time and i have broken a few in the straightening process, but it is an iteresting aside and relevant to GCS as i continue to expand my stick skills other than the esgrima.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
RBUB, Celtic wrestling
well, it was on the winds for some time; RBUB as taught by the Clan Chief has been pulled altogether from the public sphere. March 2012 it was announced that anyone wanting to learn would have to travel to Milton Canada to learn directly, now, after what has clearly been a year of frustrations for the Chief he has decided to stop teaching it at his club as part of regular lessons; any prospective students will have to show their commitment/desire/etc and prove they are worthy. If it continues, then it will obviously be with people of the highest principles, dedication and honour... those that will always honour from where it came.
While i planned on making RBUB the fitting centrepiece, the crown jewel if you like, of my GCS, once the options were reduced to Canada only, my ability to achieve this was effectively cut off. As a family man with limited expendable income, a trip over there to learn that can't be justified when our family has so many other more pressing needs. Sure there are people that say, "If you really want it you will make it happen. " And while there is an element of truth in that, it doesn't cater for a low income and the priorities and needs of family, and is more often than not said by a childless/high income earning individual...i've experienced THAT many times on line.
Anyway, it would appear the students at the RBUB training hall haven't been up to scratch of late and upset him Fair enough. I can't imagine what the burden of carrying a family style on must feel like. If he stops teaching it, does it die? Well, beyond the highest trained student it does, so for the doors to close it must be a serious situation, i'm sure all of that has been taken in to account...very concerning.
All that said, i continue to practice the strikes, blocking drill and few responses i still can view on line. I don't teach anyone else these things except by boys. It is in isolation, we are a long way away on the bottom of the world! Geal Theas!
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I have been able to acquire a manual called Celtic Wrestling- Techniques of Breton and Cornish wrestling, and another Gouren- Breton wrestling. With the Northern British, Scottish Backhold info i have, and chapters on Irish Collar and Elbow in the Celtic manual, i'm working on distilling throws that can be incorporated into throws in a conflict situation more so than a sporting bout.
This, i am planning as part of my 2nd dan -design some curriculum- requirement. something very different to that which everyone else will do
It is getting interesting!
While i planned on making RBUB the fitting centrepiece, the crown jewel if you like, of my GCS, once the options were reduced to Canada only, my ability to achieve this was effectively cut off. As a family man with limited expendable income, a trip over there to learn that can't be justified when our family has so many other more pressing needs. Sure there are people that say, "If you really want it you will make it happen. " And while there is an element of truth in that, it doesn't cater for a low income and the priorities and needs of family, and is more often than not said by a childless/high income earning individual...i've experienced THAT many times on line.
Anyway, it would appear the students at the RBUB training hall haven't been up to scratch of late and upset him Fair enough. I can't imagine what the burden of carrying a family style on must feel like. If he stops teaching it, does it die? Well, beyond the highest trained student it does, so for the doors to close it must be a serious situation, i'm sure all of that has been taken in to account...very concerning.
All that said, i continue to practice the strikes, blocking drill and few responses i still can view on line. I don't teach anyone else these things except by boys. It is in isolation, we are a long way away on the bottom of the world! Geal Theas!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I have been able to acquire a manual called Celtic Wrestling- Techniques of Breton and Cornish wrestling, and another Gouren- Breton wrestling. With the Northern British, Scottish Backhold info i have, and chapters on Irish Collar and Elbow in the Celtic manual, i'm working on distilling throws that can be incorporated into throws in a conflict situation more so than a sporting bout.
This, i am planning as part of my 2nd dan -design some curriculum- requirement. something very different to that which everyone else will do
It is getting interesting!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
As per the last post 4 months ago, i haven't done much physical practice of GCS, but i have done a LOT of research, mainly dirk.
my Asian MA's are still taking much of my time as an opportunity to do more to enhance my progress has come along and i have taken it. I now see an opportunity to focus on my GCS in more depth as i plan to make it the focus of my study for my 2nd dan elective- we are required to write a curriculum. but that will still be at least 3 years away, so i better use this time to learn as much as i can.
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i think i may have miss represented my plans for my skill set in an earlier post. I became concerned with this while following events of an esteemed Gaelic martial artist and his concerns regarding his family style being cherry picked, changed and misused.
Reading these concerns made me reread my posts and i became worried that what i had written came across as me wanting to do such things...which was not what was meant. I was trying to say that i wanted to get instructor certified (so i could teach what i see as a family treasure and ultimately effective style), but having the skill in my skill set for my own self defence, certainly not to remould it for my own means, which it may have been misinterpreted as. My idea to learn that which was readily available (due to this other style not being), was merely a means of building up as many techniques, with no desire to amalgamate them. Some things can be put together as such, but i believe something that is already complete, and tried and tested must remain as such, untainted. I also believe though that in any given situation you will instinctively do what you know, so for your own defence, build up your skills...but the emphasis is on your own defence, not what you teach. I teach TKD and FMA because these are the things i know, and i know i will fall back on those skills in conflict; i also believe i will not in my head say, "this person is using that stick like a hanbo, so i will only use my hanbo skill, it is more likely i will use FMA stick skills as they are the ones i'm better practiced at now. The same goes with bata/shillelagh; i will initially use that which i'm most familiar with, just out of habit, until i can be taught a better way, then THAT will inevitably become the reflexive go to way.
on the upside, my closest friend has started TKD/FMA so i hope in the not too distant future we can start some broadsword, bata and traditional wrestling.
my Asian MA's are still taking much of my time as an opportunity to do more to enhance my progress has come along and i have taken it. I now see an opportunity to focus on my GCS in more depth as i plan to make it the focus of my study for my 2nd dan elective- we are required to write a curriculum. but that will still be at least 3 years away, so i better use this time to learn as much as i can.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
i think i may have miss represented my plans for my skill set in an earlier post. I became concerned with this while following events of an esteemed Gaelic martial artist and his concerns regarding his family style being cherry picked, changed and misused.
Reading these concerns made me reread my posts and i became worried that what i had written came across as me wanting to do such things...which was not what was meant. I was trying to say that i wanted to get instructor certified (so i could teach what i see as a family treasure and ultimately effective style), but having the skill in my skill set for my own self defence, certainly not to remould it for my own means, which it may have been misinterpreted as. My idea to learn that which was readily available (due to this other style not being), was merely a means of building up as many techniques, with no desire to amalgamate them. Some things can be put together as such, but i believe something that is already complete, and tried and tested must remain as such, untainted. I also believe though that in any given situation you will instinctively do what you know, so for your own defence, build up your skills...but the emphasis is on your own defence, not what you teach. I teach TKD and FMA because these are the things i know, and i know i will fall back on those skills in conflict; i also believe i will not in my head say, "this person is using that stick like a hanbo, so i will only use my hanbo skill, it is more likely i will use FMA stick skills as they are the ones i'm better practiced at now. The same goes with bata/shillelagh; i will initially use that which i'm most familiar with, just out of habit, until i can be taught a better way, then THAT will inevitably become the reflexive go to way.
on the upside, my closest friend has started TKD/FMA so i hope in the not too distant future we can start some broadsword, bata and traditional wrestling.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
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.
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.
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