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!

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!

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?