Traditional Blackthorn Sticks

**creagdhubh** · 3rd February 12, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

To Foxgun Tom

You sir have a truly enviable collection there. Very nice indeed.

(green stripe arises along the midline of my back).

Agreed. Reminds me a bit of my friend and fellow Macpherson clansman, Sandy Macpherson of Edinburgh. When you walk into his house, he has a wooden container full of all sorts of different cromachs, crooks, and walking sticks from makers located all over Scotland.

I am always in awe of his collection every time I see it. I have slowly begun this hobby as well - great, more expense, my wife is going to love this!

Cheers,

**Nick the DSM** · 3rd February 12, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

Here's a list of people certified to teach the Doyle style in the US... not too close to you I'm afraid.

http://www.isfww.eu/grossbritannien-.../usa/index.php

You can check out some video lessons on YouTube to get an idea of the basic techniques:
http://www.youtube.com/user/byyon/videos

That is a common misconception

According to the historian and hoplologist John Hurley, Irish faction fights actually did have some rules, also know as Shillelagh Law:
http://johnwhurley.com/hurleyframeset-2.html

Nowadays, some people have become interested in shillelagh fighting as a sport and those sorts of competitions have rules as well:
http://youtu.be/VV8fDH4bg5E

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Not much kilt wearing going on with the Irish Stick Fighters, I'm afraid...

Yeah, I figured no one would be around me.

Thanks for the links!

**Lime** · 3rd February 12, 09:44 AM

Gotcha. The tattersal shirts offered by House of Bruar are made to Jermyn Street standards, so I am quite sure they are very similiar to the versions offered by Roderick Charles, which are quite superb by the way! Thanks for the heads-up on the sale - I just ordered a tattersal shirt, along with the pink and light blue gingham -very smart and at a great price!

I do like a wander round the House of Bruar. I hope you like the Roderick Charles shirts - I am very fond; they have a good collar shape which is surprisingly hard to find. I also had a very nice suit (classic English tailoring, high waist, soft shoulders, tapered cuffed trousers with two reverse pleats) from them which unfortunately got destroyed in an exploding tar incident... but I digress: I shall leave my musings on trousers and return to all things kilt!

**SlackerDrummer** · 3rd February 12, 10:02 AM

If only the English made shirts for tall men. [sigh]

**Lime** · 3rd February 12, 10:12 AM

If only the English made shirts for tall men. [sigh]

They do! You can get a shirt for any size or shape on Jermyn Street and most Jermyn Street standard shirts have particularly long tails (which make them excellent for kilt wearing as you can sit on your shirt tail and they are less prone to riding up creating an unsightly bulge or (shock horror) exposing naked flesh!

Many of the shirtmakers also have a variety of arm lengths... and if those don't fit then there is always bespoke... some will now do single shirts as an order (it always use to be that you had to order a minimum of six).

**creagdhubh** · 3rd February 12, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Lime

They do! You can get a shirt for any size or shape on Jermyn Street and most Jermyn Street standard shirts have particularly long tails (which make them excellent for kilt wearing as you can sit on your shirt tail and they are less prone to riding up creating an unsightly bulge or (shock horror) exposing naked flesh!

YES! This critical style aspect is wonderful, and particularly suitable for wear with the kilt - I love the longer tails! (Brooks Brothers, take note!)

Cheers,

**Dale Seago** · 3rd February 12, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

Yeah, I figured no one would be around me.

Thanks for the links!

As a possible alternative, there appear to be a couple of Bujinkan training groups in the Charlotte area. While the art is a sogo budo or comprehensive martial system incorporating both empty-hand skills and a vast array of weaponry, one of the "basic" weapons is a stick around that length which is used not just for the obvious striking stuff but also for grappling/joint locks, chokes, and throws.

**Streetcar** · 3rd February 12, 01:34 PM

My stick is from Lollysmith's and I like it quite a bit. I was disappointed to find that the shaft was painted black, rather than a natural darkening from the wood or the curing process.

**Dale Seago** · 3rd February 12, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

BTW: I'd ALWAYS go oil finish over a poly, lacquer, or other coating. Oil penetrates and polymerizes giving a harder and better lasting finish.

BTW, I noticed that at http://misticshillelagh.tripod.com they use an oil finish for their "fighting sticks" selection.

**Ryan Ross** · 3rd February 12, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

As a possible alternative, there appear to be a couple of Bujinkan training groups in the Charlotte area. While the art is a sogo budo or comprehensive martial system incorporating both empty-hand skills and a vast array of weaponry, one of the "basic" weapons is a stick around that length which is used not just for the obvious striking stuff but also for grappling/joint locks, chokes, and throws.

Aye, Sensei- I thought the same thing, after reading Nick's post.

If someone had been doing Bujinkan training for a good while, but was still interested in learning the stylistic elements of Doyle stick fighting, they could probably pick up darn near everything during a few weekend seminars. I should think, anyway... in watching youtube videos, I've never seen them do anything that looked too far removed from what I'd be inclined to do with a hanbo.