Ethiopian stickfighting documentary
Original Poster: Hengest
Forum: Others
Posted On: 27-06-2005, 10:32
Orginal Post: Hengest: I was channel hopping the other night and happened upon a documentary on the Discovery Channel about tribal stickfighting in Ethiopia. The guys doing this stuff were nuts! Made the Dog Brothers look like Mary Poppins with some of the injuries they suffered. Has anybody else seen this programme?
Post: nEo-Wolf:
Yeah saw it on BBC2 yesterday, it was mental they were literally going full contact. It was quite interesting to see theres still Gang warfare in tribes to this day, then two of the opposition had some AK47's !?. Either ay it was a cool programme to see another style of stick fighting. The injuries they said they got were broken fingers/legs, head injuries and loss of limbs!...>
Post: zefff:
Waah! I missed this!!! :cry: Any idea wot it was called, maybe I can catch it again?>
Post: setsu nin to:
Hengest
I didnt see it on TV. Can you write something more about it? Some webpage?
thanks>
Post: Hengest:
Quite a coincidence that it should be on BBC2 at about the same time. I don't know the title of the programme unfortunately as it was given a Japanese title over here. All I can really tell you about it was that it was narrated by the late Richard Harris (ie. Dumbledore!).
Neither can I find a website setsu, sorry. If you don't mind reading my ramblings though, I'll try and relay some info from the documentary.
The programme focused on a particular tribe in Ethiopia renowned for its stickfighting and stated that effectively it fulfilled several functions within the tribe. Stickfighting was amusement and sport but it was more importantly used as a method to resolve disputes, not only personal but also between tribes. This part I found particularly interesting because, as neo-wolf mentioned, a few of the guys there were toting AK-47s but not once during the tribal dispute that they focused on were these fired. The stickfighting duels between tribal teams were the sole resolution method used.
It was also interesting how big a part it played in family life. They focused on one young lad's wedding ceremony. He was getting married for the first time and thought nothing of the fact that he'd won his bride in a stickfight!
Technically, the method of stickfighting doesn't really resemble any Asian style I've seen. The stick used I would estimate is around 5 feet in length and is pretty flexible, so often more of a whipping motion is used. The stick is held in a two-handed grip towards the end, so it's more akin to a sword-swinging motion than staff fighting, and is mainly swung around over the head and down at the opponent to strike at various angles from both sides, although a few times I saw straight overhead blows coming directly down on the target. I suppose it could be described as a kind of two-handed version of Irish bata. That's the closest analogy I can think of.
The fighters don't wear much in the way of padding or protection either. The only thing they seemed to use was some sort of basket-like hat and hundreds of scarfs, mainly wrapped around the head, face and neck, but also around the hands and arms by some fighters.
They mainly spoke to an older guy in the tribe who used to be a top fighter but now didn't fight so much because his hand had been shattered years ago in a fight and still gave him a great deal of pain. The young guy who was getting married was his son, and they also spent some time interviewing him and his bride. Overall, it was an excellent documentary.>
Post: lakan_sampu:
wow, didn't know of that. I'll ask some anthropologists around if they know something bout that Ethiopian stickfighting....quite bizarre sticks...about 5 feet...looks like sugarcanes for me. It seems to be a very external art.>
Post: Hengest:
[quote=li_siao_lung It seems to be a very external art.[/quote
I'll say! :D
setsu, did a bit more digging mate and found this: http://pulseplanet.nationalgeographic.com/ax/features/0900/
Scroll down a little and there's a bit of info and some photos, in one of which you can see the scarf "armour" I mentioned. There's also an audio track.
I couldn't find anything before because I was having trouble remembering the tribe's name, but it is apparently the Surma and the stickfighting art's name is Donga.>
Post: nEo-Wolf:
I found the English programme BBC2 name - Tribe and says it was 2 of 6 with Bruce Parry, so it may have been the same topic but a different company Hengest...>
Post: zefff:
Cheers neo-wolf, hopefully they will repeat on BBC3/4.>
Post: setsu nin to:
Hengest
Wow, that was great post. Thank you very much!
Stick art looks really interesting. I suppose that whip techniques are similar to Sham-Bakw techniques, which is used in South Africa. I didnt see any Donga techniques, but some Sham-Bakw techniques are similar to Japanese Kanamuchijutsu techniques.
Anyway bouth African Sham-Bakw and Japanese Kanamuchi are great weapons.>
Post: Hengest:
[quote=nEo-Wolf I found the English programme BBC2 name - Tribe and says it was 2 of 6 with Bruce Parry, so it may have been the same topic but a different company Hengest...[/quote
Seems Ethiopian stickfighting documentaries are like London buses... :D
setsu, you're welcome sir. Anytime. I've not heard of Sham-bakw; I'll have to check it out.
BTW, what's kanamuchijutsu. Is that the horsewhip stuff?>
Post: setsu nin to:
Kanamuchi is iron whip, but it was made to look like wooden or bamboo horse whip. Kanamuchi is realy old weapon (more than 500 years) but its mot much in use as weapon any more, becouse main point was that anyemy think that its horse whip. It was used moust by people who worked in some caind of security.
I realy like its techinqies. In moust techniques you have circular motions, Kanamuchi is realy fast and thin which makes it invisible for opponent. You may use it in one or bouth hands.
Sham-Bakw is African weapon (South Africa). Its whip made for self defense. Its in use against animals and humans. Its much in use for defende against snakes. Orginaly its made from hipopotamus skin, but today they made it from some combination of plastic and rubber. Also it was (I think it still is) in use by South African police. You may easy use Sham-Bakw with great speed and power which makes it effective.>
Post: Hengest:
Thanks for that setsu. I actually found a couple of pictures of kanamuchi in one of Serge Mol's books. Looks pretty sweet. :twisted:
On the Sham-bakw, now that you mention it, I think I've seen the SA police using a weapon that fits that description in news footage. Sounds pretty nasty. Getting hit with one must hurt like a bitch!
Edit: I just found this book on Amazon setsu. Do you know it? Do you think it's worth ordering?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1559501987/qid=1105686250/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-3370002-2104810?v=glance&s=books>
Post: zefff:
that looks like a great find! Dunno who I would look strutin' the town on a friday night with me sjambok tucked away though. :wink:>
Post: setsu nin to:
Sorry Hengest, but I dont know anything about that book. Actualy I dont know nothing about any Sham-Bakw book. These books looks realy interesting, it could be good book, but as I said I dont know nothing about that book, I never saw it or heard for it.
First time when I saw Sham-Bakw was when barman used it as "argument" to explain to some drunk Italian guy that its time to leave bar. Sham-Bakw was exelent argument, Italian guy didnt make problems any more :mrgreen:
I know some relatives of that barman so thats how I get in contact with him. He introduced to me some exelent techniques. He also said that "real" Sham-Bakw (not one made of plastic/rubber) can take off your skin.
Did you see that Kanamuchi, what beauty... So powerful... I like it!>
Post: Hengest:
Well boys, I took the plunge and ordered it, along with the same author's book on baratero, Sevillian Steel, which I've heard good things about. I'll let you know what they're like.>
Post: setsu nin to:
Thanks Mr. Hengest!>
Post: Hengest:
Well, both books arrived the other day and, while I haven't had time to read them cover to cover, I must say, I'm pretty pleased.
The sjambok book only really covers the basics, but covers them really well, not just strikes, but also some nice chokes and also a few locks and holds, and the historical side of it seems pretty well researched. It's also got a small section on incorporating the sjambok into other combat methods as a primary or secondary weapon, such as with knife fighting or combat handgunning. As I say, that part's brief but it gives you enough to fire up the imagination and do the rest yourself. The book takes a similar approach with kata design for the sjambok. I've already ordered one of Cold Steel's vinyl sjamboks so I can start putting this stuff into practice.
The other book, Sevillian Steel, is even better. A lot of detail on the history of baratero and the differences between schools and the weapons used. It's primarily a history book, but it does also cover techniques of the major schools, some of which are fascinating (throwing scissors anyone?!). Also a nice section on low-line kicking methods to add to your reportoire.
So over all, very pleased. I'd recommend both of them to anyone interested in expanding their weapons knowledge base.>
Post: zefff:
Damn it! was sat in front of the TV last night when I came across a hour long film about a guy who was invited to document the Suri tribes.
The bloke lived with them and experienced life as they live it. He was taught attacking and defensive techniques with the sticks by Suri tribesmen. The sticks were about 6 foot or more long and the tribesmen were very skilled and able to create good power. They also looked really fit. The techniques were recognisable to me too.
When they hold competition it is village vs village and they start the day off and continue to get pissed all day on some home brew.
...anyway the battles started and we were told that the only rules are you must stop when the refs dictate and you cannot beat anyone who is on the ground, then my missus demanded we turn over to wath Big Brother so I am really pissed off and hoping its on again soon. :(>
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