Single stick
The single stick is a martial art originating from fencing and at the same time describes the fencing weapon used. The French La Canne is related to the single stick, the former being used for fencing with a walking stick, while the techniques of the single stick come from fighting with a broad sword.
description
The single stick is a flexible, round wooden stick, traditionally made of ash , nowadays often also made of rattan, approx. 80–90 cm long and 2 cm in diameter. The thicker end is pushed through a hand basket made of wicker or sturdy leather, which serves as hand protection. The singlestick Notes in connection with the broadsword represent what the foil to epee fencing , and thus stands for secure fencing exercises.
The original form was a wooden practice sword, which originated in the 16th century and was used to practice broadsword fencing. It was the same shape as the real blade. In the 17th century the shape changed to a simple club or stick, provided with a crossguard , and later with a basket-shaped complete hand guard. Either wicker baskets or even the real metal vessels were used for this. The basic positions, cuts and parry were initially identical to backsword fencing, no stitches were allowed.
regulate
The old rule that blows below the belt was unfair was lifted in the 18th century, and any part of the opponent's body could be attacked. Today the body above the belt is the hit area, with the exception of the back of the head.
This type of stick fencing was very popular under the kings George I and George II, not only in the cities but also in the country. At the end of the 18th century, single stick fencing was very strictly regulated. The fighters were placed close together, their feet immobile, and all blows were whip-like from the hanging scale, with the hand above the head. Strikes to any part of the body above the hip were allowed, but the head hit was increased. This way of fighting died out again in the 19th century, but was retained in saber fencing. In singlestick fencing, however, stitches were now allowed and the hit zone again the entire body.
history
From the end of the 18th century, the single stick was also used as a weapon for the Scottish highlands, who were no longer allowed to carry their traditional broadswords.
Theodore Roosevelt , President of the United States, and his friend, General Leonard Wood, were practicing single stick fencers. In 1904, singlestick fencing was part of the Olympic Games , but by this time the sport was already out of fashion and was replaced by light Italian saber fencing , as slashing swords and broadswords, which had made the singlestick interesting as a training weapon, had long ceased to be part of the military and civil equipment were.
Since the 1980s, singlestick fencing has been practiced again and again in the wake of the renaissance of European martial arts, especially in Great Britain and the USA.
swell
- The Scottish Combat Academy
- Manual of Instruction for Singlestick Drill (London, 1887, British War Office)
- Egerton Castle: Schools and Masters of Fence. From the middle ages to the eighteenth century. Bell & Sons, London 1885 (Reprint. Gardners Books, Eastbourne 2007, ISBN 978-0-548-10214-5 ).
- Alfred Hutton: The Sword and the Centuries, or, Old Sword Days and old Sword Ways. Being a description of the various Swords used in civilized Europe during the last five Centuries, and of single Combats which have been Fought with them. With Introductory Remarks by Cyril GR Matthey. Grant and Richards, London 1901 (Reprint with a new Introduction by Paul Hilts. Greenhill, London 2003, ISBN 1-85367-513-X ).
- RGA Winn, C. Phillipps-Wolley: Broad-Sword and Single-Stick. Bell, London 1889 (published 1890), (Reprint edition. Paladin Press, Boulder, CO 2006, ISBN 978-1-58160-512-9 ).
