Wexford Fighting Faction

Irish stick-fighting styles were more methods of combat than strictly stylized and adhered to "martial arts" - but certain patterns of common styles did exist

Often associated with hurling gangs and faction fighters, it was recently dramatized in Gangs of New York. Modern practice of Bataireacht has arisen among some practitioners from a desire to maintain or reinstate Irish traditions, while for others a combination of historical and cultural interest has led to their interest in bataireacht.

Bataireacht Irish stick fighting (from the Irish bata, meaning stick) is the term used in Irish martial arts traditionally applied to various forms of Irish stick fighting. Traditionally, blackthorn, oak, ash and hazel were the most common types of woods used to make irish fighting sticks.

The Irish have used various sticks and cudgels as weapons of self-defense for centuries. The ancient tradition of Irish stick fighting really came to the forefront sometime in the 17th century when the Irish were banned from owning formal weapons. At that time the innocent looking walking stick, called a bata or shillelagh, came into use as a serious weapon. In the centuries that followed, stick fighting became an integral part of Irish culture.

In the 19th century bataireacht became associated with Irish gang or "faction" fighting. Some evidence exists which indicates that, prior to the 19th Century, the term had been used to refer to a form of stick-fencing used to train Irish soldiers in broadsword and sabre techniques

Irish stick-fighting styles were more methods of combat than strictly stylized and adhered to "martial arts" - but certain patterns of common styles did exist

Since ancient times, the arts of stick fighting had been handed down from fathers to sons or learned in traditional military fencing schools. The traditional Irish shillelagh is still identified with popular Irish culture to this day, although the arts of bataireacht are much less so.

Weapons :

The sticks used for bataireacht are not of a standardised size, as there are various styles of bataireacht, using various kinds of sticks.

Main Objective :

To keep your distance and/or to move in on the opponent causing as much damage as possible

Effective techniques for in-close, short-range distances

Characteristics :

Two-handed grip style : which divides the stick into quarters for gripping
Two-handed grip style : dividing the stick roughly into thirds
Two-handed grip style : wattle fighting, gripping the stick like a sword
One-handed grip style : for longer-range distances
One-handed grip style : wattle fighting
Two-stick style : fighting with two sticks
Truncheon style : fighting with one short stick

Speed is essential for advancing

Versatility :

Both hands and both ends of the bata are used
Including punching, stick punches, kicking and grappling

How to be out of the way of attacks with proper evasion by using your body effectively