Combative Applications of Highland Dance?

[Louie]

The combination of dance-like form and combative training similar to that seen in Indonesian Silat was practiced by Highland warriors and soldiers in the Scottish regiments of the British army. Described as the Broadsword Exercise, the Battle Dance and the Dirk Dance, the participants followed a set pattern, flourishing a broadsword or it’s practice equivalent, the Singlestick or a large dagger known as the Dirk.

The origins of Scottish sword dances are impossible to trace and to the untutored eye the hand positions and footwork of Highland dancing have long been regarded as little more than a quaint traditional folkdance. It is true that many of the dances we see today contain relatively recent choreography but on closer inspection I believe that elements of Highland dance have preserved footwork that mimic kick, sweeps, trips and throws, key features of many medieval wrestling styles and techniques which are still practiced in traditional European folk wrestling, including Highland Backhold and Viking ‘Glima’ wrestling.

Louie

The attatched illustrations show the leg-techniques which are used in conjunction with the dirk dagger in the Highland Dirk Dance...

[Andy Murray]

There ya go Kata Haters, blame the Scot's!

Damn you Louie for exposing us as dress wearing Mc Dojoists. :D

Seriously though, take of the Kilts and dress your models in Asian attire, and we hav something interesting.

[Twimyo Jirugi]

It looks like they're doing something naughtier than that :D

[SoKKlab]

There ya go Kata Haters, blame the Scot's!

Damn you Louie for exposing us as dress wearing Mc Dojoists. :D

Seriously though, take of the Kilts and dress your models in Asian attire, and we hav something interesting.

Aye, it wouldn't be out of place in Leg Chin Na...

[Louie]

Seriously though, take of the Kilts and dress your models in Asian attire, and we have something interesting.

Hi Andy

I adapted the illustrations straight from the 'official' Scottish Highland Dance book, keeping them in the kilts to reinforce this theory of Scottish combative dance... but I know what you mean! ;)

The main problem in getting people's heads around this, is that over the last 60 years or so, Scottish traditional dance has lost it's connection with warriors & masculinity and has become a competitive sport for little girls.
I know that many Scottish martial artists would cringe at wearing a kilt and practicing a Highland 'dance' but think nothing of donning a sarong and performing an Indonesian 'dance' :eek:

Louie

[Adam]

It looks like Llap Gosh! The secret is out!

[Louie]

It looks like Llap Gosh! The secret is out!

Hi Adam

Don't you mean the other Monty Python style... Scottish Grenoch?

I actually thought it was more like the footwork of Scandinavian Glima and was hoping someone in your area may have had experience in this particular art which we could compare! :)

Cheers,
Louie

[Adam]

Hi Louie

Unfortunately, the viking wrestling style of Glima is more or less extinct here as a martial art. However, a quick googling has led me to the homepage of the Danish Glima Association: http://www.diku.dk/hjemmesider/studerende/novice/glima2.html
It is apparently very outdated though.

You've gotten me interested. If I sometime during the summer have some free time, which I probably will, I'll call up the owner of the site and ask him if I could come see his stuff and maybe train with him if he runs a class. If I manage to meet up with him and train with him, I'll do a writeup for MAP about the style, trying to compare it with my meager judo and BJJ experience. Might be fun....

Adam

[Louie]

[QUOTE=Adam]Hi Louie

Unfortunately, the viking wrestling style of Glima is more or less extinct here as a martial art. However, a quick googling has led me to the homepage of the Danish Glima Association: http://www.diku.dk/hjemmesider/studerende/novice/glima2.html
It is apparently very outdated though.

Hi Adam,

I believe one of the top practicioner in Glima is Lars Magnar Enoksen, a few of his articles can be found at;

http://www.ehcg.net/articles.htm

I'd be very interested in seeing your write-up and any pictures of techniques you may be able to put together.

All the best....
Louie