Galdius…my God I can’t type…
Sounds like the Phillipine martial art Escrima, the sticks were probably rattan. And let me assure you those boys are badasses.
Eh. My western fencing school enters their full contact swordsmanship tournaments regularly. We usually win, and we are hardly badasses. The escrima fighters are good at a few techniques, particularly striking their opponents’ hands. But it about ends there.
When I was 12 I went on a vacation to Puerto Rico with some family friends. The highlight of my trip was tasting fresh pineapple for the first time and purchasing a machete. I loved swinging that huge blade and cutting down brush. It made me feel powerful. It did what it was supposed to do really well. Perhaps you like feeling powerful too? Unfortunately when I came home, it caused tears. My brothers thought that it was unfair that a girl should own such a splendid tool. My dad made it disappear.
Maeglin- I’ve had several discussions with fencers and martial artists about that sort of thing. I’m of the opinion that it’s sort of like comparing apples and cats. Asian martial arts are even more stylized than European fencing… a Kendoka is pretty bound by a style that doesn’t allow for the free flowing improvisation. The methodology of Eastern vs. Western Martial arts is pretty different.
It’s a popular topic of discussion though.