Seanbhata Strikes and Blocks

As an Crann Cosanta, from the Tree Guard

* All strikes depicted should be considered to have come from the Crann Cosanta unless otherwise specified. All strikes should follow the principle of equilibrio, moving the offhand and arm back when striking forward. These strikes execute an arc, not a straight line, whose angle should be varied.

In the diagram below are indicated the eight main strikes as an Crann Cosanta, from the tree guard. These would be mainly aimed towards the upper parts of the body, targeting the head, neck, collarbones, elbows, forearms, hands, plexus, and ribs. Strikes to the ear can be very effective but use great caution around the sides, top and back of the head.

When striking, the stick would normally be allowed to bounce off the palm of the hand or ball of the thumb, not the forearm. It is typical to take a step forward and/or pivot while striking, and a step back afterwards if possible, to add power, vary the line of attack and to reduce the chance of a return hit.

As an Tras Cosanta, from the Cross Guard

These strikes are aimed mostly towards the middle and lower part of the body, often to disarm or disable an opponent. They would target the forearms, hands, stomach and plexus, ribs, knees, shins and groin.

They are mostly identical to the strikes as Crann Cosanta, except strikes 6 and 7, which do not arc upwards but continue on a downward trajectory in order to hit the knees and lower legs. When a strike begins lower down, it has less distance to travel in order to hit lower parts of a target’s body.

A similar low-strike effect can be achieved by crouching lower while maintaining the Crann Cosanta. Caution should be exercised not to expose your own upper body while striking low.

Example Strikes

Please refer to the earlier diagrams for number references.

Seanbhata Blocks

Good footwork is an effective way to avoid being hit, try to combine every block with a step back,  sidestep, and/or a pivot. This will take you off the line of attack and at least minimise the risks involved.

When blocking, as when attacking,  keep the stick moving randomly, vary its position constantly.
Use either snap parry stop-hits to block and push away an incoming attack or angle the stick to slide attacks away from your hand.

The lower third of the stick also acts as an excellent shield if needed, unique to seanbhata.

Don’t put your hand across the line of an incoming attack if possible.

The main blocks and the attack direction they are intended to protect are displayed below.

Buta parries are where incoming attacks are not only blocked but the energy from the attack is reversed and used against the attacker.

Seanbhata—Other Techniques

Following are a variety of other seanbhata techniques, in no particular order. These are only a fraction of the possibilities that can develop from in the unique methodology used by Irish stickfighting, in combinations of different moves and footwork.

Compressing is an easy way to get your stick and pick it up at the greim. Just crouch down and lift it up quickly, sliding your offhand foot back.

Next we look at what to do if someone tries to grab your stick.

Slide your hand forward over the top of the murlán/casúr.

Reach your other hand down to the greim or below the attacker’s hand, and twist the stick so its sail or heel is pointed upwards.

Having your two hands on the outside parts of the stick gives you superior leverage, even against a taller or stronger opponent.

Now that the stick is upright, you can easily punch with the hand nearest to the murlán, or you can bring the crann of the stick down on the attacker’s head.

A similar technique can be used if someone tries to punch or slap you, knocking the punch aside and leaving them open for a counterattack.

The Bull’s Horns, Adharca Tairbh, is a powerful pushing and sweeping movement that can be applied to checking or stopping someone close to you, in disarming someone using two sticks, and for a variety of other purposes.

Initially the stick is held out in front, then pushed forward, snapped up, or snapped down.

This is one of those rare situations where the feet may cross, to give impetus to the attack.

This  forceful push may be combined with an upward or downward snap of the stick, striking at the face, from of the body, or outstretched arms. These attacks may be combined into one flow.

The Sléa or Spear can be done overhead or underhanded, and may use either the casúr or the sáil of the stick, the knob or the point.

Caution is advised when using the casúr to thrust since it is easy for an opponent to grab it.

Two hands are used for Sléa attacks, either both on the shaft or one behind the stick.

Malartú or the Switch is a good demonstration of the advantages bestowed by the “Irish grip”, that is holding the stick about a third of the way up from the bottom.

Other arts try to use sticks like swords, holding them at the end, or like baseball bats, with two hands, but it took the unique genius of the Irish and Irish martial arts to bring out the full potential of this weapon.

To use the Switch, firstly an overhead or high blow is struck.

When the defender attempts to block it either with a stick or their forearm, the stick alignment is reversed, usually in combination with a sharp step forward.

This allows the sáil or heel of the stick to either strike upwards into the target’s chin, or to punch forward into their throat region.

Someone caught by surprise with this attack has no chance of avoiding it.

The Lasc or Lash is a good long-range technique.

The stick is held overhead as depicted, then it is whipped forward and across or forward and down. This is normally accompanied by a large step forward to maximise the range benefit.

If done from a crouch or as an Tras Chosanta, it can easily strike the hands of a target, disarming them or disabling their hand entirely.

An Chas or The Twist is an effective technique to surprise a target and get past their blocks.

In the example below, an attack being aimed towards a target gets close to them, then the wrist is rotated to change the angle of attack at the last instant without losing any energy from the strike. This can be applied during left or right handed strikes.

Farra or Lunging is where we prepare a blow and then step, almost leap, far forward with the front foot, either jabbing or striking hard. This gives a great element of surprise and multiplies the power of the blow, but if it doesn’t work—where “work” should be interpreted as “removing the target’s capacity to strike back”—you’re left exposed.

Chapter List (click to read):

1. Foreword
2 The Irish Language
3. Reading
4. Making and Shaping
5. The Physical Gael
6. The Warrior Gael
- The Crios Belt
- Open Hand Traditions
- Collar and Elbow Wrestling
- Gaelic Weapons
- Seanbhata
- Seanbhata Basics
- Seanbhata Guards
- Seanbhata Strikes and Blocks
- Seanbhata Close Fighting
- The Heroic Feats
7. Tradition and Culture
8. Organisation