An Maide Bata

An Maide Mear is a style of Bataireacht, or Irish fighting stick. It is a traditional style (Sean Nos), being passed on from father to son from at least the early/mid 19th century up to present day. Even if some techniques were lost during the transmission, many remains and the style is not handicapped. It was recently transmitted to four individuals who were given permission to teach and develop the style in their country of origin.

The style is recognised for primarily using a more "classical" one handed grip and High Guard, commonly found in imagery of the 18th and 19th century. Although a two handed grip is also used, which uses moulinets and bears some resemblance to Jogo Do Pau, Bastone Siciliano and older French baton styles. It also contains unarmed techniques such as kicks (mostly below the belt), slaps, punches and gouging.

With Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha of the Doyle family, it is the only known traditional Irish stick style still alive today.

History

It is not known exactly when the style was created. We know that the First One to practice this art was an Irishman from Antrim (now located in Northern Ireland) nicknamed "Tickelyboot" and renowned in his area as a famous stick fighter. The techniques were transmitted to his son, who also became a famous stick fighter, and to his grandson and great-grandson. The fourth and current inheritor of the art (name kept private to his demand) chose to open the teachings to people outside of his family in the mid-2000's, and is the first in Ireland to do so. His students were in chronological order Louie Pastore from Scotland, Maxime Chouinard and Émile Boudreau from Canada, and William Sanders from the United States.

All of these students then chose to regroup under the name An Maide Bata, and each one practices and teaches the techniques in his own way, as the original teaching methodology was meant for one on one instruction. To avoid confusion, each of these group created a separate school under the same organisation. As of 2010, the name was changed to An Maide Mear, which was deemed more accurate.

Antrim School

The Antrim school, named for the county of origin of the style, is headed by Maxime Chouinard in Quebec City, with the help of Émile Boudreau. It is a non-profit group taught in person only. Although no bouting was originally part of the training in this style, this school practices it on occasion, either with equipment and varied levels of intensity. Protected bouting is not mandatory, and is only proposed to students who have achieved a good technical basis. Some techniques of knife use and defense are also taught, as well as basic pugilism (pugilism is the only technical part which wasn't in the original teachings).

Its philosophy is to stay close to the techniques of the original tradition while maintaining practicality and realism.

Eire School

The Eire school is headed by William Sanders in the United States. It is taught in person and using a distance course program.