Scottish martial arts
Encyclopedia
There is some evidence on historical fencing as practiced in Scotland in the Early Modern Era
, especially fencing with the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword during the 17th to 18th centuries.
Most of our current knowledge of these arts derives from various combative treatises or Martial arts manuals, as well as written anecdotes (i.e. battle accounts, folklore, etc.) and artistic representations from different periods and locations in Scottish history
(see Penicuik Sketches).
and, to a lesser extent, the targe
, dirk
and quarterstaff
)
were published throughout the 18th century, with early and late examples dating to the late 17th and early 19th centuries, respectively:
The Cuts are as follows:
Edge Versus Flat
According to the above fencing treatises, the Scots made use of the edge of the fort (or forte, or strong) of the sword to parry with, not the flat as some mistakenly believe. This tradition apparently goes back to Classical Ireland, where the heroes would "meet sword-edges".
Shifting the Leg: When an opponent cuts at the outside of your leg, it is prudent to step back (and thus avoid the cut at the leg), counter-attacking with either a cut at the head or at the wrist simultaneous to shifting the leg. This technique was taught by Angelo, Taylor and Rowlandson.
(Warrior Class) of their Clan:
family is known in its family tradition to have predominantly left-handed swordsmen (as apparent in the construction of their castles), which has led to the term "Kerr-Fisted".
The Black Watch appears to be the source of Highland Broadsword technique during the later part of the 18th century, as evidenced in Captain G. Sinclair's manual.
Scotland in the Early Modern Era
Scotland in the Early Modern Era refers, for the purposes of this article, to Scotland between the death of James IV in 1513 and the end of the Jacobite rebellions and beginnings of industrialisation, roughly corresponding to the early modern era in Europe....
, especially fencing with the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword during the 17th to 18th centuries.
Most of our current knowledge of these arts derives from various combative treatises or Martial arts manuals, as well as written anecdotes (i.e. battle accounts, folklore, etc.) and artistic representations from different periods and locations in Scottish history
History of Scotland
The history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
(see Penicuik Sketches).
Scottish fencing masters
The following is a list of fencing masters that were very influential in their day, and have contributed to our current knowledge of the martial practices of Scotland (see Combat Treatises below):- William Machrie - a Scottish fencing master who taught in AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland in the late 17th, and early 18th centuries. He was also known as "Judge and Arbitrator of all who make any publick Trial of Skill in the Noble Art of the Sword, within the Kingdom of Scotland". - Sir William Hope (1660–1724) - a Scottish fencing master who wrote a number of books on fencing, his most important works being the "New Method" (dedicated to William Keith, 9th Earl MarischalWilliam Keith, 9th Earl MarischalWilliam Keith, 9th Earl Marischal was a Jacobite politician and Earl Marischal of Scotland.-Life:His parents were the army officer George Keith, 8th Earl Marischal and the courtier Lady Mary Hay , third daughter of the 2nd Earl of Kinnoull...
of Scotland), and the "Vade-Mecum". - Donald McBane (1664–c.1730) - Born in InvernessInvernessInverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Donald joined the British Army, fought in the Highlands and in Europe where he opened a number of fencing schools. Donald later wrote a book on his extensive experience in swordsmanship and his life in the army. - Captain James Miller - a Scottish fencing master who dedicated his treatise of 1735 to John Campbell, 2nd Duke of ArgyllJohn Campbell, 2nd Duke of ArgyllField Marshal John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, 1st Duke of Greenwich KG , known as Iain Ruaidh nan Cath or Red John of the Battles, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman.-Early Life:...
. - Thomas Page - an English shop owner who served in the Norwich Artillery Company, raised in January 1746 for the defense of the City against possible invasion during the Jacobite Rebellion in 1746. He dedicated his Broadsword treatise to John Hobart, 1st Earl of BuckinghamshireJohn Hobart, 1st Earl of BuckinghamshireJohn Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire, KB, PC was a British peer.Hobart was the son of Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet and he inherited his father's title when the latter was killed in a duel in 1698...
, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk. - Captain G. Sinclair - An officer in the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot, or Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
, during the late 1700s. He wrote two treatises on the Broadsword or Singlestick, "Anti-Pugilism" in 1790, and a later revision/renaming of the same treatise under the title 'Cudgel-Playing Modernized and Improved' in 1800. - Archibald MacGregor - Archibald MacGregor was a Paisley fencing master who toured Scotland in the late 1700s giving lectures and instruction on the sword.
- Henry Angelo (c.1760-1839) - Son of Italian fencing master Domenico AngeloDomenico AngeloDomenico Angelo , fencing master, was born in Leghorn, Italy, as Angelo Domenico Malevolti Tremamondo.According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Angelo was the first to emphasize fencing as a means of developing health, poise, and grace...
, Henry and his son (also Henry) were Broadsword masters to the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster at the time he wrote his treatise in 1799, which they dedicate to Colonel Herries. - John Taylor - Served as Broadsword Master to the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster before writing his treatise in 1804.
- Thomas Mathewson - an Englishman who taught the art of Scottish Broadsword. He wrote his treatise in 1805.
Fencing manuals
Scottish Fencing manuals detailing the use of the basket-hilted Scottish broadsword (besides other disciplines including the smallsword and spadroonSpadroon
The Spadroon is a light sword with a straight blade of the cut and thrust type. The style became popular among military and naval officers in the 1790s, spreading from England to the United States and to France, where it was known as the épée Anglaise. Hilts were often of the beaded or "five-ball"...
and, to a lesser extent, the targe
Targe
Targe was a general word for shield in late Old English. Its diminutive, target, came to mean an object to be aimed at in the 18th century....
, dirk
Dirk
A dirk is a short thrusting dagger, sometimes a cut-down sword blade mounted on a dagger hilt rather than a knife blade. It was historically used as a personal weapon for officers engaged in naval hand-to-hand combat during the Age of Sail.-Etymology:...
and quarterstaff
Quarterstaff
A quarterstaff , also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European pole weapon and a technique of stick fighting, especially as in use in England during the Early Modern period....
)
were published throughout the 18th century, with early and late examples dating to the late 17th and early 19th centuries, respectively:
- The Scots Fencing Master (the Complete Smallswordsman) - Sir William Hope (1687)
- Advice to his Scholar from the Fencing Master - Sir William Hope (1692)
- Complete Fencing Master - Sir William Hope (1691–1692)
- The Swordsman's Vade-Mecum - Sir William Hope (1692)
- New Short and Easy Method of Fencing (1st Edition) - Sir William Hope (1707)
- New Short and Easy Method of Fencing (2nd Edition) - Sir William Hope (1714)
- A Few Observations upon the Fighting for Prizes in the Bear Gardens - Sir William Hope (1715)
- A Vindication of the True Art of Self-Defence - Sir William Hope (1724)
- Expert Swords-man's Companion - Donald McBane (1728)
- A treatise on backsword, sword, buckler, sword and dagger, sword and great gauntlet, falchon, quarterstaff - Captain James Miller (1737)
- The Use of the Broad Sword - Thomas Page (1746)
- Anti-Pugilism - Anonymous (Captain G. Sinclair, 1790)
- Cudgel Playing Modernized and Improved; or, The Science of Defence, Exemplified in a Few Short and Easy Lessons, for the Practice of the Broad Sword or Single Stick, on Foot - Captain G. Sinclair
- Lecture on the Art of Defence - Archibald MacGregor (1791)
- The Guards of the Highland Broadsword - Thomas Rowlandson (1799)
- Hungarian & Highland Broadsword - by Henry Angelo and Son (1799)
- The Art of Defence on Foot with Broadsword and Saber- John Taylor (1804)
- Fencing Familiarized; or, a New Treatise on the Art of the Scotch Broad Sword - Thomas Mathewson (1805)
Techniques
The Highland Broadsword texts of the 1700's portray 7 cuts and numerous guards. The footwork is sword leg forward (usually right leg) with the other leg behind, similar to modern fencing. Traversing footwork allows one to step off the center-line of attack, either to right or left. The following Guards are listed in these texts:- Inside Guard: Defends the left side of your face (or if you are left handed, the right side of your face)
- Outside Guard: Defends the right side of your face (i.e. sword arm side). Typically one's default guard.
- Medium Guard: A stationary position that defends cuts from neither outside or inside one's line of defense, but is in wait to shift to either Inside or Outside Guard. Tip is usually facing up, but in Mathewson's treatise, the tip is aimed at the opponent, and the body is in a lunging position.
- Hanging Guard: Another default guard that defends the head, but can also shift easily into other guards. Hilt is held above head, with tip facing diagonally down to the left side.
- St. George Guard (aka "Cross Guard"): A horizontal guard defending the top of one's head.
- Half-Hanging Guard: Similar to the hanging guard, but held lower to defend a cut 4.
- Half-circle Guard (aka "Spadroon Guard"): Similar to Half-Hanging guard, but the tip hangs to the right, and defends against a cut at the wrist (i.e. Cut 3). One may also hold the guard above the head and defend a cut at the right side of the head, similar to the regular Hanging Guard.
- Inside Half-Hanger: Defends a cut at the belly (i.e. Cut 5), and the tip hangs straight down, hilt held to the left side.
- Outside Half-Hanger: Defends a cut at the ribs on one's back (i.e. Cut 6), and the tip hangs straight down, hilt held to the right side.
The Cuts are as follows:
- Cut 1: Diagonal downward cut aimed at the left side of an opponent's face
- Cut 2: Diagonal downward cut aimed at the right side of an opponent's face
- Cut 3: Diagonal upward cut aimed at the left side of an opponent's wrist
- Cut 4: Diagonal upward cut aimed at the right side of an opponent's wrist
- Cut 5: Horizontal cut aimed at an opponent's belly from their left side
- Cut 6: Horizontal cut aimed at an opponent's ribs from their right side
- Cut 7: Vertical cut aimed straight down and an opponents head (note: this cut doesn't appear in all of the Scottish fencing manuals)
Edge Versus Flat
According to the above fencing treatises, the Scots made use of the edge of the fort (or forte, or strong) of the sword to parry with, not the flat as some mistakenly believe. This tradition apparently goes back to Classical Ireland, where the heroes would "meet sword-edges".
Shifting the Leg: When an opponent cuts at the outside of your leg, it is prudent to step back (and thus avoid the cut at the leg), counter-attacking with either a cut at the head or at the wrist simultaneous to shifting the leg. This technique was taught by Angelo, Taylor and Rowlandson.
Famous Scottish duellists
In the 17th-18th century, there were a number of warriors and soldiers that developed a reputation as skilled duellists. In the highlands, they were known as Caterans, and were noted for cattle theft as well as black-mail, and often traveled to different villages challenging them to produce a fighter that can best them, or pay a fee. Some belonged to the Duine uasalDuine uasal
A Duine Uasal or duin' uasal, anglicised as Dunnie-wassal etc by Walter Scott et al., was a Highland gentleman or noble. This word generally misprinted in the Lowlands, and by Scott in his excellent ballad of Bonnie Dundee, is from the Scottish Gaelic duine meaning a "man", and "uasal" meaning...
(Warrior Class) of their Clan:
- John (Iain) McCombie (aka McCombie Mor) - 7th Chief of Clan MacThomasClan MacThomasClan MacThomas is a Highland Scottish clan from the Glens of Eastern Perthshire. The clan takes its name from Thomaidh Mor , who was the great-grandson of the William Mackintosh, 8th chief of the Clan Chattan...
, he was noted for duelling against an Italian fencer to defend the reputation of his enemy the Earl of AthollEarl of AthollThe Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
. He joined Montrose at DundeeDundeeDundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in 1644 and fought for the King's cause throughout the campaign. - Ranald MacDonald, aka "Ranald of the Shield" (Raonull na Sgeithe in Gaidhlig) - The hero of 1645. He was the son of Allan MacDonald of Achtriachtan. He agreed to fight a duel with Dirk and Targe against a captured English officer that was armed with a broadsword. He won the duel, earning his title "Ranald of the Shield". He was later killed in the Massacre of GlencoeMassacre of GlencoeEarly in the morning of 13 February 1692, in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite uprising of 1689 led by John Graham of Claverhouse, an infamous massacre took place in Glen Coe, in the Highlands of Scotland. This incident is referred to as the Massacre of Glencoe, or in...
. - "Black Allan of the Deer" ("Aillen dubh nam fiadh" in Gaidhlig) - The celebrated Daldness deer stalker. He was supposed, next to Alastair Mac Colla, to be the greatest swordsmen in Montrose's army. Upon hearing of the impending duel of Ranald (of the Shield), he rushed over to fight in his place, as Ranald was only skilled at the use of Broadsword & Targe, but not Broadsword alone. He was not permitted to take Ranald's place.
- Alasdair Mac Colla, aka "Alasdair the son of Colla the Left-handed MacDonald" ("Alasdair Mac Colla Chiotaich Mac Domhnaill" in Gaidhlig) - He was known as the best swordsman in the army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Marquess of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
, and is even believed to have been able to use a sword with either hand. He is also credited for the creation of the Highland Charge. - Robert Roy MacGregorRobert Roy MacGregorRobert Roy MacGregor , usually known simply as Rob Roy or alternately Red MacGregor, was a famous Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century, who is sometimes known as the Scottish Robin Hood. Rob Roy is anglicised from the Scottish Gaelic Raibeart Ruadh, or Red Robert...
(1671–1734) - Son of Chief Donald MacGregor of Clan Gregor, he was a cateran of great repute. He was said to be the best swordsman in all the Highlands. His final duel was with Charles Stewart of Ardsheal (Chief of Clan Stewart of AppinClan Stewart of AppinClan Stewart of Appin is a west highland branch of the Clan Stewart and have been considered a distinct clan since the 15th century. They are descended from Sir James Stewart of Perston, who was himself the grandson of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland...
), to whom he lost with a cut to the chin (which would later cause his death). - Roderick (Rory) MacNeill of Barra, aka "Black Ruairidh the Unjust" - Chief of Clan MacNeilClan MacNeilClan MacNeil, also known in Scotland as Clan Niall, is a highland Scottish clan, particularly associated with the Outer Hebridean island of Barra. The early history of Clan MacNeil is obscure, however despite this the clan claims to descend from the legendary Niall of the nine hostages...
of BarraBarraThe island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
, he known for his frequent raids from the Isle of Barra. He is said to have fenced against Rob Roy MacGregor, having his sword-arm sliced in the process (they became faithful friends after this). His life ended after a failed raid on Duart CastleDuart CastleDuart Castle or Caisteal Dhubhairt in Scottish Gaelic is a castle on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, within the council area of Argyll and Bute...
, where he was mortally wounded in the heart by a dagger. However, he refused to die until his men had returned him to Castle Ciosmal in Barra, after which he died. - Donald McBane - The noted fencing master (see below). According to his personal account, he fought against numerous men in his day, usually with victory. He is believed to have challenged Rob Roy MacGregor (under the name "Donald Ban"), who refused to fight him due to his lack of status. Even at 63 years of age, he still took up the challenge of the Irish fencer Andrew O'Bryan, whom he defeated and whose arm he broke with a FalchionFalchionA falchion is a one-handed, single-edged sword of European origin, whose design is reminiscent of the Persian scimitar and the Chinese dao....
.
Clan styles
It has been suggested that certain Scottish Clans and families had specific training systems that were distinct from one another. For example, it is said that some members of Clan Macdonald were ambidextrous, and were thus able to fence with either left or right hand. The KerrClan Kerr
Clan Kerr is a Scottish clan that played an important role in the history of the Border country of Scotland.-Origins:The origins of the name Kerr are disputed as being either:*Caer *Ciar...
family is known in its family tradition to have predominantly left-handed swordsmen (as apparent in the construction of their castles), which has led to the term "Kerr-Fisted".
The Black Watch appears to be the source of Highland Broadsword technique during the later part of the 18th century, as evidenced in Captain G. Sinclair's manual.
See also
- Military history of Scotland
- Andrew FerraraAndrew FerraraAndrew Ferrara was a make of sword-blade highly esteemed in Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name is supposed to be derived from the name of the manufacturer, according to some, Andrea dei Ferrari of Belluno, according to others, Andrew Ferrars or Ferrier of Arbroath.The term came to be...
- Scottish wrestling
- Scottish sword dance
- Irish martial artsIrish martial artsThere are a number of traditional martial arts styles native to Ireland.The Irish language term for "martial arts" is .Traditional styles include Dornálíocht , Coraíocht , Speachóireacht , and Batadóireacht .- Boxing :Dornálaíocht, pronounced "durn-awly-okt" is the Irish word for boxing, dorn...
- Western martial artsWestern Martial ArtsWestern Martial Arts refers to formalized fighting techniques and skills of European or generally Western origin, as distinct from those originating in Asia....
External links
- http://dirkdance.tripod.com/id1.html
- http://sirwilliamhope.org/Library
- http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/gafm/index.htm
- http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tsm/index.htm
- http://www.electricscotland.com/history/club/index.htm
- http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_spot_dirks.html
- http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/bwatch/ledgendsndx.htm