The Shepherd's Crook as a Weapon

[Sho-ju]

As a Christian and martial artists I’ve been drawn to the weapons that could be employed in a safe and humane way. This has lead me away from bladed weapons to stick weapons, mainly the standard walking cane and more recently (for history’s sake) the shepherd’s crook. As far as I can gleam from the slim works on Middle Eastern shepherds the art of fighting with a crook was a matter of osmosis…no one set out to teach how to use this work tool and weapon, it just happened. A shepherd would have one on hand at all times and would make use of it daily. This has lead men of the fields to have a very practical understanding of the crook, it's weight and can be compared with that of Okinawan’s use of farm implements as weapons or the use of the staff by Buddhist monks in Asia.

 

In recent times the shepherds crook has been making an appearance in the karate tournament circuit with both video and shepherds crooks being offered more readily for sale on the net. Cane Masters offers both and has renamed the crook, ‘the bokane.’ It has been my experience that most of the modern movements are based on flash and not function, either way they offer something to learn. My personal study has lead me to use traditional Okinawan bo kata as a training aid, adding in grabs with the crook where they seem to fit based on my (limited) training with the walking cane.

 

Anyways, thats enough rambling, I’ve included a short article that you may find interesting.

 

Quote:

 

The shepherds crook, smooth and warm to the hand, is, at its simplest a basic tool of the shepherd, and at its most complex, an impressive work of art, and example of the finest hand craftsmanship and carving, with its roots in the highlands of Great Britain.

 

Those that are used in everyday work tend to be a bit longer than what are called "Market, or Show Sticks" and, are often configured into what is called a leg cleak or crook as well as what most people visualize, which is a neck crook. Market sticks, and show or "fancy" sticks are usually made of horn of some type, and are carved, more, or less intricately with Thistles, Dogs, squirrels, Pheasants, or even Fish for the head. It is the unofficial standard that the space between the shank and the nose of a neck crook should be the width of the four fingers of a persons hand, or wide enough to comfortably slip over the forearm. The leg cleak (which is used to catch sheep by a hind foot) has a spacing of one old English penny, (what ever that may be), or 31 mm, in more current units.

 

Probably the most important considerations in selecting a crook, are that it is comfortable to walk with and to carry, and that it balances in such a way that it feels like it is a part of your pace. The longer that a person uses a crook, as a general rule, the shorter lengths they prefer. Most people start out liking quite a long crook, even shoulder height, but eventually settle on a length that will touch the ground while hooked over a slightly raised forearm, or very slightly longer. Balance is also an important consideration, although it is quite hard to explain. The relative weight of the head, and the shank will make the tip of the stick almost want to rise off the ground between steps. Generally heavier, more bulky heads require heavier shanks to feel balanced. There are several quite nice crooks on the market that are made of aluminum and or plastic that are very strong, so if you intend to use your crook to catch sheep, one of these would likely be the better choice. Just remember that the best crooks are a real extension of you and are an outward expression of your personality, so find one that feels good to hold, that you like to look at, and that you like to walk with.

Edited June 17, 2004 by Sho-ju

[SaiFightsMS]

Where did your quote come from?

[Sho-ju]

I wrote the top half, the bottom is quoted from http://www.harbornet.com/~gmacdonald/. I see you're on the 'other' forum.

 

Shoju

 

aka stick

[SaiFightsMS]

You would be amazed at how many different types of forums I frequent.