Cead Bua - The Doyle Family System
Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha (pronounced rinkan batta ishka vahaa which translates to: Dance of the Whiskey Stick) is a Doyle (Dubhghaill) family style of traditional Irish stick fighting which was common place in the faction fights of the 18th & 19th centuries.
While most Irish styles used the on-handed methods (much like fencing) the Doyle style evolved from a one handed style to the much more effective two handed style when a family member fused the principles of pugilism into the motions of the stick. A much sought after style, Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha was thought to have derived its name from the fact that the style's creator rented his stick fighting services out to guard illegal distilleries from rival whiskey makers (other stories state that the style's originator liked to drink before a fight).
Passed from Doyle male to Doyle male, Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha soon found its way to Canada via Eddy Doyle a Galway scrapper who left Ireland to start a new life in Newfoundland. From there, the style found itself passed on to Christopher Doyle to Greg Doyle, and finally to the current keeper of the flame, Glen Doyle. Breaking with tradition of only teaching Doyles, Glen has spread the popularity and tradition of Rince an Bhata Uisce Bheatha to anyone with the intensity and desire to learn it.For more information on Irish stick fighting as a whole, visit John Hurley's website: www.johnwhurley.com
