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November 21 , 2004
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On headtaking
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Posted at 11:00 EST
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Cuchulain started to cut the poles and he drew them between the
forks of his feet and his hands against their bends and their knots,
so that he made them smooth and straight and slippery and trimmed;
he polished them so that not even a midge could find footing thereon
when he had passed them away from him. Then full sure the gilla
gazed upon him. "Far then, meseems, from fitting is the task I put
on thee. And for love of thy valor, who art thou, say, O warrior?"
the gilla asked, for he was sore affrighted. "That same renowned
Cuchulain am I of whom thou spakest a while ago in the
morning." "Woe is me then, by reason of this," cried the gilla, "for
this am I lost forever."
"Fear nothing; I will not slay thee at all, boy," said
Cuchulain; "for I slay nor charioteers nor horseboys nor persons
unarmed. But, prithee, where is thy master, gilla?" "Over yonder by
the trench, with his back to the pillar-stone," answered the
gilla. "Off with thee thither to him and bear him a warning that he
be on his guard. For if we meet he shall fall by my hand." Thereupon
the charioteer repaired by one way to his master, and Cuchulain went
by another, and fast as the gilla sped to Orlam, faster still
Cuchulain did reach him and offered him combat and he struck off his
head, and raising it aloft displayed it to the men of Erin. |
July 16 , 2004
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From Rigfennidh Tuan
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Posted at 01:00 EST
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In the Ancient Mindset, metaphor was extremely important in communicating the acts of fighters. The battle feats of the gaels are all named in metaphorical symbolism. The Salmon feat the feat of the Cat, Trussing a warrior upon spear tips.
These are the keys. It is up to us, as individual fighters to make the keys work. |
May 16 , 2004
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Feat of the Sword's edge.
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Posted at 01:00 EST
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Standing on the edge of a
sword while fighting.
Why anyone would want to do this I have yet to understand. I have imagined several times warriors balancing themselves upon their great spears in such a way as to counterbalance themselves and appear to be floating in the air. |
March 3 , 2004
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The Salmon Leap
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Posted at 20:00 EST
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A running leap into the air, lifting both feet as high as possible while maintaining a vertical position in order to come crashing down upon your opponent from above the shield. |
February 29 , 2004
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The sickle chariot feat:
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Posted at 23:00 EST
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The use of sickle blades on
chariot wheels. The concept probably came from the
Greek and roman Classical Tales. The use of sickle
blades on chariot wheels is unknown in the Isles. |
December 11 , 2003
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The Stunning Shot:
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Posted at 00:13 EST
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The use of the sling to capture
an opponent. |
December 2 , 2003
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The pole throw:
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Posted at 22:43 EST
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The use of a pole to entangle an
opponent's legs and thus bring him down. Street
fighters have a very good modern variant of this
utilizing either a baseball bat or a cop's nightstick. |
December 1 , 2003
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The spurt of speed:
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Posted at 23:22 EST
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Have you paid attention to the
trick used by Liam Neeson in the Rob Roy flick. He
feigns exhaustion in order to use his last energy to
end the fight. This, is a possible representation of the spurt of speed
feat. |
November 29 , 2003
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The body feat:
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Posted at 23:45 EST
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A flying tackle is probably as close as you will get. |
November 12 , 2003
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The Sloped Shield Feat
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Posted at 07:27 EST
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Utilizing the face of the
shield as a plow blade to take opponents off their
feet. This would have to be done at a full run. |
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