Druid Physical Exercises

[mantis]

I think having time to do exercise for health purposes would have been a luxury.The western mind until recent years was'nt quite like the eastern mind when concerning exercise.I think the person who started this thread was hoping that druids may have been like shaolin monks.

[cat]

May be.
We don't know So Pim what were you looking for?

I realy don't think that we can say what was done or not though we could speculate and may be trace western arts and pratices back a way.

Any rate any druid in the uk would of just chucked some inclement weather at people if he she needed to defend themselfs lol

[mantis]

[Aitrus]

In addition to basic martial training, I imagine the ancient Druids had an extensive capacity to walk/hike long distances with or without light to moderate loads, stalk and hunt game, gather plants, herbs and minerals, to operate at peak performance without adequate food and water for as long as they could, and endure harsh elements for extended periods of time.

I don't have proof for any of this, but it stands to reason given the lifestyle of the times. It's the kind of physical condition I try to keep myself in.

[reilz81]

they must of had some sort of training regime though or else how would the fighting druids of opposed there enemys so well from my understanding of history which i admit is very limited it took alot to dispose the druids

[Aigeann]

Welcome to the Board, reilz81. I see you are new here and I hope you enjoy your stay with us!

Blessings, Aigeann

[envelope]

I can't speak to old practices, but if you are just looking for a good, disciplined work out and a defense system thrown in, I highly recommend aikido. I also love going on runs after sunset, but that's just me. Aikido is a Japanese martial art, fairly new but built upon older practices with apparent influences from the likes of jujitsu and kendo (at least, that's what I've heard), as well as practices such as the Japanese tea ceremony, and use of the folding fan. Aikido roughly means, "way/path of harmony/unifying with life/universe" (or something similarly noble and abstract ). The philosophy of aikido is very much in alignment with that of druidry, as far as I can discern, and focuses heavily on both the discipline and technical expertise of the student, as well as the areas of philosophical growth and self-development. Walking into and watching the practice of an aikido dojo is very different than that of some of the 'fast food franchise' martial arts "dojos" now so popular. I recommend calling one in your area (they're all over, so chances are good), and asking if you can come in. The sensei or instructor will usually suggest you either watch a practice, or may even allow you to try a class for free, before deciding to join. I'm sure there are some bad ones out there, (though it's hard to imagine), so I suggest doing this to get the feel of the place beforehand, even if you like the general idea after your research on it. That way, if it stinks, it's not my fault. I am an amateur practitioner, and it has changed my life. I won't ever give it up, though I may not always be in the dojo. It will be with me for life (and maybe then some).

From the Wikipedia article on Aikido: "[The founder] envisioned aikido not only as the synthesis of his martial training, but as an expression of his personal philosophy of universal peace and reconciliation" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido)

[Aigeann]

Welcome to the Board, Envelope.

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Blessings, Aigeann

[envelope]

Welcome to the Board, Envelope.

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Blessings, Aigeann

Thank you for the kind welcome, Aigeann. It's nice to virtually make your acquaintance. Out of curiosity, and since you've put a foot forward and said hello to me, what are your thoughts on physical exercise in keeping with the philosophy and goals of Druidry? Do you think physical exercise was (or is now) of importance to students? Is there a form of exercise or physical attention to oneself, a way of maintaining the body, that you prefer or are considering in keeping with your path?

[Al Hakim]

Hello to all warriors,
unfortunately, there are no sources about druids being warlords or similar. They belonged to a cast of priests and were part of the local elite, perhaps nobles. I think, by education they knew how to use a sword or spear. At least the knew how to kill people in order to predict the future, Caesar wrote. However, the threshold to kill someonewas pretty low in ancient times.

I believe that those druids who acted as healers knew about a healthy life-style. Health at that time meant not only herbs but spirituality, too. In the old Greek medicine healing was done in sort of a temple, the Asclepeion. Thus, mind and body were one unit, a very modern holistic view.
Al Hakim

[DJ Droood]

Hello to all warriors,
unfortunately, there are no sources about druids being warlords or similar.

Well, there is the Druid Calatin, and his 27 sons with poison spears in The Tain.

For roughly two weeks Cuchulainn slaughtered all challengers he faced. At one point, Medb actually sent the Druid Calatin and his twenty-seven kids out to face him. All the Druid's kids poisoned their spears, but Cuchulainn was still able to defeat all of them, thanks to a timely run-in by his foster father Fergus.

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/cuchulainn.html

[Aigeann]

Welcome to the Board, Envelope.

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Blessings, Aigeann

Thank you for the kind welcome, Aigeann. It's nice to virtually make your acquaintance. Out of curiosity, and since you've put a foot forward and said hello to me, what are your thoughts on physical exercise in keeping with the philosophy and goals of Druidry? Do you think physical exercise was (or is now) of importance to students? Is there a form of exercise or physical attention to oneself, a way of maintaining the body, that you prefer or are considering in keeping with your path?

I do believe exercise is in keeping with Druidry. After all, being healthy is a spiritual pursuit. Without going into detail, at this point in my life taking the dogs for long walks in woodsy areas are my main form. I do believe martial arts have their place in Druidry do to the possible historical link. That is just not available to me right now.

Blessings, Aigeann

[Keri]

Hi all, just thought I'd add a couple of my favouites:

JUGGLING - awesome for coordination and building arm strength, if I remember rightly I think it may have been a form of training for the Knights of old.

Zumba - or any form of DANCING - brilliant for just simply feeling alive I like to dance barefoot on the grass, or in muddy puddles, or anywhere for that matter.

Playing a MUSICAL INSTRUMENT - Brass and woodwind are great for breathwork.

SWIMMING - excellent for core fitness and not harsh on the joints

Well look at that, I can see some elements being explored. LOL

Bright Blessings

[grayjk]

I agree, that generally speaking, Druids didn't seem to have alot in the way of martial arts. The Celts and Nords were no doubt fierce warriors, but were more focused on swordplay and the like (nude, so I've heard. Can't imagine the kind of courage that must've taken), but the Druids themselves were fairly peaceful, in fact certain Roman texts detail that they were expert negotiators and were better at defusing situations and working out problems than physically confronting people. Moving forward into Arthurian legend and medieval times, swordplay became more important and was no doubt a great excersize (me and my friends practice sword fighting and it's a great workout). I think just walking is a great workout, a class at the high school recently did a "long walk" and I know someone who regularly plays sports who pulled something just walking.

Not that I know all that much, not too knowledgable about Druidry, just a history and mythology geek.

[spikklubba]

maybe someting like this http://www.stavinternational.org/

[lanvalle]

This is a response more to the question of martial arts links with historical druids than to the idea of physical exercise in druidry.

Have any of you read the Sister Fidelma mysteries? While about an Irish nun/dailaigh in 7th century CE Ireland and environs, and also while being a series of murder mystery novels, the author (Peter Berresford Ellis, writing under the nom de plume Peter Tremayne) behind the series is a well-known and well-respected Celtic Studies scholar, and the Irish culture lived and described by the main character gives a lot of insight into Late Ancient/Early Medieval Irish culture. A culture that may or may not link up with ancient/historical druids, but interesting nonetheless.

Anyways, in this series, the author describes a sort of defense exercise, probably similar to some sorts of martial arts (I know nil about martial arts)? I'm quoting from the series website below. Here is the link: http://www.sisterfidelma.com/FAQS.htm

I hope others find this interesting as well.

Cheers,
Lanvalle



TROID SCIATHAGID (Battle Through Defence)

Troid (also troit) = fight, battle, quarrel; sciath = root word for shield, defence, protection, guardian (Royal Irish Academy ‘Dictionary of the Irish Language: based mainly on Old and Middle Irish Materials)’

Prof Joseph Connolly (Orlando, FL), in his renewal letter, asked the following:

“I am a Fellow of the Society of Martial Arts in the UK, a professional society which operates the College of Higher Education of Martial Arts, as approved by Privy Council. I have written to Peter Tremayne through his publisher, seeking additional information on the martial art he attributes to Sister Fidelma, about which I have never been able to obtain any additional information. If you would, please ask him to elaborate on this and give a hint where a researcher might seek additional information.”

The author responds:

In Shroud for the Archbishop, Chapter 13, Sister Fidelma first resorts to an unarmed combat technique which she calls troid sciathagid or "battle through defence" and which, she explains to her companion, Brother Eadulf, that Irish missionaries learn as a means of defending themselves without having to resort to weapons.

There is no complete text, so far identified, that has explained in detail how this method of unarmed combat worked. But, from various passing references, I believe we can assume that it was a series of defensive kicks, blows and wrestling holds which are parallels to akido or a similar method.

Ruairi Ó Flaitheartaigh (1629-1718) in his work Ogygia seu Rerum Hibernicum Chronologia stated that Comrac Mac Airt founded three colleges at Tara, one of which was for teaching military science, as well as the use of weapons, strategy and so forth, wrestling and unarmed defence, were taught. Because no ancient reference was given by Ó Flaitheartaigh, Eugene O’Curry (1796-1862) in his three volume study Lectures on the manners and customs of the Ancient Irish was inclined to dismiss this reference as he did not think there were "regular professors and a regular system" of military instruction. But O’Curry contradicts himself when he talks about the military training warriors receive as part of a general education. If they received such training it must be that there were people who were qualified to instruct them and on a regular basis.

We can also see from many other references, particularly in the Red Branch Cycle, or Ulster Cycle, of Irish Myth, there is mention of such schools where warriors were so instructed and we find that sons of chiefs and children of the "higher classes" were sent to such schools where they were placed under the instruction of a warrior. Perhaps one of the most famous of these schools was that of Scáthach, a female warrior, who teaches the military arts to Cú Chulainn in the tale Tochmarc Emire. It was from Scáthach that the famous Ulster warrior learns the torann-chless (thunder feat) by which he could leap over the heads of his enemies when surrounded using no artificial aids. Reference to such tactics is made in Aided Oenfhir Aife (or, The Tragic Death of Aife’s Only Son) showing that Cú Chulainn relies not only on weapons to defend himself but on physical agility and using his opponent’s aggression to bring about their downfall.

In Cath Fionntrágha we have a reference to warriors fighting unarmed against one another. Prof. Kuno Meyer interprets this as "wrestling warriors" (1885) and in the version of the Rawlinson B487 manuscript of the 15th century the phrase tucadar trodchuir trena troid d’aroili is given also implying that they were fighting with their bare hands and had no weapons.

Certainly, wrestling was given high priority on the list of arts taught to Irish children not only as a recreation game and also introduced as a pastime at the fairs but as part of warrior training. And this form of wrestling was particular to the Celts. Indeed, there are countless references to a particular form of Celtic wrestling - even before Agincourt in 1415 it was reported that the Cornish fought under a banner showing two wrestlers in a "hitch" which was looked upon as their national symbol. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, Spenser and Milton all mention the prowess of Celtic wrestlers. Francois I of France and Henry VIII in 1520 sent Cornish, Welsh and Breton wrestlers to have a match at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. A particular form of wrestling survived in Cornwall, Brittany, Wales and Cumberland so that in the 10th century annual Pan Celtic Wrestling Tournaments were normal and Pan Celtic Gatherings such as those at Lorient & etc. There are references to a similar sort of wrestling surviving in some rural parts of Ireland and some contests taking place at the Donnybrook Fair in the 19th century.

When we find references to peregrinatio pro Christo using troid sciathagid to defend themselves from bandits (a mention I think, without checking, in Essai d’un catalogue de la littérature épique de l’Irlande, Paris, 1883, and talk of it being a defensive art, I think we can only interpret in way I have in the Fidelma books. Especially the references to Irish missionaries being taught to defend themselves "without inflicting violence" - a particular reference in the Mss of the former College of Irish Franciscans, Louvain (Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, 1874).

Of course, I admit that I have taken the few references that I have come upon and made an interpretation for the fiction of the Fidelma novels. It needs more time and more workers in the field to see if more information on this subject can be recovered. Alas, I now do not have time to undertake such a task. But one of the problems in finding dedicated workers in the field is the lack of funding and encouragement of researchers in the field of Celtic Studies.

[mickey_strange]

greetings everyone;

I thought I'd say hi and put my two cents worth in on this conversation. I'm sure that the druids didn't really need to take time to exercise as there was walking, swimming, hunting as well as games such as hurling. As far as self defense, what's the consensus on "bataireacht" or "Irish stick fighting" being known by the druids?

[samurai]

Battles stopped when Druids came onto the field. I think battlecraft was taught from childhood,but not as a training priest as time was a commodity.I have been training for excess of 35 years and time to become good,was something the Druid of the past would not have. Druids I feel were not warrior monks like the Shaolin.

[Dathi]

Greetings,

Late to this thread, but...... This book may of interest to those interested in Celtic martial arts. http://www.lulu.com/shop/john-paul-patt ... 48576.html

Apart from being an excellent all round Ogham reference, the author (who is a member here, and a keen martial arts practitioner) has proposed some interesting training schemas for "Warrior Poets".

There are some discussions about this on his web site: http://www.thepoetsogam.com/forum.php#/ ... ts-697507/

This further links to a discussion on the The twenty-four measures of a man - Iolo Morganwg
http://www.sirwilliamhope.org/Library/A ... y-four.php

There is more here (in the context of the history of Welsh wrestling) http://www.coreedaoz.com/attachments/Th ... stling.pdf

And this document cites the Fianna, and their tests / training. Of which, more here: http://www.sconemac.com/fianna.html

All very interesting and a lot of fun, but...... Evidence?

Dathi

[samurai]

An icelandic Aikido teacher created a "viking " martial art called "stav" using runes etc. Very good, but I felt it was more Aikido staff work than geniune Viking Combat. I truley don't think there is a Druid defence system.They would have learnt skills as children and learnt on the job so to speak.