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Title [Europe] Juego del Palo

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    521
  • Date
    22-12-2020
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Name Juego del Palo
Alternative Names Juego del palo Canario, palo Canario
Origin Spain (Canary Islands)
Main Techniques Weapon-based
Weapons Sticks
Purpose of Practice Martial Arts
Type of Origination Transmitted
Degree of Sportification
Yes (Year:)      No
General Information Juego del palo is a type of stick-fighting originating in the Canary Islands. It shows many similarities to other styles of stick-fighting around the world.
The purpose is to hit the uncovered parts of the opponent’s body with the stick who in his turn defends himself and looks for opportunities to counterattack (Universidad de la Laguna, s.d.).
History/Development Juego del palo originated among the Guanches, the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands. (Acosta, s.d.). The staff was basically a tool to deal with the environment (e.g. for walking or herding the animals). Immigration introduced new techniques, for example the handling of sticks of the camel-drivers. Between the 16th and the 19th century sources show that the Canary islanders were very proficient in staff-fighting, during fights with pirates, fights to solve disputes about flocks and grazing areas or for honour or entertainments. Despite the fact the Spanish colonisers banned stick-fighting it survived in remote rural areas. Around 1900 juego del palo transitioned into a sport. Schools were created allowing for transmission outside of the family circle. After a the struggles of the 50s and 60s, new efforts to revitalize the art were made in the 70s. In the 1990s the Federación del Juego del Palo Canario (FJPC) and Federación Lucha Del Garrote Canario (FLGC) were founded. The stick was modified by adding a cover to minimise injuries (Gutierrez Garcia and Carlos Martin 2010: 2-3).
Transmission
(Policies/institutions)
According to Gutierrez Garcia and Carlos Martin juego del palo has an assured future in the Canary Islands. Attempts are being made to promote it elsewhere as well (Gutierrez Garcia and Carlos Martin 2010: 3). The conservation of juego del palo is thanks to the effort of teachers and organisations who keep promoting and passing on the tradition.
Relevant Organisations - Federación del Juego del Palo Canario (FJPC)
- Federación Lucha Del Garrote Canario (FLGC)
- Colectivo Universitario de Palo Canario (CUPC)
Additional Materials - González, A. and Martínez, G. (1992). El juego del palo canario, La Laguna: Centro de la Cultura Popular Canaria.
- An overview of juego del palo’s history in Spanish is available on the official website of the Federación del Juego del Palo Canario (FJPC): http://www.juegodelpalocanario.org/
References - Acosta, A. (s.d.). Historia del Juego del Palo Canario.
https://web.archive.org/web/20130608004101/http://www.palocanario.com/Historia%20JPC.htm
- Universidad de La Laguna. (s.d.)
https://www.ull.es/servicios/deportes/actividades/juego-del-palo/
- Gutierrez Garcia, C. and Carlos Martin, C. (2010). ”Juego del Palo”. In Green, T. A. and Svinth J. R. (eds). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.

*see also lucha Canaria