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| General Information |
Paranza lunga is a type of stick-fighting originating in Sicily, Italy. |
| History/Development |
The art of the Sicilian stick dates back to the Sicilian Vespers (1282 - revolt of the people against the Angevins) when it was forbidden to keep weapons in the house and therefore the stick was the only means of defense. According to some stories, this technique instead dates back to the Arab-Byzantine period in Sicily. It seems, in fact, that in some areas the use of swords by the Sicilian inhabitants was forbidden for fear of riots. Ancient tales tell heroic stories of masters of Rutata who defeated the Arab scimitars (Bastone Siciliano 2014).
Initially there was no well-defined technique, which took shape in 1600 and was immediately used in duels of honor between shepherds or peasants, but often also involved rich landowners, fascinated by this new art both because it allowed to defend oneself from a knife (Associazione culturale Neoborbonica, s.d. ; Comune.Info, s.d. ).With the advent of firearms, the defense use of the stick ceased, but its presence in honor duels remained.
The art is also known by the name "Liu-Bo", from the Chinese "Leo's stick", in honor of the master Letterio Tomarchio, who managed to make it a famous and recognized martial art. Mr. Tomarchio teaches Sicilian stick-fighting in his gym in Catania (Guerrieri di Sicilia, s.d). |
Transmission
(Policies/institutions) |
Today paranza is mainly present in eastern Sicily, in the mountains and in sparsely populated places, where young people are not distracted by the problems of industrial society the art is handed down and passed on from father to son and friend to friend (Associazione culturale Neoborbonica, s.d.).The Comitato Sportivo Educativo Nazionale played a big role in the recognition of paranza (Comune.Info, s.d. ).The Associazione Nazionale Bastone Siciliano promotes and regulates both paranza lunga and paranza corta (Associazione Nazionale Bastone Siciliano, s.d.). |
| Relevant Organisations |
- Comitato Sportivo Educativo Nazionale (CSEN)
- Associazione Nazionale Bastone Siciliano |
| Additional Materials |
- Education video on Sicilian staff fighting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXJ0EuII7jQ |
| References |
- Bastone Siciliano. (2014). “Come Nace un Bastone Siciliano di Ruseddu”, Bastone Siciliano,
https://bastonesiciliano.wordpress.com
- Associazione culturale Neoborbonica. (s.d.). “Il Bastone Siciliano (‘U Vastuni o altrimenti detto ‘A Paranza)”, Movimento Neoborbonico,
http://www.neoborbonici.it/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1938&Itemid=167
- Guerrieri di Sicilia. (s.d.). “Bastone siciliano”, Guerrieri di Sicilia,
http://guerrieridisicilia.altervista.org/index.php/discipline/7-bastone-siciliano
- Comune.Info. (s.d.). “Liu-bo, un’Arte Marziale tutta Italiana”, Commune.Info,
https://comune.info/sport/liu-bo
- Associazione Nazionale Bastone Siciliano. (s.d.). “Paranza Corta Siciliana”, Associazione Nazionale Bastone Siciliano,
http://bastone-siciliano.com/storia/storia-paranza-corta |
See also: paranza corta, Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) | |
