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| General Information |
Jogo do pau is a traditional stick-fighting art originating in Portugal. The literal meaning is “game of the stick”.In jogo do pau there are three types of training exercises: sarilhos, formas and séries. They are comparable to the kata in many Eastern martial arts (Traditional Sports, s.d.). |
| History/Development |
Jogo do pau most likely originated in the northern states of Portugal where it was common practice among farmers and shepherds. It was used in daily life and to settle disputes between villagers etc. (Russo, s.d.). Portuguese guerilla fighters used the techniques of jogo do pau against the troops of Napoleon (Crudelli, 2010: 254). In Lisbon the art had been practiced on the streets since the 14th century. There are many famous jogo do pau masters in Portugal, but one of the most famous and recent ones, who was of great importance for the revival and survival of the art is Pedro Ferreira (1915-1996). In the 20th century jogo do pau was still present at festivals and events throughout Portugal (Traditional Sports, s.d.). |
Transmission
(Policies/institutions) |
Jogo do pau is not as popular as in the past but there has been a revival, with several practicing schools and associations in Portugal.Outside of Portugal, the Azores and Madeira, there are also some study groups in Australia, the USA, Sweden and Belgium (Traditional Sports, s.d.). |
| Relevant Organisations |
- Federação Nacional do Jogo do Pau Português
- Associação Desportiva e Cultural do Jogo do Pau Português
https://www.jogodopau.com.pt/
- Associação Esgrima Lusitana Cascais - Jogo do Pau
https://www.esgrimalusitanacascais.com/
- Grupo de Jogo do Pau de Bucos
- Esgrima Lusitana Lisboa – Jogo do Pau Português
- Grupo de Jogo do pau de Abadim |
| Additional Materials |
- António Nunes Caçador (1963). Jogo do Pau (Esgrima Nacional), Lisboa. (https://archive.org/details/JogoDoPauesgrimaNacionaCacador1963) |
| References |
- Russo, N.C. (s.d.). Jogo do Pau: Origins and Evolution. Originally published in Os Portugueses e o Mundo, Conferência Internacional, VI Volume, "Artes, Arqueologia e Etnografia. https://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2003/jmanlyart_wolfcosta_0203.htm
- Associação Desportiva e Cultural do Jogo do Pau Português
https://www.jogodopau.com.pt
- Crudelli, C. (2010). The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Skills from Around the World, London: Dorling Kindersley.- Traditional Sports. (s.d.). “Jogo do Pau (Portugal)”, Traditional Sports
https://www.traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/europe/jogo-do-pau-portugal.html | | |
