Bataireacht, Irish Stick Fighting Class

The history of traditional Irish stick fighting, or Bataireacht, extends from relatively modern times back into Ireland's ancient past.  In our IRL workshop Steve Higgins and his assistants will briefly give an introduction to the art, and will then lead the participants through a series of exercises. These movements are designed for practical self-defence, not for tournament or competition.  The workshop will involve no sparring.

Steve Higgins, founder and Chief Instructor at Cold Mountain Tai Chi and Qigong in Kitchener, is a fifty-year veteran of the martial arts. His first teacher in the Irish boxing tradition was his father.

Our objectives in this workshop will be healthy exercise, exploring some self-defence principles, and having fun!

Please bring a walking stick or umbrella to use.

Masks are encouraged.

This session is being recorded for the benefit of participants and will be posted via the Irish Real Life website.  This includes your image if you are visible during a session. If you do not wish your image shown, do not open your video connection.  In-person participants are assumed to have given their consent to this procedure.

The Instructor's ability to monitor or correct what you are doing is very limited.  You are therefore accepting full responsibility for any risk or injury proceeding from this practice.

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Meet the Instructors

Steve Higgins, founder of Cold Mountain Internal Arts

Steve Higgins established his Tai Chi club, Cold Mountain Internal Arts ( in Kitchener in 1990. Based on his martial arts career, his approach to these traditions always included a concern for personal self-defence.

In 2011 several of his students approached him with a request that he teach them how to defend themselves with their walking sticks.  Steve, therefore, arranged for Master Glen Doyle to visit Kitchener in 2012 and teach elements of the Doyle family's Bataireacht system. This has now been combined by Steve with the Irish boxing method passed down to him by his father.  The result is an effective method of self-defence which is also a harmonious means of exercise.

Randall Templeton, Associate Instructor Cold Mountain Internal Arts

Randall Templeton began his martial arts training in 1974 and earned his Second Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate in 1990. During this time Randall also had training in boxing, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu. In 2004 Randall joined Cold Mountain Internal Arts and began training in Middle Frame Yang Style Tai Chi, with a focus on self-defence applications of the form.

During his tenure at Cold Mountain Randall also studied Irish Stick fighting using the “Doyle” method, and Irish Bare Knuckle Boxing.