Q: Thank you for taking this time to chat with me, Glen.
Glen: No probs.
Q: Alright, the first thing I’ll talk about is your website on Uisce Beatha
Bata Rince (aka Uisce). Why did you decide to put one up?
GLEN: Well, people have been asking me for years, I think since around 1995,
wanting me to put up a website or do a book on Uisce, so I finally got my butt in gear. (laughs) or should I say, the lady that does my website, Lisa, she got my butt in gear.
Q: So, I’ll cut to the chase then, is there a book in the works?
GLEN: I wouldn’t say that. When I write a book, I don’t want it to be a
picture book, I like text, detail. Because this style was given to me through an
oral tradition, a book would be a tough job. I’m leaning towards doing a video.
Q: A video? Any specific time frame to do this video?
GLEN: I’d say by the end of 2003.
Q: Are there any books, videos, or websites that you would recommend?
GLEN: All of them, there’s no such thing as too much reading. Look at everything you can, something will stand out and that’ll be a good way for a person to figure out what flavor of fighting they want to learn. But if you want an example I’m right in the middle of reading Irish Gangs and Stick-Fighting by John W. Hurley - very well researched and very well presented.
Q: So you recommend everything? You’re a pretty easygoing guy.
GLEN: Why, because I don’t trash talk other styles? I’m confident
enough in my ability and the fighting systems I’ve studied that I don’t need to do
that. I have faith in my kung fu, and I have faith in Uisce -- a man with faith
shouldn’t try to take away the same from others with insults or disparaging
remarks – unless we’re about to scrap (laughs).
Q: Talking about your Dad, Uisce was taught to you by your dad, tell me about that?
GLEN: Well, when I was four my dad started instructing me in boxing, and then a
few years later, just when I thought I had it all learned, he walked up to me
and put a stick in my hand and said, "So how would you box with this in your
hand?" After a couple of frowns he smiled and began teaching me Uisce.
Q: How did it feel to learn a style of fighting that was linked to your family?
GLEN: (laughs) To tell you the truth, when I started learning it, I just wanted to finish the lesson so I could go out and play. But after awhile I started to get into it. As for the Doyle name, Uisce is linked to my family, I have no clue what the other Doyle families were studying, maybe the one-handed styles.
Q: So Uisce was only in your immediate family?
GLEN: (shrugging) As far as I know. You see, the problem with certain traditions is the oral transference of knowledge. My dad taught me through example and words, there were no instruction manuals or (laughs) videos.
Q: So how did you remember all your lessons?
GLEN: Practice (laughs) I mean I did make a few notes, but in reality as compared to things like kung fu, Uisce isn’t very hard to learn, it just takes practice and understanding of a few key principles, like the pivotal. You just have to listen to your seanachaì and go over the movements with an opponent.
Q: Practice makes perfect, eh?
GLEN: (laughs) That’s what I was taught.
Q: Now going back to Oral Tradition, I remember you telling me that your dad changed a few terms or techniques, could you expand on that?
GLEN: Sure. Dad changed a few names on the techniques while he was explaining them to me, it’s like when terms or expressions change with the change of
society. Like, if I said 'Dissin' or 'Chill Out' to someone from the 70’s, they
wouldn’t know what the hell I was talking about, y’know?
Q: So his manner of speech changed the names of techniques?
GLEN: For lack of a better explanation, yeah. I mean the technique in Uisce now called the 'Slip & Stab' I think was originally called a 'Dodgy' but my Dad called it the Slip & Stab, because I guess he figured I’d understand it easier and now that I’m teaching it, that’s what I call it.
Q: Doesn’t that hurt the purity of the style?
GLEN: How so?
Q: Well, if I want to learn the traditional style of Uisce, like when it was created, I feel robbed if things have changed.
GLEN: I see where you’re going. Well, this style was taught to my dad by his dad, and to his dad by his dad, and to his dad by his uncle etc and each practitioner added his actual fighting experiences to the techniques to make it a better and practical fighting style. So even though I learned a few techniques that were changed by my dad, I also learned techniques that were changed by my grandfather, my great grandfather, my great great grandfather. Y’know what I mean? The core of the style still remains - the two-handed grip, the pivotal, the charge in, the cauldron, the overall basics, and any fighting experience the previous Doyle men encountered have been inserted into the current Uisce. So how can it NOT be classical or traditional, it evolved through combat, it’s still sean nòs.
Q: Interesting. So now you’ve added YOUR change to the Uisce style by using the stances in Chinese Kung Fu, rather than the footwork your father taught you, correct?
GLEN: Yep. I find the charge ins, and close quarter attacks of Uisce are intensified with the use of the Kung Fu stances. I still practice my dad’s footwork every now and again, just in case I teach someone who may have trouble with the Kung Fu stances.
Q: Okay, I’ll come back to that later, but why are you opening this style to others outside the family?
GLEN: (smiles) Two reasons: First, I want to honour the memory of my father. He was a great man who gave me everything in life that I ever needed. I want the world to experience (even though in a surrogate way) his influence in my life. Second, it’s culture. Where would I be if the Chinese culture refused to teach me Kung Fu because I’m not Chinese? Hoarding information is just wrong.
Q: So how has Uisce been received by others?
GLEN: Wonderful. The guys I’m teaching right now are very hungry. They practice over and over - very dedicated.
Q: Now on the website you talk about working with another stick fighter from a different style. Care to elaborate?
GLEN: Sure. John Rivers is a very proficient stick fighter who also instructs at Jing Mo. John’s style is called LaPunti Arnis de Abanico. It’s a Filipino style of stick fighting that has quick explosive movements with certain techniques that follow the shape of a hand fan.
Q: A one-handed [grip] style?
GLEN: Yes.
Q: And so what was it like when Uisce met LaPunti?
GLEN: Very interesting. Even though LaPunti is a one handed style, Uisce shared a few eerie similarities with it. I was so intrigued with the fact that two stick fighting styles developed on islands, worlds apart still could share a thread of similar tactics.
Q: You have a theory about that?
GLEN: (smiling) Of course, I have a theory about everything (laughing). But whether Uisce or LaPunti, or any other stick fighting style, a stick is a stick. So no matter where on the planet you study, you’re going to find certain ideas or techniques that will share a similar motion or movement.
Q: Makes sense. Now going back to my earlier question. If someone came up to you and wanted to learn the 'pure' Uisce, can they just request that or are you a 'do as I say' instructor?
GLEN: Ummm, define pure Uisce?
Q: No kung fu stances, learn the exact things you learned from your father.
GLEN: Oh, well, actually, I go by the student. I’ll look at their body types, personality, and attitude then make a decision. If I think the kung fu stances in the style would be better for them, then that’s what they’ll learn.
Q: So you are a 'do as I say' instructor?
GLEN: If I’m teaching you something given to me by the man who raised me, taught me right from wrong, and gave me my first fighting lesson, then I’ll teach you the way I want to. That’s the way it’ll be, no room for negotiations.
Q: OK. So what would you say to those who think that putting Chinese kung fu stances into the style is taking away from the style’s authenticity or Irishness?
GLEN: (smiling) Everyone seems fine with it so far, I've had nothing but positive responses. But if
someone has a problem with it, I’d say pick out a blackthorn, pack it, then buy an airline ticket to Toronto and come convince me to stop. I’m not hard to find.
Q: Well that’s pretty straightforward.
GLEN: It’s my Newfie attitude, of course it’s straightforward.
END PART I
PART II