Nguni stick fighting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nguni stick fighting (or known as donga) is a martial art traditionally practiced by teenage Nguni herdboys in South Africa. Each combatant is armed with two long sticks, one of which is used for defense and the other for offense. No armour or protective gear is used.
The object is to hit the opponent with a stick until pain is inflicted.
In recent years, attempts have been made to develop stick fighting into a regular sport, with rules and competitions.
Nelson Mandela practiced Nguni stick fighting as a child,[citation needed] and it was recently featured on the Discovery and BBC reality TV show Last Man Standing.
[edit] Further reading
- Coetzee, Marié-Heleen. (2002) "Zulu Stick Fighting: A Socio-Historical Overview," http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Coetzee_0902.htm
