Venezuelan Stick Fighting: The Civilizing Process in Martial Arts

(Hardback)

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In Venezuelan Stick Fighting: The Civilizing Process in Martial Arts, Michael J. Ryan examines the modern and historical role of the secretive tradition of stick fighting within rural Venezuela. Despite profound political and economic changes from the early twentieth century to the modern day, traditional values, practices, and social imaginaries associated with older forms of masculinity and sociality are still valued. Stick, knife, and machete fighting are understood as key means of instilling the values of fortitude and cunning in younger generations. Recommended for scholars of anthropology, social science, gender studies, and Latin American studies.

Reviews

Venezuelan Stick Fighting provides the first in-depth anthropological study of Garrote. Michael Ryans outstanding study comes from years of committed practice, interviews with the most famous players, and a continuous dialogue with the broader field of traditional martial arts. -- Matthias Rhrig Assuno, University of Essex

Author Bio

Michael J. Ryan is research associate at Binghamton University.