Jogo do Pau

Born from the need to defend oneself and the livestock from enemies and animals, the Jogo do Pau is a combat originating in the districts of Minho, Trás os Montes and Alto Douro; today it has become a Portuguese martial art, a kind of Lusitanian fencing, which has also spread to other territories, including Lisbon. The only tool necessary for the practice is a one-and-a-halfmeter wooden stick called either “varapau” or “bastão” according to the way in which the opponents face each other; two are of the most famous ways of playing, characterized by the forceful submission of the opponent or by showing off the games’ technique.

Playing is a universal language!
This game is similar to: Lotta col Bastone, Puglia.