PALO CANARIO
Juego del palo or Canarian stick-fighting comes directly from the different techniques of attack and defence used by the Guanches (aboriginal people of the Canary Islands). It is considered a martial art practiced by those who play it for fun without having physical contact with the opponent. There are several clubs in the island that are part of a federation.
Material: A wooden stick for each player. There are two kinds of stick-fighting:
- Palo Grande (Big stick): the stick size used is the same or longer than the player's height. It stick usually has the same thickness on each end. There is "Juego de la lata" in Fuerteventura and "juego del garrote" in Gran Canaria, even though it is also practiced less frequently in other islands.
- Palo Medio (Medium stick): the stick is known as "vara" (cane) and the games with it are common in most of the Canary Islands. The stick size does not exceed the height of the player's chin, but the player's hips minimum, even though the most common size is at the height of the player's heart. There must be different and progressive thickness from one end of the stick to another.
- Palo Chico (Small stick): this stick is almost gone, since there are only traces of it with old players. The games of this kind required a stick with a size no longer than the height of the player's hips.
Rules: No existing written rules about it, since it is not a competition sport.
Players: 2 players, one-on-one.
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