Traditional sword dancing under threat
Let me tell you a story.Ìý Many years ago, after a good session in one of the pubs in
It was only when I saw him try to uncork a bottle of poteen with a screw held between his teeth that I realisedÌýmy host was off his skull.
As the other musos got out their instruments and started up again into the tunes, my host told me he was a Kendo sword fighter. "Wow!" I said, feigning interest. "I've got a priceless sword right there in that case." He went over to a glass fronted box and took out a long, curved, steel sliver. "I've trained for twenty years in Kendo schools - been to
"Take it easy pal!" I hinted, thinking of the family on the other side of
I tell you this because Kendo swords (which are capable of causing damage) are going to be legal under the proposed Violent Crimes Reduction Bill, whereas Rapper swords (blunt, bendy and harmless and used in traditional Morris dancing for the last several hundred years) are to be banned. Kendo is a sport whereas Rapper is not. Swords are allowed in sport and for historical re-enactments, Morris dancing is as yet unclassified. The Civil Service have not got round to hiring consultants to invent a term for it.
There is a petition which you can sign, if you feel strongly enough about
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Comment number 1.
At 19th Jun 2008, Maurice Condie wrote:Already signed the petition.
Hope you mentioned it on the show.
(I was on a broken train at 7.00 last night, didn't get home till midnight and have not had a chance to listen on line yet).
In fairness it could be argued that Rapper is a sport. There are competitions, I've been to DERT several times, though (like many) often remember little for several days afterwards.
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Comment number 2.
At 26th Jun 2008, bluemando wrote:It's not only Morris Dancing under threat.
Scottish Highland sword dancing has already been affected as the judges who were to supply the swords at a recent competition could not transport them as they would be classed a having offensive weapons in their possession.
Daft or what? I think we have a case for cultural suppression of an ethnic minority.
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Comment number 3.
At 30th Jun 2008, Edith Crispin wrote:Someone must be winding up the traditional dancers and, by golly, they seem to have got their clogs in a twist.
The Violent Crimes Reduction Bill was passed in 2006 and came into force in October 2007. I don't know how many sword dancers have been locked up since that time - but you can be sure it was not for possession of a bladed instrument.
It sounds like the originator of the epetition might not have been aware of the new law and how it sits with the existing law (which, among other things, allows Sikhs to wear their kirpan and the Scots to sport their skean dhu.)
Great story with wonderful images though, Mike - it had me chuckling. Thanks.
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