PADDLES TOOL, WEAPON AND CEREMONIE

VANDOO · 17th February 2012, 08:09 PM

SINCE THE PADDLE WAS BROUGHT UP I THINK IT DESERVES A POST FOR DISCUSSION. THE PADDLE IS PRIMARILY A TOOL FOR PROPELLING AND STEARING WATER CRAFT MOST NOTABLY A CANOE. IT ALSO SERVES TO FEND OFF OBJECTS AND IN BATTLE TO FEND OFF OTHER BOATS AS WELL AS TO STRIKE OR SPEAR THE ENEMY. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO DESIGN A PADDLE AS A WEAPON ON A WAR CANOE AS DURING BATTLE ONE MUST MANUVER THE CANOE AND DEFEND AND ATTACK THE ENEMY ALL AT THE SAME TIME, NO TIME TO PUT DOWN THE PADDLE TO PICK UP THE CLUB OR SPEAR IF YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF PADDELING THE CANOE. THE CHIEF AND SOME WARRIORS MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT AND IN CHARGE OF MOST OF THE FIGHTING BUT THE PADDLERS WEVE VERY IMPORTANT TOO.
THE PADDLE IS USED FOR IMPORTANT CEREMONIES IN MANY SOCIETYS AS WELL SO SOME ONLY SERVE AS CEREMONIAL OBJECTS. IN AREAS WHERE WARFARE IS NOT THE AIM A MORE CRUDE AND MUNDANE FORM OF PADDLE WILL BE USED FOR EVERDAY USE.
PADDLEING STANDING UP IS DONE IF YOU WANT TO BE SEEN PERHAPS AS A SHOW THAT YOUR INTENTIONS ARE FRIENDLY. THE MAIN REASONS WOULD BE TO SEE DOWN INTO THE WATER EITHER TO AVOID RUNNING OVER A ROCK OR CORAL IN THE SHALLOW LAGOON AND TO SEE FISH TO SPEAR OF OTHER SEAFOOD TO CATCH OR GATHER. ON A LONG TRIP BY CANOE PADDELING IS DONE SITTING DOWN EXCEPT FOR THE HELMSMAN WHO IN SOME CASES STANDS TO USE THE LONGER STEARING PADDLE.
ON THE ISLAND OF SURINAN IN THE CARABEAN CEREMONIAL PADDLES ARE CARVED TO PRESENT TO THE GIRL OF THEIR CHOICE AS A GIFT AND PROPOSAL. THESE ARE WELL CARVED AND OFTEN PAINTED WITH COLORFUL DESIGNS.
THE PADDLE CAN BE CONSIDERED A NOBLE WEAPON EVEN MUSASHI MIYAMOTO USED ONE TO VANQUISH HIS MOST FORMADIBLE FOE.

PIC.#1 SOLOMON IS. WAR CANOES CIRC. 1907
#2 &3 NEW GUINEA PADDLES
#4 &5 DAYAK CEREMONIAL PADDLES 41IN AND 42.5 INCH LONG
ONE WITH INLAY
#6 SISSANO LAGOON PADDLE BLADE PAINTED BLADE 187 CM.
LONG
#7 PAINTED PADDLE BLADE KARANJA TRIBE, MATTEGROSSO
BRAZIL
#8 FIVE CEREMONIAL PADDLES TAHITI
#9 MENTAWAI PADDLE 63.5 INCH LONG
# 10 & 11 MASSIM CANOE RUDDER BLADE AND HANDLE 158CM.
LONG
#12 SISSANO LAGOON PADDLE PAINTED HANDLE.

VANDOO · 17th February 2012, 10:31 PM

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES SEVERAL ARE EXAMPLES OF THE MOST ORNATELY CARVED CEREMONIAL PADDLES FROM THE ASTRAL ISLANDS (FRENCH POLYNESIA) # 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 AND COOK ISLANDS #4, 5, 6. FROM THE TORRES STRAIGHTS#7, SOLOMON ISLANDS CIRC. 1920# 1, 2, WEST NEW BRITIAN DANCE PADDLE # 3

fearn · 18th February 2012, 04:42 AM

Well, there's always the old okinawan Eku, which is the oar they use in kobudo. I'm still not sure whether a paddle that's optimized as a weapon is sufficiently good for paddling. Weight would be one thing, because a heavy paddles more miserable to use than a light one, but it makes a better weapon.

I also recall that someone (perhaps in India?) had a standing paddle that was sharpened on the other end, although I think it was used mostly for fishing.

Perhaps someone's better informed on this than I am.

Best,

F

Battara · 18th February 2012, 07:45 PM

I love these paddles, especially the older Polynesian ones. I also like Tlingit ones as well.

David · 18th February 2012, 08:45 PM

The carvings on them are awesome!

VANDOO · 20th February 2012, 05:19 AM

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF SURINAME PADDLES AS MENTIONED ABOVE. THE SIZE IS USUALLY AROUND 46.5 X 6.5 IN. FOR THE ONES PRESENTED TO GIRL FRIENDS. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE ARE OF AFRICAN DESENT.
UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO PICTURES OF NORTHWEST COAST TRIBAL PADDLES. BUT A SEARCH FOR TINGLET PADDLES WILL BRING UP INFORMATION AND SEVERAL ARTISTS ONE NAMED ODIN HAD SOME NICE EXAMPLES. FOR A WIDER RANGE SEARCH PADDLES STEINBRUECK NATIVE GALLERY.
A INTERESTING FILM MADE IN 1914 BY EDWARD S. CURTIS ORIGINALLY TITELED "IN THE LAND OF THE HEADHUNTERS" RETITLED "IN THE LAND OF THE WAR CANOES" DEPICTS THE CULTURE OF THE KWAKIUTL TRIBE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. THE STORY IS SPOKEN IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE BUT THERE ARE SUBTITLES. IT CAN BE FOUND IN SOME LIBRARYS. IT SHOWS PLENTY OF CANOES AND PADDLES.
I HAVE A CANOE AND A KAYAK BUT HAVE NEVER USED A POINTED PADDLE SO HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY FUNCTION AS WELL FOR PADDLING AS MINE. BUT FOR GIVING SOMEONE A GOOD POKE WITH A SHARP STICK I CAN SEE DEFINITE ADVANTAGES. POKEING WOULD BE THE BEST FORM OF ATTACK ESPECIALLY WHILE SITTING AND TRYING TO PADDLE OR PUSH AWAY A ENEMY CANOE.

17th February 2012, 08:09 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	PADDLES TOOL, WEAPON AND CEREMONIE SINCE THE PADDLE WAS BROUGHT UP I THINK IT DESERVES A POST FOR DISCUSSION. THE PADDLE IS PRIMARILY A TOOL FOR PROPELLING AND STEARING WATER CRAFT MOST NOTABLY A CANOE. IT ALSO SERVES TO FEND OFF OBJECTS AND IN BATTLE TO FEND OFF OTHER BOATS AS WELL AS TO STRIKE OR SPEAR THE ENEMY. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO DESIGN A PADDLE AS A WEAPON ON A WAR CANOE AS DURING BATTLE ONE MUST MANUVER THE CANOE AND DEFEND AND ATTACK THE ENEMY ALL AT THE SAME TIME, NO TIME TO PUT DOWN THE PADDLE TO PICK UP THE CLUB OR SPEAR IF YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF PADDELING THE CANOE. THE CHIEF AND SOME WARRIORS MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT AND IN CHARGE OF MOST OF THE FIGHTING BUT THE PADDLERS WEVE VERY IMPORTANT TOO. THE PADDLE IS USED FOR IMPORTANT CEREMONIES IN MANY SOCIETYS AS WELL SO SOME ONLY SERVE AS CEREMONIAL OBJECTS. IN AREAS WHERE WARFARE IS NOT THE AIM A MORE CRUDE AND MUNDANE FORM OF PADDLE WILL BE USED FOR EVERDAY USE. PADDLEING STANDING UP IS DONE IF YOU WANT TO BE SEEN PERHAPS AS A SHOW THAT YOUR INTENTIONS ARE FRIENDLY. THE MAIN REASONS WOULD BE TO SEE DOWN INTO THE WATER EITHER TO AVOID RUNNING OVER A ROCK OR CORAL IN THE SHALLOW LAGOON AND TO SEE FISH TO SPEAR OF OTHER SEAFOOD TO CATCH OR GATHER. ON A LONG TRIP BY CANOE PADDELING IS DONE SITTING DOWN EXCEPT FOR THE HELMSMAN WHO IN SOME CASES STANDS TO USE THE LONGER STEARING PADDLE. ON THE ISLAND OF SURINAN IN THE CARABEAN CEREMONIAL PADDLES ARE CARVED TO PRESENT TO THE GIRL OF THEIR CHOICE AS A GIFT AND PROPOSAL. THESE ARE WELL CARVED AND OFTEN PAINTED WITH COLORFUL DESIGNS. THE PADDLE CAN BE CONSIDERED A NOBLE WEAPON EVEN MUSASHI MIYAMOTO USED ONE TO VANQUISH HIS MOST FORMADIBLE FOE. PIC.#1 SOLOMON IS. WAR CANOES CIRC. 1907 #2 &3 NEW GUINEA PADDLES #4 &5 DAYAK CEREMONIAL PADDLES 41IN AND 42.5 INCH LONG ONE WITH INLAY #6 SISSANO LAGOON PADDLE BLADE PAINTED BLADE 187 CM. LONG #7 PAINTED PADDLE BLADE KARANJA TRIBE, MATTEGROSSO BRAZIL #8 FIVE CEREMONIAL PADDLES TAHITI #9 MENTAWAI PADDLE 63.5 INCH LONG # 10 & 11 MASSIM CANOE RUDDER BLADE AND HANDLE 158CM. LONG #12 SISSANO LAGOON PADDLE PAINTED HANDLE. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 17th February 2012 at 08:32 PM.

17th February 2012, 10:31 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A FEW MORE EXAMPLES SEVERAL ARE EXAMPLES OF THE MOST ORNATELY CARVED CEREMONIAL PADDLES FROM THE ASTRAL ISLANDS (FRENCH POLYNESIA) # 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 AND COOK ISLANDS #4, 5, 6. FROM THE TORRES STRAIGHTS#7, SOLOMON ISLANDS CIRC. 1920# 1, 2, WEST NEW BRITIAN DANCE PADDLE # 3 Attached Images

18th February 2012, 04:42 AM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Well, there's always the old okinawan Eku, which is the oar they use in kobudo. I'm still not sure whether a paddle that's optimized as a weapon is sufficiently good for paddling. Weight would be one thing, because a heavy paddles more miserable to use than a light one, but it makes a better weapon. I also recall that someone (perhaps in India?) had a standing paddle that was sharpened on the other end, although I think it was used mostly for fishing. Perhaps someone's better informed on this than I am. Best, F

18th February 2012, 07:45 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I love these paddles, especially the older Polynesian ones. I also like Tlingit ones as well.

18th February 2012, 08:45 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,126	The carvings on them are awesome!

20th February 2012, 05:19 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF SURINAME PADDLES AS MENTIONED ABOVE. THE SIZE IS USUALLY AROUND 46.5 X 6.5 IN. FOR THE ONES PRESENTED TO GIRL FRIENDS. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE ARE OF AFRICAN DESENT. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO PICTURES OF NORTHWEST COAST TRIBAL PADDLES. BUT A SEARCH FOR TINGLET PADDLES WILL BRING UP INFORMATION AND SEVERAL ARTISTS ONE NAMED ODIN HAD SOME NICE EXAMPLES. FOR A WIDER RANGE SEARCH PADDLES STEINBRUECK NATIVE GALLERY. A INTERESTING FILM MADE IN 1914 BY EDWARD S. CURTIS ORIGINALLY TITELED "IN THE LAND OF THE HEADHUNTERS" RETITLED "IN THE LAND OF THE WAR CANOES" DEPICTS THE CULTURE OF THE KWAKIUTL TRIBE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. THE STORY IS SPOKEN IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE BUT THERE ARE SUBTITLES. IT CAN BE FOUND IN SOME LIBRARYS. IT SHOWS PLENTY OF CANOES AND PADDLES. I HAVE A CANOE AND A KAYAK BUT HAVE NEVER USED A POINTED PADDLE SO HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY FUNCTION AS WELL FOR PADDLING AS MINE. BUT FOR GIVING SOMEONE A GOOD POKE WITH A SHARP STICK I CAN SEE DEFINITE ADVANTAGES. POKEING WOULD BE THE BEST FORM OF ATTACK ESPECIALLY WHILE SITTING AND TRYING TO PADDLE OR PUSH AWAY A ENEMY CANOE. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 20th February 2012 at 05:36 AM.