Dozier and Cowart learn sticklicking in the USA

Erskine Sammy Husbands and Elvis Gil have taken the Barbadian traditional art of sticklicking to the United States of America.

Gill and Husbands who are the authors of “Introduction To The Johnson Method, Barbados Stick Science First Position Vol 1”, recently graded two USA students Raymond Dozier and John Cowart in the indigenous art.

Gill, who is the owner of Donald and Brown Sticklicking and Martial Arts said the two students were graded online with a panel of five persons including himself.

“The panel who judged Dozier and Cowart were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that they showed as they embraced this Caribbean artform. I must say that the experience for me personally in assisting the students in another international state was quite exhilarating to see that this art came so popular as well as the books that are on sale on Amazon: Introduction To The Johnson Method Barbados Stick Science First Position Volume 1. I am anticipating that in 2023 the school would be in a position to travel abroad on tour to do exhibitions in the science of sticklicking along with promoting Barbados as a unique country for stick culture and hopefully giving practitioners in Barbados an opening for persons to get in contact with them to display the five artforms we have on island,” Gill said.

From left to right: David Harting, John Cowart (student), Erskine Husbands (Master-Workman/Instructor)
Raymond Dozier (student) and Keisha Cowart.

Husbands, who is the co-author of the book and the owner of Way of Life Tai Chi, recently migrated to the United States of America to be with his wife and family. He said he had a conversation with Dozier where he explained what sticklicking was and Dozier became immediately interested in the art and as well as learning more about Barbadian culture.

Dozier, who is a Filipino Kali Instructor, said he quickly wanted to learn more about Barbados as well as the art of sticklicking.

“I asked Erskine to show me what he knows so that I could become a part of it. I wanted to know even more about sticklicking through to the culture and heritage that was associated with it. At the time I needed something that was culturally based, and I thought why not learn about Barbadian sticklicking. It could not hurt for me to learn something different. A lot of people would do things and they are stuck in what they know, and they do not want to learn anything else, but not me. I humbled myself and I was opened to learning from Erskine the art of Barbadian sticklicking. I have nothing but respect for him due to his kind demeanour. The process of being graded in the first position of Johnson’s stick science took about four months for me to get the basic understanding of the artform,” he said.

Husbands explained that for Dozier and Cowart to receive their grading in four months was a great feat as normally students from the Donald and Brown Sticklicking and Martial Arts are graded within six months.

“It took them four months to be graded by mentor Elvis Gill and his team. When I realized how fast they were grasping the concept of Barbadian sticklicking I asked mentor Gill if it was possible for them to be graded in four months and they were outstanding and received their certification,” he said.

The 67-year-old Cowart said that as someone who has studied martial arts for the majority of his life it was rewarding to learn the art as he seeks to improve his mobility.

“I studied other stick arts before, and I decided I wanted to work with Erskine as he has a great personality and understands what he is teaching, and I gravitated towards it.

“The grading process has been eye opening so far with the science in the first position because you protect yourself in such a big area and it is super-efficient with the way in which you would use the stick. If I become competent enough, I would love to teach and expand the culture. Johnson style is a wonderful science. I am 67 years old and about to start walking with a cane, but I know I can walk with confidence if I have to. It is a lot of fun and I am learning a lot. It has been a wonderful art form,” he said.

Husbands noted the success of the students was due to them having the book which he co-authored being available to them so that they could go over any topics learnt at home, thus allowing them to grasp the concepts easier. He noted that he will continue to teach other persons in the United States about Barbadian sticklicking as he seeks to revitalize the artform. 

(Write Right PR Services)