Though it is more commonly practiced as a dance because of the violent outcome
of stick fighting, its roots are still that of a martial art originating from
Africa, and stick fights still occur in the remoter parts of Trinidad …
The aim of each stick fighter was to deliver a blow that would hit the opponent
on the body – any part above the waist – hard enough to fell him to the ground.
Blows were usually aimed at the head and damage to the skull was a very common
occurrence in stick fighting. …