VHeadline.com News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue writes: My friend, Eduardo Sanoja is a master Venezuelan stick-fighter ... I'm trying to remember how I first met him way back in the eighties. It was probably after reading an article of his about the art of stick-fighting in Barquisimeto's El Impulso ... he made it quite clear then that the art-form had nothing to do with the local Tamunangue dance that also uses the fighting stick.

In those days Eduardo sported several tattoos long before it became fashionable and was enthusiastic about his discovery of the hidden art of the Lara State "Juego de Garrote."

The former judo instructor immersed himself in the indigenous art of stick-fighting setting up a school in his Cabudare house.

His meeting with veterans, Mercedes Perez, Juan Barreto, Felix Garcia, Baudilio Ortiz, Chenco Escalona and others brought the game into the open, allowing youngsters to learn a trade that had been the preserve of secret societies.

Eduardo Sanoja with VHeadline.com's Patrick J. O'Donoghue (right)

• Mercedes Perez, who taught Sanoja, died last year and in his obituary, Eduardo praises the master for breaking the "selfish" traditional code of secrecy among players.

Apparently, rich landowners in the El Tocuyo farming area employed stick-fighters as foremen-cum-bodyguards and the latter handpicked youngsters to learn the trade and practice the art in secret.

Eduardo taught me  with short raps on the wrists and shinbones

Eduardo taught me the art and Mercedes always arrived to try us out ... the then 60-year old was quick, agile and punishing with short raps on the wrists and shinbones.

Sanoja progressed to studying the sticks themselves and his artistic nature led him to start carving vera wood sticks he purchased near Quibor (Lara) ... his artwork, is sold in Isla de Margarita and Caracas.

Eduardo says that one collector has bought 60 of his sticks and that he is content with a limited production after years of perfecting his craft. He still teaches stick-fighting in the patio of his new home in Agua Viva (Barquisimeto).