Harry Allick Clubs

Harry Allick Clubs is a historical and visual account of Harry’s clubs which started on his 4^th birthday in 1943 and continues to this day, plus many other different items that Harry has used over the years.

Tom Burrows and Professor Harrison

As many will know, my father did not approve of the use of non-standard style clubs etc.

He was a Tom Burrows fan and also used similar items and actions as seen in Professor Harrison’s information, he didn’t really approve of some of the swings and items I used for some exercises.

Club Swinging Endurance Record

My father ran his own gym between the First & Second Wars and held the local area club swinging endurance record of 26 and half hours nonstop, with one of his teenage female pupils’ record of 3 and a half hours, nonstop.

He served in the RAF as a Remedial Gymnast helping the recovery of ‘War Torn’ pilots and crews who managed to survive.

He gave me a pair of clubs for my Fourth Birthday 1943.

Harry Allick Clubs

100-Year-Old Clubs

The Harry Allick Clubs picture above is of some items I have used over the many years. The ‘Standard Clubs’ and the ‘Black Sceptres’ were my fathers, and are all made of wood and are well above 100 years old.

The small green plastic clubs are slightly weighted for teaching and training both adults and children.

Long Stretch Clubs

The ‘Long Stretch Clubs’ (as I have called them) are modified baseball clubs, cut to a safe length to clear your shoe tops when standing easy.  Also, the pommel or knob grip areas have been turned down to make a comfortable grip for the wrist turn and twists of selected Indian club exercises. The ‘Black & Gold’ (Asian) 32ins long and weigh 1.5 Kg. each.

The ‘Red’ (Oceanic)  28 ins long and weigh 1kg each.

My video below outlines the safe function of the Long Stretch Swings  “Care and concentration”  is paramount.

Persian Dress Throwing Knives and Scimitars

The Persian Dress/Throwing Knives along with the Scimitars I made for my daughters who used them for stage swinging demonstrations and entertainment in their primary and teen years.

I still use the Scimitars ‘now and then’ in safe areas to music (just showing off) but never the less I enjoy the challenge and add a few more scars to my collection in the process.

My opinion of this style of this Scimitar was a great design,  You can Hack, Chop, Cut, Slice Hone and Pierce.

Scary Stuff

The next video is also recorded and edited by Zé Ricardo Costa Sousa, the video is running at double speed, and shows the flashing of Harry’s Scimitars very well. Scary stuff.

Two-Handed Sword and Halberd

The long Two-Handed Sword and Halberd I made from an old drawing seen in a museum of Spanish armoury and fighting culture and is only used for basic display purposes.

The Two-Handed Sword was difficult to traditionally smith and hand forge, due to the lengths and curves.

Field and Court

I attempted to try both Field and Court, moves with the finished sword but this proved dangerous in the respect that the curves tended to deflect your opponent’s sword beyond the width of my swords hilt and possibly cutting into the arm and shoulder area.  I tried to use it for a short time practising swings on my own in line with horizontal and diagonal (longsword exercises) but a lot of private secure space was required away from the public eye.

The Halberd was made with a convex rather than a concave blade, I was informed that it was used for more field rather than court guard action, and would have a much longer and robust shaft. The harpoon type spike looked the part but would not easily release itself from test thrusts into metal type armour and chainmail. I tried swinging it in overhead circles and various chopping and thrusting strokes plus counter stance.  It became a ‘Well Fixed Wall Ornament’.

Chain Poi Skulls

The Chain Poi Skulls are made of plastic, and used for entertainment, especially in October around the Halloween period. But they can still hurt when caught on the head or body.

Gada (mace)

The two Gadas (maces) weigh 3kg and 4kg. The Exercise Ball weighs 2kg. I made the two Gada (maces) and Exercise Ball from stainless steel garden ornaments.

Club Swinging Exhibitions

From the age of 5 to 15.  I gave many local exhibitions of lightweight club swinging to music for War-Torn charity’s and local events, before going into an ‘Indentured apprenticeship’. My wife Pat in her “early teens” was also one in my Father’s Gym Groups promoting Physical Health and Well Being Exhibitions.

Show us how to swing clubs, Grandad

Both our daughters from the ages six and eight were intrigued with the small Indian clubs which had been stored away for many years and wanted their Grandad to show them how to club swing. This was good medicine for my father who was then in his late sixties early seventies. The girls loved the training and give exhibitions both singularly and also as a double act at schools, and events, around Lancashire County.

Choreographed Performances to Contemporary Music

For many events, the girls worked together to choreograph their performances using the contemporary music of the seventies which was a leap forward.  They used Tomahawks, Dress Knives and Scimitars. In the early 1970s Lynn, our oldest daughter was invited on TV Junior Show Time and was a great success. Unfortunately, at the ages of 15+, both girls lost their interest in Indian Clubs and have never used them since.

Revived Enthusiasm

Following moving to Cumbria and in my early 70s I posted a very basic YouTube video. Paul Taras Wolkowinski from Australia contacted me via Mike Simpson, both of club swinging fame.

This restarted my lost enthusiasm, and following this, I met many good Indian Club swingers at meetings and workshops organised by Mike Simpson in Sheffield. Remembering also Russell Ogata from Hawaii and Colin Hughes.

Many Thanks for the Harry Allick Clubs…

I would also thank my local doctor’s surgery at Edgemont and their team for encouraging me to keep the exercises up. My thanks to also Des Horner at our local gym at the Falcon Club Egremont, who expertly takes the over 50’s plus, through a good physical workout twice a week which has been a great medicine.  Both my wife Pat and I are in our 70’s+ play racketball and other well-being sports exercises.

I would like to thank Harry for creating the Harry Allick Clubs. I have to say that I have met Harry and Pat Allick on many occasions and enjoyed listening to their club swinging stories. Also as a final note, Harry’s club swinging style is mesmerising to watch. He is a true blue Old School Master of Club Swinging who followed his father’s traditional teachings and then added his own variations. I also think it worth noting that Harry made a lot of the above equipment himself.

Read the Harry Allick interview…

Harry Allick’s YouTube Channel

Location:- lives in Egremont, Cumbria, England.