martial art - Haiti Observer Blog

Tire Machèt is a Créole martial arts hybrid. It synthesizes elements of fencing, stick, and machèt art forms. Its genesis occurred prior to the Haitian Slave Revolt, as a solution to rebels not having standard weapons to fight the enemy. Machèt fighting then became a valued skill, and part of the Haitian Army's basic training. Down through the history of military training, Tire Machèt has acquired a sacred symbolism owing to the Haitian Slave Revolt.

Haitian Machete Fighting ~ January 2012

Stick fighting, as well as Tire Machèt, is grounded in African practices that were imported along with Congolese slaves to Haiti in colonial times. Stick fighting and Tire Machèt have gained strength as martial arts disciplines, due to Haiti's isolation from the world. Although Haiti endured unimaginable poverty by being cut off from the rest of the world, it enabled important primitive traditions to flourish, among them Tire Machèt.

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Haitian-Canadian mixed martial artist (MMA) Yves Jabouin, born on May 30, 1979, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, fights in the bantamweight category in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. He began his MMA career in 2001, traveling on its circuit. During a fight he strikes like tiger, and fans have nicked-named him Tiger.

In October 2009, Yves Jabouin fought his introductory match at the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) event, taking on Rafael Assuncao, but losing by a split decision. Set to challenge opponent Mark Hominick at the January 2010 WEC event, Jabouin suffered a disappointment, when he sustained an injury during practice, and had to cancel. The fight was re-scheduled for June 2010, and in a second disappointment for Jabouin, Hominick won with a round two TKO. But in November 2010, at the WEC, Jabouin rebounded, beating Brandon Visher in a unanimous decision.

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