Jogo do Pau
Portuguese, Spanish and Macanese martial art
棍术 · ジョゴ・ド・パウ
- Country of origin
- Portugal
- Type
- martial arts, sport
Jogo do pau, 'lit. stick game' (IPA: [ˈʒogu du ˈpaw]) is a Portuguese, Galician and Macanese martial art which originated from Northern regions of Minho, Alto Douro, Trás-os-Montes, Pontevedra and Ourense, focusing on the use of a staff (small wooden pole) of fixed measures and characteristics. Broadly defined as a Portuguese martial art of traditional folk origin, Jogo do Pau is a form of fencing with specific characteristics, where a stick (pau, Lat. etym:pālus), preferably made of wood, served as a weapon.
It was used for self-defense and also to settle feuds and matters of honour between individuals, families, and villages. While popular in the northern mountains, it was little known elsewhere, and those who did practice it were taught by masters from the North of Portugal and Galicia.
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q1511929 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.