Is Bushcraft a sport?

Jenner 515

Jenner 515

Joined
Nov 27, 2002
Messages
2,145
Heard a salesman at the local knife store try to explain to another customer that "Bushcraft" was a sport, that originated in the UK.

The salesman's premise was; equipped with just a knife, an individual competed in the outdoors (against nature I suppose) and somehow determined a winner.

It was this competitive atmosphere that brought along the evolution of the Bushcraft knife.




Wait, what?

I've never ever heard of this. Have I missed an essential part of the W&SS subforum? Or was the salesman talking out his cornhole?
 
probably depends on the how the person approaches it. A lifestyle for some, a precautionary training program for others, a "smoothing it" for still others.

Different strokes...
 
Utter bollocks, in my opinion. I suppose it hinges on your definition of what 'bushcraft' is, though.

On the other hand, here are a few recent remarks from Les Stroud:

I would encourage people to continue taking many, many courses and within those courses they can experience the wilderness survival stuff. But would I discourage people taking on wilderness survival as an activity itself? ... It's a high-end, hard-core sport like adventure racing or hockey at a pro level or downhill skiing. You need to have a lot of training.
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I can agree with the use of a sport metaphor to illustrate the risks and level of competency required to safely engage in the more serious forms of backwoods survival / outdoor activity.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Originated in the UK did it?

(( rules violation )) :thumbdn:

The true use of that term has been in use here in Australia for well over 100 years :grumpy:

It is still a way of living for those who are lucky enough to live in a country that isn't overpopulated, that are lucky enough to venture into areas where nature still has precedence (which over here is a significant proportion of our continent :thumbup: )

I've seen people on the net describe Bushcraft as a long term extension of "survival skills". I think of "survival skills" as the abreviated, simplified form of Bushcraft skills.

The modern version of bushcraft seems to focus only on working wood with an edged tool. How little those who expouse this view really know about what Bushcraft really means :thumbdn: .




Kind regards
Mick
 
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its a fancy buzzword for going outside and playing in the woods. It also sells knives and gear
 
While I don't really 'do' bushcraft, as a reluctant Englishman I've certainly never seen it treated as a sport here.

Usual salesman drivel.
 
Words mean what people intend them to mean. The current British use of the word "bushcraft" refers to interest in the outdoors focused on using a particular style of knife in specific activities in the woods.

That the word is a simple combination of common terms guarantees it will be confused with local definitions in other English-speaking areas. This does not invalidate the British definition. It only warns us to provide context.

I strongly advise against calling out others in disrespectful terms. This is not Whine & Cheese, or for that matter, Practical Tactical. Keep it polite.
 
Bush: Large uncleared or sparsely settled area (as in Australia), scrub-covered or forested, wilderness.
Craft: Skill in planning, making, or executing.

Planning your trip in the Bush, making shelter, spoons, bowls, traps, treating water, wild edibles, hunting/skinning etc. Having the skills and tools to complete these tasks.

Just as it says above. Certainly not a sport but can be a hobby.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I strongly advise against calling out others in disrespectful terms. This is not Whine & Cheese, or for that matter, Practical Tactical. Keep it polite.
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Your right Esav :thumbup:

I should have said that the "salesman at the local knife store " through his ignorance, was deluding himself about the origin of the term bushcraft :D

I should have also pointed out, that again through his ignorance, he has no idea what the term still means to those who practice the original meaning of the word :thumbup:




Kind regards
Mick
 
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Not a sport, I don't know anyone who would want to be in a survival situation even if they got a big shiny ring at the end. Bushcraft, if you want to use that term is to me atleast, just practicing skills we, as humans should have never forgot about or stopped practicing. Natives for thousands of years could start a fire with the ever awesome fireplow method, or whatever method they practiced in that area. Alot of people can't even light a cigarette without a lighter, Can't even hold a hammer correctly let alone try and build any type of shelter by hand and only use knives to cut up the turkey on thanksgiving. See what I mean?
 
hollowdweller said:
:thumbup:

You may be closest;)
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I agree. It is a lot of fun and necessary to learn various outdoors skills. How to set up a shelter, a source of warmth most likely a fire, and to acquire sustenance in the form of food and water. Right there, countless skills to acquire. Plus, enjoying using knives, axes, saws, guns etc.

But, all can be planned in advance. I have had a lot of fun over the past few years trying out things I have learned on here, but I prefer to not "rough" it. Work smart, not hard.

To say bushcraft is competitive? Absolutely not.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
But, all can be planned in advance. I have had a lot of fun over the past few years trying out things I have learned on here, but I prefer to not "rough" it. Work smart, not hard.
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Yeah like Nessmuk he said he "smoothed it" and talked about setting around the fire smoking his pipe and drinking liquor.

If he was alive today he might even burn a fatty or two!:thumbup:


Now that would be some "bush" crafting!

bananastoned.gif
 
Jenner 515 said:
Heard a salesman at the local knife store try to explain to another customer that "Bushcraft" was a sport, that originated in the UK.
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He's an idiot, ignore him. :rolleyes:

Bushman5 said:
its a fancy buzzword for going outside and playing in the woods. It also sells knives and gear
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Tell me, Bushman, don't you get tired of posting exactly the same thing in every single thread where the term "bushcraft" is used? :rolleyes:

Just because the name has been co-opted as a marketing term by some makers of outdoor gear, particularly knives, does not invalidate the original meaning of the term or the validity of the traditional skills involved. IMO true bushcraft is as much "playing in the woods" and practicing the technical skills of canoeing is "playing in the water" or training in the technical skills of emergency medicine is "playing doctor" :p
 
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IMO, it is a sport, but not for the reason that guy said.

To me, bush craft (woodscraft -- the American term) is about making things (crafting) in the bush (woods). For instance, making a debris hut or jungle bed is bushcrafting, putting up a tarp or hammock is not, it's using gear, i.e. camping.

Nor is bushcraft survival, although some of the skills cross over.

We do it for fun, thus I'd classify it as sport.
 
What about referees? If it's a sport, where are the ref's? Will it be on ESPN soon? Will there be beer commercials?

There's just so much that I don't know.
 
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