TUMBLE WEED COMES TO TURTLE ISLAND

Apache Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic 9

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

Tumble Weed Comes to Turtle Island

When the Apaches, land creatures, and sky creatures came up from Underworld to Turtle Island, they went about and explored the North, South, East, and West.  At that time, all lands were connected and there was no separation of oceans.  They discovered new tree, plants, herbs, and flowers but they missed their old diet, medicines and color dies.  The Apaches went back to Underworld and gathered seeds from all the vegetation that formed their diet, medicine, and dies.  They brought them up in bags and baskets to Turtle Island.  When they were finishing gathering the seeds in Underworld, Tumble Weed spoke to the Apaches and said, take me up to Turtle Island for I am lonely down here in Underworld.  An Apache elder said, we have no need of you in Turtle Island, for there are many new plants, trees, and flowers that are much more pleasant to look at.  You offer us no fruits, vegetables, or herbs from your branches or roots. Your branches are not strong enough for our bows or arrows; you offer no medicine; you offer no color dies; and you offer no sinew. We have no need for you on Turtle Island.  Tumble Weed was very smart and asked, “How will you deliver all those seeds throughout Turtle Island?” The Apache elder said, “We will travel North, South, East, and West and spread the seeds.”  Tumble Weed said, “You will not be successful for the seeds must be spread out quickly before the change of seasons or they will die.  You are slow on foot and few in number.  You will never accomplish this in time for proper growth; and next harvest you will have little to show for such a large tasking.”  The Apache elder thought for several minutes in silence and then asked, “Tumble Weed you are wise in your speaking, but what would you recommend?”  Tumble Weed said, “Take me up to Turtle Island and I will spread your seeds to the North, South, East, and West.”  The Apache elders asked, “How will you do such a great task?”  Tumble Weed said, “I will gather many seeds at once; then call on Cross Wind to send me North, South, East, and West. I will spread the seeds as I travel. The seeds will spread throughout every part of Turtle Island.”  The Apache elder agreed and they took Tumble Weed up to Turtle Island.  Tumble Weed would roll his body forwards and backwards, spreading the seeds as he struck the ground in a Downward Wind direction or an Upward Wind direction across the land. The next season, the plants, trees, herbs, and flowers that the Apaches would use for their diet, their medicine, and their dies were all on Turtle Island.  It is said that you can dig deep enough and find the ancient plants and trees that were left behind and not brought up to Turtle Island.  After a time, the Great Flood destroyed all of Underworld.

In battle, the Apache warriors use a single or double weapon attack towards their enemy and rotate in a vertical circular Downward Wind or Upward Wind motion/angle while alternating the timing of each arm.  A right hand strike or block would be immediately followed by a left hand strike or block and vice versa.  The strikes or blocks would continue at fast speed so it was near impossible for the enemy to defend all the strikes or blocks.  The Apaches call this the Tumble Weed tactic.  The Tumble Weed tactic can be done with the weapon[s] in a Talon or Sky grip. The weapon[s] can be on a vertical or horizontal plane. The Tumble Weed tactics work well while running towards the enemy and striking or in stationary positions.