Canarian Shepherd Leaping
The leaping of the Canarian shepherd is a traditional practice in the Canary Islands that owes its name and cultural transmission to its working functions: the ancient Canarian goatsherd or shepherd needed to use the walking stick (also called "astia", "asta", "lanza", "garrotte", "lata" "asta" etc.) to overcome the difficulties he met when crossing the uneven pieces of land of Canarian crags, while pasturing.
Several historians have made reference to this practice and they have described how our ancestors moved around easily from one place to another in the rough orography of our Islands(1) . Up to this date, it has not been studied how was this practice introduced in the Islands, whether it was by first settlers in the archipielago or whether it was developed here, in our natural surroundings. Anyway, walking sticks have been used in all pastoral cultures and its use evolved in our region in a different way. The use of the "astia" was very much widespread in ancient times among the population, but it remained mainly restricted to goatsherd's use. The herders or shepherds had to leap with the help of the so called "astia" to take care of his cattle(goats or sheep) in the rough field, so its use became a complex and particular technique.
Nowadays, we want to keep on the leap as close to its origins as possible. Obviously, there is no need to leap as before because the "astia" is not a working tool any more. Our main interest is to be faithful to tradition and to rescue all elements related to the world of leaping which otherwise would be lost forever. Therefore, we rescue, preserve and also look for the ludic side of leaping because we enjoy the use of the tool in the environment, the risk that its practice implies sometimes, and nature. As it is not a sport as such, it is not addressed to the exhibition or competition among experts on this practice. Instead, we want it to be widely recognized and accepted, although it does not mean that it should be practiced by everybody.
First Leaping clubs were founded in 1994, known as "Jurrias" or "Colectivos", and they were created with the purpose to be part of a friendly sport society, and then promote and teach the leap. Afterwards, efforts were made to become the present Canarian Federation of The Shepherds 's Leaping.
Leaping clubs began to organize complementary activities to this practice such as courses, camps, meetings, talks and conferences, etc., working as cultural associations to promote this practice.

(1)"They throw themselves with the lance, carried close to their bodies and slung across in such a way that they may put one third of it on the ground or stone where they drive the steel tip of the lance an inch long with its cone, without possibility to move from where it is, and although it is three lances high, they throw themselves down and they put on the ground with great ease, like birds." translated from GASPAR FRUCTUOSO ( Siglo XVI) Las Islas Canarias( "De Saudades da Terra").

" The peasants,....., they are good at the art of leaping from rock to rock when they travel; the method is as follows: the man carries a long stick or lance, with a steel tip and when he wants to descend from one rock to another, he points the place where he wants to leap with his lance, he throws himself on it and drive its tip in such a way that it is put perpendicular to the ground, and he slides slowly along it to the ground." translated from GEORGE GLASS, Descripción de las Islas Canarias 1764 2ª Edición. Tenerife: Goya Ediciones 1982