Any stickfighters in the house?

[Soap]

I'm thinking of picking up stickfighting this summer. Is there any one here who could give a beginner some recommendations? Are there any videos that aren't ninja foo foo and good for really learning the techniques? TIA!

 

[mons meg]

I won't say that there is no such thing as a good stickfighting video, but I don't think you will get anything close to the experience if you don't do drills with a partner. I mean, how are you going to get rapped on the knuckles otherwise?

Another thing: have you gotten a pair of sticks yet? You might look at www.bloodsport.com for a variety of sticks made to order. (scroll waaay down on the products page) My instructor ordered from them in the past and said good things...might want to get a couple more opinions first, though. Depending on the school, you might also need a pair of aluminum trainnig knives, as most Kali schools will have you working with daggers as well as long sticks fairly quickly.

 

[brownie0486]

Morning Dan,

I've been a stick wielder since 1982. Carry a pair on the floor of the car made out of of two dowels 26" long.

Have a nice pair of polycarbonate police sticks 1" in diameter which, due to the weight, really works the forearms and wrists.

I would suggest as well you find a Kali/Escrima instructor at one of the local dojo's in your area. I just ramped another student up on the stick in the last 10 months.

Just the basics in strikes, blocks and double stick drills. Double stick is the fastest way I know to make someone ambidextrous.
They don't even know thats what is happening during their training.

Once they are up to speed [sorta speak] I have them use one stick with the "off" hand and they see right away what has happened.

I think having some double or single stick background will also make it easier to learn knife drills. I learned the stick years before the knives and when it came to knife training found it very easy in the 12 count striking drills which were muscle memory from the stick training/practice over the years.

Easy to transition from one to the other but I like the stick first, the knife drills came easier for me with that background.

Others mileage may vary.

It is an admirable goal, and when you have ramped up on the sticks you have something that can never be taklen away from you.

Good luck in your quest and please keep us informed of your progress.

Brownie

 

[hso]

Gotta agree with browine. Find a Guro and take the classes. The Guro will have a source for sticks and if you show up with the "wrong" (i.e. too fancy, wrong material, wrong length, not his source) he may be annoyed and you may have wasted your money. If there are no specific FMA instructors listed in your area look for Jeet Koon Do schools as many of them will derived from the Isanto line and will teach stick.

I'm currently taking private lessions in cane and have been pleased to see some of the stick that I learned helping me along.

 

[Gordy Wesen]

A worthwhile pursuit imho.
I liked this site when I began looking around.
Good luck.

http://www.hapkido-info.net/html/basicstickfighting.html