Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
http://www.paladin-press.com/downloads/Mike_Janich_Martial Cane Concepts_QA.pdf
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
MICHAEL D. JANICH
Author of Martial Cane Concepts
One of the most basic laws of survival is this: predators look for easy targets. If you’ve
made the hard realization that your age or some other disability puts you in the “prey”
category in the eyes of the common thug, be assured that you still have self-defense
options. One excellent choice is a brand-new cane-fighting method developed by veteran
martial artist Michael D. Janich.
The beauty of Janich’s latest video, Martial Cane Concepts, is that it demonstrates a self-
defense system that can be quickly learned by anyone, even if he or she has never
practiced any sort of martial art or taken a self-defense class. It’s simple, direct, effective,
and can be used to great advantage by the able-bodied as well.
In the following interview, longtime Paladin author Michael Janich talks about his new
video, his Martial Blade Concepts training program, his latest project as Knives Category
Manager for BLACKHAWK, and his upcoming role as cohost of The Best Defense, a
new series coming to The Outdoor Channel.
Paladin Press: There are many books and videos on the market that cover traditional
stick- or cane-fighting methods, such as Hapkido cane fighting or La Canne. How is
Martial Cane Concepts different?
Michael Janich: When I developed Martial Cane Concepts, my goal was to provide a
simple, easily learned system of cane tactics that could be picked up by anyone in just a
few hours and applied effectively with only minimal practice. While many martial arts
have cane subsystems, they typically require a very high level of skill and some pretty
significant physical attributes to make them work well. I wanted to offer a system that
works well for people who might actually have to use a cane on a daily basis—people
with physical limitations.
PP: This approach seems ideal for people who’ve never had any instruction in the martial
arts. How did you come to realize that there was an audience for this kind of system?
MJ: One of the things I’ve always tried to do with my teaching is to make it logical and
easy to understand. I’ve also worked hard at making it practical and flexible enough that
people of different levels of physical skill could benefit from it. Over the years, this
approach has resonated with many over-40 martial artists who realize that the traditional
martial arts approach to self-defense often doesn’t work well as you get older. They want
something more practical.
At the same time, my approach has appealed to a lot of younger martial artists who still
have great physical attributes but are disillusioned with the dogma and misinformation associated with many traditional arts. They want something that makes sense from the start and has immediate application. Everything we do—including empty-hand, stick,
knife, and gun—fits that mold. Martial Cane Concepts is really just a reflection of our
overall approach to weapon tactics, tuned to the attributes of a cane.
PP: In your long career as a martial artist and instructor, have you ever had to adapt your
training methods to allow a disabled student to learn some self-defense techniques?
MJ: Yes. Many of the students who come to me for Martial Blade Concepts chose the
knife because they had limited physical abilities and needed a weapon that was very
effective and easily carried. They also needed a system of using it that was versatile
enough for them to apply it with their existing levels of strength, speed, and reaction
time. In MBC—and in everything else I teach—I have a saying: “You don’t have to fight
like me; you just have to fight well.” What that means is that—unlike traditional martial
arts, where the goal is to have everyone performing a technique look exactly the same to
preserve the tradition and form of the style—our approach is to achieve reliable
combative function.
By teaching everyone universal principles of timing, leverage, and body alignment, we
maximize each student’s ability to express his or her physical attributes. In the process,
we tune the form or provide alternate techniques for students who have physical
limitations. Those limitations can be anything from being overweight or very muscular
(both of which can restrict one’s range of motion) to having a true physical handicap. I
had one student with severe scoliosis, but through good communication and
understanding of his limitations, we tuned the system to meet his needs. He trains very
actively and is a very capable fighter because he adapts his training to match his abilities.
In the 11 years that I’ve been teaching MBC as a system, I’ve taught hundreds of
students, many of whom were over 50 years old. One of my longest-practicing students is
in his mid-60s. Tuning their training to meet their abilities—as well as the disparity of
force and strength that they would face with a younger attacker—is a regular part of the
way we train. Again, Martial Cane Concepts is a great reflection of that philosophy and
my older students love training with the cane, but it’s not the only aspect of our training
that we adapt to meet a student’s needs. That applies across the board.
PP: What advantages do you see in carrying a cane rather than or in addition to knives,
batons, or other popular carry weapons?
MJ: The cane is an incredibly versatile and effective weapon. At the same time, it is also
the ultimate “PC” tool. Even if you are able-bodied, you have a right to walk with a
cane—as long as it is not so heavily weaponized that it becomes obvious as a purpose-
designed weapon. The American Disabilities Act is also an incredibly powerful tool in
defending your right to carry a cane. If anyone questions your use of it, just referencing
this act will usually shut people up pretty quickly. I’m not suggesting that anyone fake a
disability or take unfair advantage of anything that is specifically designed to protect the
rights of disabled people, but at the same time, carrying a cane—even if in YOUR mind it
is purely a self-defense weapon—is your right. We shouldn’t have to go overboard
explaining that to anyone—especially the idiots who believe that peace and social order
are best achieved by disarming law-abiding citizens.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
MICHAEL D. JANICH
Author of Martial Cane Concepts
One of the most basic laws of survival is this: predators look for easy targets. If you’ve
made the hard realization that your age or some other disability puts you in the “prey”
category in the eyes of the common thug, be assured that you still have self-defense
options. One excellent choice is a brand-new cane-fighting method developed by veteran
martial artist Michael D. Janich.
The beauty of Janich’s latest video, Martial Cane Concepts, is that it demonstrates a self-
defense system that can be quickly learned by anyone, even if he or she has never
practiced any sort of martial art or taken a self-defense class. It’s simple, direct, effective,
and can be used to great advantage by the able-bodied as well.
In the following interview, longtime Paladin author Michael Janich talks about his new
video, his Martial Blade Concepts training program, his latest project as Knives Category
Manager for BLACKHAWK, and his upcoming role as cohost of The Best Defense, a
new series coming to The Outdoor Channel.
Paladin Press: There are many books and videos on the market that cover traditional
stick- or cane-fighting methods, such as Hapkido cane fighting or La Canne. How is
Martial Cane Concepts different?
Michael Janich: When I developed Martial Cane Concepts, my goal was to provide a
simple, easily learned system of cane tactics that could be picked up by anyone in just a
few hours and applied effectively with only minimal practice. While many martial arts
have cane subsystems, they typically require a very high level of skill and some pretty
significant physical attributes to make them work well. I wanted to offer a system that
works well for people who might actually have to use a cane on a daily basis—people
with physical limitations.
PP: This approach seems ideal for people who’ve never had any instruction in the martial
arts. How did you come to realize that there was an audience for this kind of system?
MJ: One of the things I’ve always tried to do with my teaching is to make it logical and
easy to understand. I’ve also worked hard at making it practical and flexible enough that
people of different levels of physical skill could benefit from it. Over the years, this
approach has resonated with many over-40 martial artists who realize that the traditional
martial arts approach to self-defense often doesn’t work well as you get older. They want
something more practical.
At the same time, my approach has appealed to a lot of younger martial artists who still
have great physical attributes but are disillusioned with the dogma and misinformation associated with many traditional arts. They want something that makes sense from the start and has immediate application. Everything we do—including empty-hand, stick,
knife, and gun—fits that mold. Martial Cane Concepts is really just a reflection of our
overall approach to weapon tactics, tuned to the attributes of a cane.
PP: In your long career as a martial artist and instructor, have you ever had to adapt your
training methods to allow a disabled student to learn some self-defense techniques?
MJ: Yes. Many of the students who come to me for Martial Blade Concepts chose the
knife because they had limited physical abilities and needed a weapon that was very
effective and easily carried. They also needed a system of using it that was versatile
enough for them to apply it with their existing levels of strength, speed, and reaction
time. In MBC—and in everything else I teach—I have a saying: “You don’t have to fight
like me; you just have to fight well.” What that means is that—unlike traditional martial
arts, where the goal is to have everyone performing a technique look exactly the same to
preserve the tradition and form of the style—our approach is to achieve reliable
combative function.
By teaching everyone universal principles of timing, leverage, and body alignment, we
maximize each student’s ability to express his or her physical attributes. In the process,
we tune the form or provide alternate techniques for students who have physical
limitations. Those limitations can be anything from being overweight or very muscular
(both of which can restrict one’s range of motion) to having a true physical handicap. I
had one student with severe scoliosis, but through good communication and
understanding of his limitations, we tuned the system to meet his needs. He trains very
actively and is a very capable fighter because he adapts his training to match his abilities.
In the 11 years that I’ve been teaching MBC as a system, I’ve taught hundreds of
students, many of whom were over 50 years old. One of my longest-practicing students is
in his mid-60s. Tuning their training to meet their abilities—as well as the disparity of
force and strength that they would face with a younger attacker—is a regular part of the
way we train. Again, Martial Cane Concepts is a great reflection of that philosophy and
my older students love training with the cane, but it’s not the only aspect of our training
that we adapt to meet a student’s needs. That applies across the board.
PP: What advantages do you see in carrying a cane rather than or in addition to knives,
batons, or other popular carry weapons?
MJ: The cane is an incredibly versatile and effective weapon. At the same time, it is also
the ultimate “PC” tool. Even if you are able-bodied, you have a right to walk with a
cane—as long as it is not so heavily weaponized that it becomes obvious as a purpose-
designed weapon. The American Disabilities Act is also an incredibly powerful tool in
defending your right to carry a cane. If anyone questions your use of it, just referencing
this act will usually shut people up pretty quickly. I’m not suggesting that anyone fake a
disability or take unfair advantage of anything that is specifically designed to protect the
rights of disabled people, but at the same time, carrying a cane—even if in YOUR mind it
is purely a self-defense weapon—is your right. We shouldn’t have to go overboard
explaining that to anyone—especially the idiots who believe that peace and social order
are best achieved by disarming law-abiding citizens.
