"while with a stick, it's useless and does nothing but hurts you."
Stick fighting, and Sword fighting demand different qualities of execution because of their obvious difference in weight, construction, and dimensions.
If you are fighting with an impact weapon, which is always more readily available unless you are bringing one with you to the fight, you have to change the angle, quality, and intended target of your attack/counter to inflict the maximum amount of damage.
A good example is your basic figure 8, with a bladed weapon the angle is the same as in the basic Cinco Tero. However the same movement with an impact weapon should be done at a shallower angle, targeting the bony areas i.e; clavical (forward figure 8), striking with the tip of your weapon. This is just one example.
Most modern styles of Arnis / Eskrima utilize both broken line, and fluid line strikes. Obviously the basic broken line strikes that you learn (usually 12 or 13) are meant to be executed only with an impact weapon to specific areas of the body. Striking only with the tip of your baston, again, to the bony areas of the body i.e; temple, clavical, nose, wrist, knee cap, elbow, sternum, instep, and shin etc.
The impact of a good quality bahi will do much more than just "hurt you". These strikes are meant to cripple the attacker(s) with continuous strikes to the aforementioned vulnerable areas. Rattan is what Filipinos use for practice only, for safety purposes. They are the Philippine's equivalent of padded sticks.
If you are fighting with rattan, it is more than likely not a serious fight. You are being kind to your opponent, or you are merely "playing" with him for fear of killing him and/or inflicting permanent damage. Which is wise in this litigious society.
I hope this improves your opinion of impact weapons. Good luck in your training.
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"Respect is one of the qualities that distinguishes a human being from a brute animal." -Gichin Funakoshi
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