Sword vs. stick

[guro_abon]

I heard this question for so long and heard a lot of answer i just wanna know yours ? It seems that there are two philosophies when it comes to stick training. One were the stick is actually considered a sword and the other, it is just a stick.

The questions is this. Is there an advantage to one way of training over the other, and what are you think can explain those ideas?

I heard this question for so long and heard a lot of answer i just wanna know yours ? It seems that there are two philosophies when it comes to stick training. One were the stick is actually considered a sword and the other, it is just a stick.

The questions is this. Is there an advantage to one way of training over the other, and what are you think can explain those ideas?

My initial research to non FMA would be that since we are more likely to have a stick in your hand than a sword and it is much easier to pick up a sticks anywhere than the blades, They think, training stick as stick might be more applicable in street than the blades.

However, I would imagine that more precision and awareness is required when simulating blade techniques with a stick, therefore your movement, foot work, and defense would improve more when training stick as sword and training with the concepts of the Blades correct your forms and the effectivity of the Arts as well as the weapons translation is very easy and yet very applicable to blunted if you train with sword and knives than translating stick to bladed which you need a lot of movements and concept that to train and learn.

your ideas?

Gumagalang,


Isagani


* I'am asking you to also post you ideas and reply here in our forum found in our site. Thanks.

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[RapidAssault16]

Some say to view the stick as a sword, because that is how Filipinos came to use them when we were colonized by the Spanish. The Spanish banned the use of swords (such as the kampilan or kris) when they colonized the islands. However, as time progressed, the Filipinos began to use sticks as weapons, in and of themselves. Techniques such as grabbing the opponents sticks became common.

Is one method of viewing the stick better than the other? Well, that's up to one's needs. Viewing the stick as the blade (as is done in styles such as Atienza Kali and Kali Illustrisimo) forces one's movements to be more precise. When one gets hit with the stick, it's not viewed as getting hit with a stick...its the equivalent of getting chopped with a blade. It forces one to truly respect the weapon, and it also teaches one how to not take the weapon for granted. However, some systems choose to view the stick as just that...A STICK. Systems such as the Dog Brothers Martial Arts, Doce Pares Eskrima, and Modern Arnis view the stick as a stick. Techniques such as grabbing the opponents stick, grabbing the end of your own stick to ensure a takedown, and blocking with your non-weapon arm is common in the stick fighting systems. Personally, if I had to choose between the two, I'd choose the stick-as-a-blade method. I find that it makes my movements more precise and makes me faster and improves my timing when it comes to my attacks and counters. However, I do find that training with the stick as a stick also has some advantages. For one thing, it teaches less-lethal responses when it comes to using the stick as a stick...you can lock, takedown, or choke with it for pain compliance. Viewing the stick as a blade is usually simply a smash-and-bash method...viewing the stick as a stick tends to have more options in terms of techniques. I find that LEO's tend to favor using the stick as a stick, just so they have more options when it comes to non-lethally neutralizing an assailant.

However, I would still choose the stick as a blade method over the stick as a stick method. Why? Not only does it make my movements more precise, but it makes the ability to adapt to bladed weapons a lot easier. It's easier to learn from stick to sword and from sword to stick easier than it is to train the sword as a sword and a stick as a stick. I find that when it comes to teaching people the blade through use of the stick, people from stick-based systems tend to develop bad habits such as grabbing to stick and blocking with the forearm...you simply can't do that when someone has a machete in their hand. Hell, even if they aren't facing a machete in the street...they may still be facing a steel pipe in the street. Try blocking a steel pipe attack with your forearm...OUCH!

And for those who say, "You will never get attacked with a machete on the street!!" Well...perhaps you oughta read this...

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=397392

and this...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/08/16/city_gangs_turning_to_machetes_police_say/

Many people would pose the argument that if you are in the street facing a machete wielding group of thugs...you should RUN. I totally agree! I've been doing Kali and Arnis for years but if I were faced with a group of machete-wielding thugs, I would definitly do some "flee-jitsu". However, it pays to be prepared. Not only will viewing the stick as a blade make your movements more precise, but it will make you more mobile, teach you how to respect all weapons, and will help you transfer your skills to bladed weapons much easier, should the need arise.

But again, it's all up to your personal needs.

Hope this helped...

[lionleo]

My two cents
This is the story of one of my grandads cousin who i met before he died....

http://www.geocities.com/mk_leskas/home.html

I attached this for further explaining as to where i stand regarding this topic.This
eskrimadors name is Domingo..or i called him Tatay Domingo.When he showed me his "proven Kali", he used a stick..long and short to simulate a "pinuti" and a dagger..his weapons of choice during his skirmish days in WW2.I asked him the same question posted here..and his answer was it's his first time to hear that sticks simulate blades....according to him, it does not matter if you do your strikes well and with intent. Right there and then, i decided to make it my own philosphy as well.
I started with a largo mano system who says that they will not allow close range systems to reach them. I studied a close range system who has the mindset in it's practitioners (I am not speaking for the system or all practitioners) , the ones i know personally,that if you are used in reacting to close range, long range is not a problem. All of this is valid to me..with what Tatay Domingo told me..."it does not matter as long as you execute your strikes properly"....that's why in "Kali-Kilat"- i emphasize on the following aspects when we train..

1)Purpose-for every movement
2)Control-of the weapons you weild at the moment
3) Power- of strike upon delivery with intent.
4)Speed -of execution of movements/strikes/techniques
5)Accuracy -of strikes, hitting what you mean to hit

I do not take credit with this..but it is a process i got from all the exposure i had with "Kali'. We as a group are not perfect yet, but we strive to be.

With sticks or swords..i would say the same...it is how you use the implement and not what implement you have.
God gave us common sense and i guess this is the best guide we can follow.
Again..MY two Cents.

Leo

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