Sparring with the stick

Sparring with the stick.

Fighting with the stick is something incredibly fun and develops attributes that are useful not only in stick combat.

When used correctly, the stick improves your general combat skills, and I repeat not only in the fight with the stick.

Kali is propaedeutic, whatever martial art or combat sport you practice you practice you should also do Kali.

Perhaps the most effective form of stick combat was developed in the Philippines although in every culture and country there are forms of fighting using the stick.

But what has gone deeper surely is the Filipino martial arts system known as FMA,Eskrima, Escrima, Kali or Arnis.

In the 1500s, Spanish conquerors armed with knives and swords attacked indigenous Filipinos who fought using “thin” wooden sticks.

Stick combat is ideal for self-defense situations when an attacker wields a weapon because it can increase your chances of survival if you fight “behind” a stick.

The position of your hand

Hold the stick by letting out the stick of about three fingers (with the longest part upwards). This creates a weapon with a “double attack” in the stick.

The main part is the longest side that hits hard from distance and the secondary end point is under the fist which can be used in the narrow distance when you are very close in the close combat distance and the long part of the stick does not have enough energy to develop a destructive impact.

Do not hold the stick too tight not to waste energy and make the movements too rigid.

When you’re out of the contact distance, point the stick at your opponent’s face, which distorts the perception of the depth of the stick but be careful to hold it upright when you’re closer to be ready to parry and counterattack.

Continuous movement (Figure X and Figure 8)

It always swings the stick to “draw” an ‘X’ or the shape of eight in the movement, emphasizing horizontal and vertical downward blows that aim at the level of the collarbone.

Your swinging hand must be at the front of your combat position with your back hand on guard near your face.

Attention!!! Don’t keep your hand alive around where it’s useless.

Important if the stick is in the right hand the advanced leg must be the right and vice versa, this to have the maximum stretch in your shots.

The same form of 8 movement can be reversed with a considerable emphasis on the recovery movement of the trajectory change at the trunk level.

Swing the stick even with the movements of your body that start from the feet, knees, hips and continues through the shoulders and arms.

Keep your wrists stiff.

Vary your swing from figure-eight to horizontal movements, back and down movements faces at knee level, mid level and head level.

It changes the pace and speed.

When you struggle with sticks you have to always keep the stick moving.

Study the angles of attack and its variations!!!

DON’T EVER STAND STILL!!!!

Continuous movement is important for the following reasons:

• Prevents static from your position during combat by improving your footwork.
• Increase the overall speed of your shots.
• Minimize your movements and eliminate telegraphing your intentions, especially before hitting with the stick.
• Improve your reaction time in the defense phase.
• It minimizes the exposure of the hand when fighting.
• It significantly improves the offensive flow of attack.
• Improve your ability to “hide” your real distance with the stick when it is within range of shooting for your aggressor (misunderstand the distance).

Where to hit

In sparring with the stick but in general in the fight with the stick use your continuous attacks, always stay active to try to hit your opponent in specific areas of his body, such as the side of the head, the side of the neck, the collarbone, the upper outer side of the arm, the elbow, thigh, knee, etc.

If it comes to self-defense try to hit the primary targets: eyes, throat, genitals.

One of the most important targets of these areas of the body to attack is the armed hand of the attacker, when possible, use the stick to hit his hand, forcing him to lose the weapon.

Considerations

Fighting with a stick and sparring with the stick even if it strengthens your offensive and defensive skills, it also presents its dangers.

If you lose the stick can be used against you.

You have to minimize the chance of losing the stick by avoiding wide swings that compromise your defense and leave you open to counter the blows.

A hard blow to your body or head can make you drop your stick.

The constant movement of the stick decreases the likelihood that your attacker can hit your stick-armed hand with a direct hit.

Categories Sparring with the stick

• Single Stick vs Single Stick
• Single Stick vs Double Stick
• Double Stick vs Double Stick
• Long Stick vs Single Stick or Double Stick
• Rules in the Nguni style

Overall score in the Sparring Stick (depends on the regulations but this you need to train with friends and give a value on the shots):

• Interception – 5 points
• Destruction – 4 points
• Attack in combination – 3 points
• Feint Effective – 2 points
• Direct Single Attack – 1 point
• Double Shot (together) – 0 points

Positions in the Sparring with the stick:

In general there are nine combat positions with the stick where you and your opponent can find yourself.

• You and your attacker are standing.
• You’re standing and your attacker is on your knees.
• Your attacker is on your feet and you’re on your knees.
• Both you and your attacker are on your knees.
• You’re on your knees and your attacker is lying down.
• Your attacker is on his knees and you’re lying down.
• You and your attacker are lying down.
• You’re standing and your attacker is lying down.
• Your attacker is standing and you’re lying down.

The advantages of doing Sparring with the stick:

• Improve your overall confidence.
• Improve your mental and physical speed.
• Improve your body’s sense of position.
• It improves your sense of position in the space where you move.
• Increase the power of your shots and arm.
• Minimizes general telegraph movements in your body movement mechanics.
• Improves hand-eye coordination.
• Improve your ability to adapt to weapons attacks from unpredictable angles.
• Refine and improve your ability to move in combat.
• Develop and refine your sense of time.
• It teaches you distance and distance management.
• It reinforces your sense of target recognition.

Good Sparring of Stick Fighting!!!.

Stay Tuned!

Street Fight Mentality & Fight Sport

Andrea