Stick Fighting Week Recap

I hope everyone enjoyed the exposure to a different style of fighting this week. Even though this was a sip from the fire hose, I hope you were able to learn some things, big and small. Here are some takeaways:

1. Exploring new things
   Krav Maga is, for most of us, our primary training modality. While I believe it is unique and effective in its comprehensive design and in applying one solution to many scenarios, there exist many more scenarios than we can possibly train for in the universe of fighting. And then there’s the Law of the Instrument. Gaining skills and perspective from outside the system can serve to strengthen your knowledge of and aptitude for Krav Maga. Often times, seeing something new can make the light go on and make sense of something you previously struggled with. Check out this post for more on the subject.
2. There’s more to swinging a stick than just… swinging it.
   1. As “The One with the Stick”
      Figure 8, rompida, banda y banda, abaniko… We took a brief look at a lot of different ways to move a stick through space. Think of using the stick as both a blunt object and an edged weapon and you begin to see many more possibilities than just bashing with it like a caveman.
   2. As the Defender
      Someone can whip a stick around in many more ways than just vertically and horizontally! While our Krav Maga stick defenses cover many possibilities, they don’t cover all possibilities. I believe you always have a fighting chance, but your best defense against a trained stick fighter might just be a good pair of running shoes!
3. Cutting Angles
   In Modern Arnis, virtually nothing happens straight on. Almost every attack and defense must be made on either the live side or the dead side of the opponent. This angular nature and the footwork involved translate very well to our style of fighting in Krav Maga. Try it!
4. Ranges
   In Krav Maga we often talk about the distance continuum and using the correct combative for the range available. In our three classes this week we covered the three ranges of Filipino stick fighting:
   1. Largo mano: Your opponent’s stick cannot reach your head, but your stick can reach his hand.
      What we did: Defanging the Snake.
   2. Medio mano: You are within range of the opponent’s stick. The “check hand” is added to defenses.
      What we did: Block, Check, and Counter; stick disarms.
   3. Corto mano: Close range; puño / trapping range. All the fun locks and throws.
      What we did: Fun locks and throws!
5. Use of Force.
   This stuff is undeniably fun to train, but the practicality of engaging in a stick fight is somewhat scant. As a teenager practicing these techniques, I obviously fantasized about recreating scenes from The Perfect Weapon. Let me now be the killjoy, though: You’d better have just cause for striking someone—period, but let alone with an object—and you’d better be able to articulate it to the authorities in the aftermath. Read the use of force post.

Thanks again to all those who attended the classes this week. I love teaching, and I especially love seeing people excited about learning new skills. I can’t remember the last time we packed so many onto the training floor!