Cane for self defense? Please explain......

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So now I have a question about technique with one hand. I have baton training so a shorter stick makes sense. But with a cane, one hand seems like it would take a pretty large wind-up to go for a swinging strike. What's the feasibility of going for a thrust with one hand?
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I don't know. With a long stick, I'd just stick with my old army pupil stick techniques. I would only consider one hand use with something about the length of my forearm or shorter. Like a short billy club. To my thinking, the whole point of the long stick is the power you can put into a lunge, or the leverage for blocking and thrusting.

Carl.
 
Like Carl I stick with the Pugil/ bayonet technique but my instuctor has taught some one handed stuff like owen metioned. Like snaps to the groin. Pokes to the gut, throat, face. Nothing about a wind up baseball swing. A good series of lunges, followed with a butt stroke up, and then back down should convince Mr BG he failed in the victem selection process.
 
glistam asked:

So now I have a question about technique with one hand. I have baton training so a shorter stick makes sense. But with a cane, one hand seems like it would take a pretty large wind-up to go for a swinging strike. What's the feasibility of going for a thrust with one hand?
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You can use a heavy walking cane effectively with one hand. The trick is to use what we call the one third grip. In other words, choke up on it about a third of the way or as far as you can without the butt end hitting your upper arm when your stick redounds. (This is why I like a minimum sized ball handle.) The extra length of handle will act as a counter weight sort of like the pommel on a heavy broadsword and allow you to handle your cane like the shorter sticks favored by many Pilipino martial arts. For defensive purposes, when you hold your stick at the ready with your hand solar plexus high, it does not need to extend above the height of your head.

Why?

Because you don’t need to block anything above head height. The one third grip will put the tip of a walking cane right about there.

Another big consideration is that the typical home or office ceiling is only eight feet high. (Ever thought about that?) Unless you are in an open area like an empty parking lot there are often other people and objects in the vicinity and you may not have a lot of room to swing a three foot cane.

This is why the one third grip should be your default grip. Also, the extra length on the handle end can be grasped by your other hand for a powerful two handed baseball swing if the situation permits.
 
Owen Sparks wrote:

For defensive purposes, when you hold your stick at the ready with your hand solar plexus high, it does not need to extend above the height of your head.

Why?

Because you don’t need to block anything above head height. The one third grip will put the tip of a walking cane right about there.
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Even if you choose to hold it lower, choking up 1/4 to 1/3rd on your cane will allow you to Payong/Umbrella block or wing block. There isn't anything quicker in terms of blocking an overhead blow, then deliver your own strike.
 
I was refering to circular strikes coming from either side.

It is important when using a roof block that you move at a 45 degree angle off to the side cramming the opponants blow.
 
Another big consideration is that the typical home or office ceiling is only eight feet high. (Ever thought about that?)
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Yes. And I can fight with a 74" staff someplace with the ceiling you describe. Anything less is easy! :D
 
Owen Sparks wrote:

I was refering to circular strikes coming from either side.
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O.K. with you now, sounded as if you were addressing overhead strikes as well.

It is important when using a roof block that you move at a 45 degree angle off to the side cramming the opponants blow.
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It's "desirable" for obvious reasons, but not necessary...or even possible in some cases. If you get caught a little behind the curve (reaction wise)...you may not have time for the footwork...though ideally it would simultaneous with the block itself.

Another scenario would be compromised positions, such as down on one knee (invites an overhead strike).

But yes, anytime you can move offline of the strike...its probably a good thing. Moving "away" buys you a bit of time and perhaps a better angle with which to counter, moving "toward" intercepts the blow and robs it of full power.

You mention ceiling height as a possible problem (typical 8' ceiling). I haven't had any problems maneuvering my cane under the ceiling itself (and I'm 6'-5" tall), BUT fixtures (I.E. ceiling fans, hanging lights, etc) will definitely get in your way, so your advice to be "aware" of such things is good..and something a lot of folks would not think about.
 
What Uncle Sam teachs translates to the cane quite well. Mindset and being willing to hurt some one to protect yourself or others is never to be underrated.

As Gen Forrest said Keep the Skeered On!
 
Sam1911 said:
Yeah, if you go out in public with a spiked club like some LOTR cave troll swinging it at people, you'll be "hassled."
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I can't stop laughing at that. Too much.

Great information in this thread. I've never really thought about a cane as a defensive weapon, just as something to hold up an old or injured person. So obvious now that in itself is one of it's attractive attributes.
 
Great information in this thread. I've never really thought about a cane as a defensive weapon, just as something to hold up an old or injured person. So obvious now that in itself is one of it's attractive attributes.
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BINGO!

A cane is not the BEST weapon that you can have, but it is the best weapon that you can always have with you. It is not always even the stick that you can have as canes are a little too long for indoor use but then again, you probably can't legally get away with carrying an escrima stick, billy club or collapsible baton everywhere. The next best thing is to adapt the cane to close quarter work.
 
AOK, put Glenn Doyle's Irish Stick Fighting school on your list of training.

Here's a good start to help you understand the potential.
There are two other videos in that series.
Just check the right column.

Notice that he uses knob sticks, not canes.

Always carry a stick to a knife fight.
 
Nematocyst said:
AOK, put Glenn Doyle's Irish Stick Fighting school on your list of training.

Here's a good start to help you understand the potential.
There are two other videos in that series.
Just check the right column.

Notice that he uses knob sticks, not canes.

Always carry a stick to a knife fight.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the recommendation.

Funny this thread got bumped back up. I just sent in a deposit for my first class which focuses on using a cane and kubaton for self defense. Before this thread several months ago it would have never crossed my mind to take a class like this but now I can't wait!
 
I'm with Carl and Bikedoc The US Army taught me how to use sticks like I would a Rifle with a Blade on the end. Later I studyed the Jo and staff in MA. As it been stated you can carry them anywhere thanks to Federal Law and they don't raise many eyebrows either.
 
AOK said:
Just out of curiosity why do people recommend canes so much on this site as a self defense tool outside of he fact it can get past security (or other legal reasons)? If somebody comes at me with a cane they won't keep their distance with it, I would close the gap my first opportunity, wrap up one or two of your arms, or redirect the cane (depending on how they are trying to use it) then beat the living snot out of them. If someone is willing to spend money to go get training on using something like that as a weapon they may as well use the money toward some defensive firearm or edged weapon classes if they can legally carry a gun or knife.

I'm not trying to insult anybody's recommendations, just trying to get an understanding of what the thinking is since I have had zero training on how to effectively use a cane as a defensive weapon. The only bat/cane training I have had is through KM and defending against it. IMHO it is MUCH easier to defend against that compared to a gun or knife.
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What if the other person was stronger, faster and more skilled than you? How would you do all that after they klinked your skull or drove the butt end of their walking stick into your gut?
 
The point of using a cane is to be able to fight at a distance by circling and side stepping in order to keep the bad guy out on the end of your weapon where he has to play your game with no ability to counter. Think of yourself as a bull fighter rather than as the bull. You really don't even have to maintain this distance very long. Just a few seconds should be all the time you need to deliver several fight ending blows, provided your cane carries enough mass of course.
 
a cane in the hands of someone who knows how to use one is a very formitable weapon for self defense
the hook can be used for leg sweeps by hooking the feet of an atacker
or using to put an attacker in an arm bar with the hook around the neck to subdue the attacker by choking him out or putting him on the ground.
the but end can be used to thrust blows to the sternum.

swinging a cane like a bat is a very easy way for an attacker to disarm you

it has its advantages and disadvantages if you don't know how to properly use it as a defense mechanism.
fortunately for me I have had proper training as well as a Shodan degree in Shotokan and think I could stand my ground pretty good even with my disability using a cane to defend my self against a would be assailant but I hope I never have to find out but if I do I will be prepared and do carry a PT 92 for backup in case I start loosing ground or get put on it or if my attacker is more skilled in the martial Arts and trust me if i pull it on someone I am prepared to squeeze the trigger up to as many as 16 times if necessary and yes I keep a round chambered and 2 extra magazines at all times just in case.

I never assume the gun is loaded I know without a doubt it is,
and I never point it at anything I dont intend to kill;)

great thing about canes is they don' require a CCL and you can take it anywhere.
 
Back around the turn of the century, when every gentleman carried a cane, there was an extensive "method" for employing them for self-defense. Most of the moves (you can still get reprinted books) are derived from saber fencing, which of course most gentlemen of the period were schooled in as well.

The Koreans developed a fairly extensive cane technique in the Hapkido system, You can see some of this in action in The Big Brawl; a Jacki Chan vehicle.

As well, most all the techniques from Filipino arnis/escrima would translate very well to the cane.

Finally... At the upper levels of instruction, even Judo includes some stick (hanbo) techniques which were apparently developed for police use.
 
If somebody comes at me with a cane they won't keep their distance with it, I would close the gap my first opportunity, wrap up one or two of your arms, or redirect the cane (depending on how they are trying to use it) then beat the living snot out of them.
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Have you ever actually sparred with someone trained in using a cane or short staff? I find that many people underestimate them. I could come up with counters to your proposed attack, but "internet sparring" is kind of pointless. I'll just say that a cane is not just a long, skinny club. With a some training it becomes a very effective striking, thrusting, parrying weapon, which can also be used as an adjunct to joint locks and throws. It will probably come down in the end to relative skill, but IMO having the cane is a force multiplier against a bare hands attack.

You can find modern day training in the cane in Hapkido and the similar short staff (jō) in Japanese MA like Aikido or some styles of Karate.
 
There was a book out in the 60's or 70's by Michael Echinnis on Cane fighting. I believe it was based on Boon Sang Do a Korean cane art. It was short and to the point and made a believer of me. He also had short books on stick fighting. Hmmm I wonder where all my books have gone? Take care.
ll
 
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