Some people look at somebody carrying a hiking stick or cane and see somebody vulnerable. Better informed people look at the same person and see somebody carrying a 3-foot wooden stick. Using a hiking stick as a weapon is part of many martial arts from all over the world. It's flexible, easy to learn and legal to carry.
Stop-Push
Raise the tip of your walking stick and thrust forward like you're stabbing with a fencing sword. You can do this one-handed or use both hands to deliver extra force. Aim for the midsection to cause pain and damage, or for the hips to bend the attacker over. The face and throat are also good targets, but they are easy to miss under pressure. Use this technique if an attacker is moving toward you, threatening from several feet away or brandishing a weapon such as a knife or a bottle.
Planting the Tree
Use one hand to drive the tip of your hiking stick down onto the arch of the attacker's foot. With your other hand, push hard on the attacker's face or chest. Because he will be unable to move the pinned foot, the attacker will fall down. If you're lucky, the immobilized foot will mean the attacker breaks his ankle in the fall. This technique is most appropriate if the attacker is standing close to you.
Groin Sweep
Bring the tip of your hiking stick up hard and fast into the groin of your attacker. Once the stick is parallel to the ground, thrust it forward so that about 1 foot of stick extends through the attacker's leg and behind him. Grip your end of the stick hard with both hands and walk in a circle around the attacker. This will cause his legs to twist together as the stick pushes them in opposite directions. Because he's already compromised from the strike to the crotch, he should topple at this point. Use this technique on attackers at short to medium range.
Grab Defense
This technique works against attackers who have grabbed you with one or both hands. Grip your stick in one hand and swing it in a circular arc until it rests on top of the attacker's forearms. Grab the opposite end in your other hand and pull down hard on the attacker's arms. Scrape the wood of the stick along the bones of the arm to cause maximum pain. Once the stick hits the attacker's elbows and bends his arms, reverse direction and strike him hard in the face with the middle of the stick. Clear his hands off by twisting the stick as if turning a steering wheel.
Defanging the Snake
Though designed to disarm an attacker carrying a weapon, this works just as well against somebody with empty hands. Hold your walking stick in one hand, its tip near your head and ready to swing. When the attacker swings in with his weapon (or fist), hit him as hard as you can on the hand or forearm. This usually makes the attacker drop his weapon, at which point you have a stick and he has nothing. Note that retreat is almost always the best option when faced with an armed attacker, but this technique can help if retreat isn't possible.
References
- "Goju Shorei Weapons System Curriculum Manual"; Sokei Dave McNeil; 2000
- "AKKA Green Belt Curriculum Manual"; Bill Packer; 1994
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