Stick Fighting Tricks

Stick fighting is one of the most effective self-defense methods to study because sticks are all around you in daily life. While the techniques themselves are simple, the tricky and deceptive movements that are part of stick fighting can take many hours of training to master. Learning the "tricks" and sneaky techniques of stick work will allow you to prevail against other trained fighters.

  1. Defanging the Snake

    • Many fighters whether armed or empty-handed will immediately attack their opponent's head or body. When an opponent attacks you with a weapon or empty hand, his hand has to come close to you before his body or head. Attack the weapon hand and he won't be able to use it. By attacking this less obvious body target as it comes to you, disarming your opponent, you are "defanging" your enemy, as if pulling the teeth of a snake. If you attack the head or body and your opponent blocks, you can easily ride your stick down his weapon to strike the weapon hand and defang the snake.

    Multiple Strikes--Tres Teros and Cinco Teros

    • Never attack with a single strike. Trained escrima (short stick) fighters learn to attack in multiples of threes and fives, or more. Practice combos of three strikes (tres teros) in simple geometric patterns, such as triangles or "T", "Z" and "X" shapes. Flip the letter shapes left to right and upside down to practice additional patterns. As you practice cutting these shapes in the air, imagine that the pattern is no wider than an opponent. You will find that to stay within such a tight frame, you'll need to keep your elbows close to the body and generate power from turning your waist; this is the correct way. Practice the patterns while imagining the shape as tall as your opponent from crown to waist, and from crown to feet. This will train you to attack the legs, which many opponents will not expect.

    The Butt of the Stick

    • Allow about 4 inches of the stick to protrude from the bottom of your fist (or top if in reverse grip). This "fang" gives you leverage and protects your hand. If an opponent blocks one of your swings, you can quickly smash the butt of your stick to his hand, arm, body or head; he may not see that coming. The butt of the stick can also be used when you get tangled up in blocking to hook your opponent's weapon, hand, arm or the crook of the elbow.

    The Snakey Stick

    • Learn to make your techniques "sticky"; that is, when an opponent blocks your attack with his stick, glide down the weapon to "defang the snake" or weave around it to strike with the point of your weapon in a thrust. Learn to weave your weapon around obstacles such as the opponent's stick, arms and hands by keeping the point of your weapon aimed at the opponent. This may seem awkward at first, but if you keep pointed at your opponent as you block and push away his weapon, you are perfectly placed for a swift and sneaky thrusting strike.