On one of my self defense videos I go this query from Stephen who is in his seventies, has cataracts, heart stints and is a veteran.
This is an interesting video. When I go to the VA Hospital, there are no weapons allowed and when I am in the parking deck and on sidewalks I always feel vulnerable in these transitional spaces. I carry a walking stick. I have watched videos on "Cane Fu" as they call it for fighting with a walking stick. Would you consider making a video for us older folks who have to use a cane, can no longer run leaving us as our only option to make our stand where we are attacked. I understand the whipping type strike from what I saw in the cane fighting videos. The cane is lightweight and the whipping type strike is preferred. Would you prefer a crooked cane for self-defense? I have a Blackthorn walking stick, a 4-foot long Zebrawood hiking stick, a straight 36" long heavy walking stick, an aluminum crooked drug store cane, among others.
I told him that GB was more up on cane and stick techniques than I and I'd forward the question to him. This is the video that got the question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8EgQxtRNQM&lc=z220zdnpzmr2ib0xs04t1aokg40cj12fkkmpzpuwj3g4rk0h00410
Here is a very good Victorian manual covering Boxing, Cane and Staff fighting and available, the book is "Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies": A Nineteenth-Century Treatise on Boxing, Kicking, Grappling and Fencing with the Cane and Quarterstaff. Read the reviews at Amazon, recommended.
A cane with a crook and a horn are good for self defense and the horn used to strike with. Unfortunately many have used a cane or crutch's after injury, but are a handy defensive tool that was used by men in Victorian England and around the world, for defense against criminals.
Greg,
I hope some of the information I posted was helpful.
Q:” Would you prefer a crooked cane for self-defense? I have a Blackthorn walking stick, a 4-foot long Zebrawood hiking stick,”?
A: I prefer a cane with a crook. It gives me a few other options other than just self-defense and it also looks less like a self-defense tool. I have traveled with a cane, on and off several planes. I have, and often walk with, a Cold Steel version of the Blackthorn walking stick. I love it and have had several people make positive comments about.
In line with self defense techniques in general, the simpler the technique the better. Especially if a person is less than very athletic. Never over extend and be careful of whipping techniques that could cause you to lose control of you stick or cane. Loosing control could cause you to lose your stick and or allow your attacker to gain control of it. Experiment and look for techniques that are simple for you. Then practice, practice, practice.
I learned Saber Fencing as a teen, also foil and epee and liked Saber the best. Fenced in College to; cane fighting for Europeans came from Fencing Schools and there are books teaching. One great booklet that teaches fencing is "Know the Game Fencing" by The Amateur Fencing Association. Once you learn fencing then learning the walking stick becomes much easier. There are books on using the cane, easier if you can fence.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Know+the+Game+Fencing.+Amateur+Fencing+Association&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3AKnow+the+Game+Fencing.+Amateur+Fencing+Association PS: I like this book better.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0713683759/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1534797934&sr=1-1
I love the cane and walking stick, I have quite a collection of both.
Canes and walking sticks can be very effective. But like any other real self defense method a lot depends on the awareness, balance, speed, and fitness of the user. A good place to start looking at viable self defense cane and stick techniques would be the video by Michael Janich “Martial Cane Concepts” if it’s still available. One of the dangers of using a walking stick or cane as a self defense tool is that if you are not capable of retaining it then it could be used against you. Are self defense sprays an option for you?
Here’s a few clips related to using the cane for self-defense:
https://youtu.be/ChYu9wZiRqo
https://youtu.be/ff-QhTWBKIk
https://youtu.be/Ddc5uslB2aE
https://youtu.be/QANUR3yLZcc
https://youtu.be/NHWR9xZiQAM
I’ll try to collect and post some more info on using the cane that might be helpful but I have to leave and will probably be mostly unavailable for the next 3 days. I’m going on “secret mission”!!? Not really but I will be very involved in some very important “stuff”.
And yes I’d like to see Greg discuss and post some more stick self defense videos also.