Cane Self Defense: 3 Dangerous Mistakes With The Cane 

I'm 66 and been spinning a long time too-- high ranking black belts in 5 arts- ranger, all that stuff-- and after that truck accident- it's all just GONE.. no use to me at all.. what little I can remember.. so I'm going back to CANE WORK-- because 1- I like canes 2- they're legal everywhere 3 they're not that complicated to use and 4 I can easily equalize myself with multiple attackers with one.

I am pushing 80 and being retired I see a lot and must say you are the best instructor I have seen and those less skilled seem to charge a small fortune for their subpar material. However this is great for us retired on SS

Classic infantry battle maxim: the Four F’s: Find ‘em. Fix ‘em Fight ‘em and FINISH THEM. Here it works like: The bad guys find you, once the confrontation begins, establish who the combatants are and determine their position in relation to you. Fight them with the final objective in mind, that they be unable to continue and further actions against you. That means significant damage done to them. Concentrate on bones close to the surface of the skin and work to break them. One more thing. If you do manage to break a bone; wiggle it! That causes the jagged edges of the bone to grind against the exposed and attached nerves and will convince the target that any inclination to move is a bad idea! Break a finger? Wiggle it! Break the elbow? Wiggle it! Etc.

I love your violence against violence mindset for self defence 👍 and highlighting mistakes, thank you!

As an Aikidoka I have become interested in the progression from kata to practical application. As you point out thrusts are No 1 choice. I agree that power comes from the body and this is very much the idea of Aikido where certain stances ensure that most of the energy goes into an unbalanced target. However, for training purposes I think it is most important to actually hit the intended target since an accurate , well timed hit is worth more than wild swings which would hurt if they hit. Power comes from developing the stance and body behind it. There is also the energy consideration, even if you are super fit the safest policy is to end it as soon as possible. Another principle from Aikido is that if you strike or cut, the point is kept on line for immediate follow up. Another important principle is not to allow the weapon to wholly dictate your response; just because you are holding a stick, it doesn't mean that you can't kick or strike or move your position to employ technique according to opportunity. In the case of technique if you have to think about it, it ain't going to work, and that's where other training comes in. Then there is the possibility of multiple attackers where movement and striking or thusting targets of opportunity is the key.

reminds me at 16 ,in the 60`s ,fighting was a part of growing up, but you never killed or mained anyone ,and if you lost a fight , you learned !

Hi Matt, sorry i missed class, but glad you discussed those important issues. If i may, i would like to add one more mistake. That mistake is not keeping a secure grip on the weapon. As you certainly know, when adrenaline kicks in, our fine motor skills go down the tubes. So spinning the cane. when an altercation begins, may result in the cane being dropped. Thank you much. Doug.

Your impressive and I am intrigued. 75 ,almost 76 and looking at this seriously

You have taught me more than any of the classes I've watched or went to in my area for the cane. Many of your movements can be easily translated to the sword, knife, spear, or nunchuka. When I carry my blackthorn if I encounter someone, I either turn my strong side away or shift my cane to the left while still holding it with the right hand and gripping it with the left on the ball. So it is almost a sword techique if I have to use it this way. I learned early on from the books I've read on martial arts and have no true training. Since I have low upper body strength, I tend to rotate or swing my body into the strike. I have only had to use the sword type strike once and the single strike deflected their strike then connected with their thigh. Boom, they went down. One thing you forget to mention is when you strike keep the strikes moving even if deflected. The momentum you build will make other strikes harder. The first use I remember seeing on camera with the cane was the old Billy Jack movies. It is one reason I picked up my first cane.

Great video! One thing though, as one who has trained/taught FMA for years, I've never seen anyone in any of the FMA styles I'm aware of promote "spinning" the cane or sword in the manner that you are suggesting. I've actually only seen "cane" practitioners do this. I'd also be interested to know where the "combat spinning" came from. Anyway, I like your new place. Keep up the good work. Cheers!

Your videos provide so much EXCELLENT training material. Thanks for all the time you put in making them and sharing them. Of all you said in this video, I believe your emphasis on FOCUSING on what you want to destroy or take away from your opponent may be the most critical point to drill into the fighter's brain. Having fought in tournaments in the ring in my much younger days while taking Tae Kwon Do and Ishinryu karate, I learned to stay keenly alert to what my opponent was doing while considering where he might leave an opening for me to attack. i never needed to think about how to do a technique as I could do them in my sleep. But I was constantly watching for where I might hit or attack him to remove or limit his ability to respond. What remains in my brain today, at age 70 and someone who carries a walking cane daily, is that when attacking with a technique, NEVER HESTITATE and give every blow 100% of all you have within you. Don't hold back. As you say, no weak strikes! Awesome training videos! Keep up the great work you are doing. It's a pleasure just to watch you execute your drills.

Thank you 🙏

Matt, Excellent presentation. Thank you very much.

Wise analysis. Thank you, master Matt.

I come to these videos as an opportunity to physically train techniques as you model them, but I appreciate you explaining the principles that guide what techniques to use.

I was taught that to get force behind a strike, you multiply the number of joints participating. Fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder/chest, torso rotation, hips, knees, even ankles.

Mushin no Shin, Situational awareness, mind without mind, body mechanics. Simple once known. Thanks for what you do.

Good video . Spinning is a good workout . An old soldier who carried a cane told me thrust with tip . Only swing when you have a man goin down or away from you . He said only use the crook to hook the belt to drag the body into the bushes . Now I am old and carry a cane everywhere . I make my self defence canes out of #4 rebar with a rubber tip .

Keep in mind that when you pull any close quarters weapon that a dedicated opponent can take it away from you and use it on you. When it comes out it is to defensively strike an aggressor, not in attempt to get an assailant to stand down.

As always, great session Matt Sensei!

Honest + excellent advise. Ty

Great lesson! I wish someone stressed these principles when I was learning nunchaku in mid-1980's. I had to learn this much, much later learning Eskrima.

Wow, i love your explanation!

Thanks!

Great video Matt!

Great video I have seen other videos on RU-vid about cane fighting and the instructor doesn't even want you to hit the bad guy in the head or face 😮.. someone's going to do you harm you must use all your strengths all your skills and hit them in the most vulnerable places including the face eyes head throat... This is not play time this is serious self-defense again thank you for the video

thanks for the clarification

Excellent information, thanks

Thanks matt I walk with a cane all the time so this training comes in absolutely fantastic thanks appreciate it

Great video.

Really good motivational stuff Matt

GREAT advice, as usual!!! :-)

thanks

Speaking of the smaller scary guys, GM Jim Harrison. (RIP) Always enjoyed his seminars. I'm soon to be 62 and use a cane when my knees stiffen up. When it's in my hand, it is of course my first line weapon. My others are concealed. I use one of those squeeze grippers to help with weapon retention. I practice with my cane doing a modified Pal Gae form. Then, practice hitting the heavy bag in my home gym. Like my chief instructor says "hit with evil intent". New subscriber because: 1) you brought up distance/timing 2) spinning is for practice only 3) not hitting hard enough If you're fixing to get into a fight and the guy takes a mouthpiece out of his shirt pocket, and puts it where it goes... not a good sign things are going to go well. lol

Thank you again! I went home for Thanksgiving, and I missed a bunch of videos. I'll try to catch up.

Great information

I enjoy your presentations, but I feel you should place more emphasis on holding/striking with the cane using two hands versus one because I feel it would be easier for the assailant to either counter or to grasp my cane if I am holding it with just one hand--mike

Great sensei

Thank you for that’. I’m 66 yrs old with disability. If I have too’ I will follow your lead with impact blows and make the decision what goes first’. The direct central area shot is best in my opinion followed by leg or arm etc every situation can be different as you say stay alert and aware of surroundings

I used to read that one's subconcious slows muscles just before a strike anticipating the goal. The instruction to prevent this automatic slowing was to aim 'through' the target, as if you are hitting behind it so all the drive is still there. Never got a chance to try it.

I like everything you're saying except thinking about where you are going to strike. Practice stiking at every possible target and have someone call out different targets at random, so can can go from any stance or position and make good fast strikes. Then, when you find yourself in a real-life situation, you know, instinctively, what to target and you target the 1st target available. You don't wait for an opening to strike a preferred pre-planned target. You take the 1st target you can strike followed up with the next target you can hit... so on and so forth until the threat is over. Advance... Advance... Advance... Whether it's one or multiple assailants. Strike Fast, Strike Hard and most importantly, Strike the Closest Target, avoiding leathel blows IF possible but always seak to end the threat as fast a possible. Some would say with the least amount of force, except you don't know what the minimum force might be against a very large or hyped up attacker may be so you must use maximum force in the shortest time to end the threat and you keep up striking u til the threat is over. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Of note: I am 67, have no caning experience but use a cane for medical reasons and plan on getting/making a defensive cane and learning how to use one. My fighting skills have come from boxing, wrestling, and Marine Corps training, so having no caning experience, take what I have said with a grain of salt. Great Video 👍 Thanks

good video

Do you or did you lift weights. You have a good build. I am pushing 80 and still pretty mobile. I no longer lift weights due to old injuries but I still work out doing body weight. Rings, isometrics, isochain and etc. I love your stuff along with your great personality

Thanks ..YES weak strikes not only will not be effective.. it might actually piss your perpetrator off and suddenly his adrenaline starts flowing and he comes at you full steam.. you might have wasted your opportunity to give a deciding blow or blows... Full power strikes every time.. to his vulnerable areas.. thanks for the great video

Matt thank you, you are a great teacher with simple and effective explanations. Just something I noticed while you are talking, your short breath, I know it is not my business but this suggests maybe lack of enough oxygen which I recommend to have it check in your best interest. I subscribed today and I am thinking of getting a sand bag for exercise and training.

If you don't have any engineering background, you definitely have an engineering talent, judging by how good you recognize and manipulate systems.

WOULD YOU REVIEW : A crawford survival cane

Nice às always. Xc

Matt, the three most dangerous assumptions a young tough dude could make is trying to cause you harm because you are # 1 a middle age guy, # 2 wearing glasses, and # 3 using a cane.

Matt, is that cane you first showed us round or square-like? Perhaps my perception was a bit muddled, but I sas just curious because I am in the process of selecting a cane for self defense. Probably purchase a couple different kinds. Same as the bo. I'm searching for a hickory made long staff.

I have an Irish blackthorn that has a knob on the end. I use it for walking. Can it be used for self-defense? How?

Use follow though swifting you weight

Hi Matt hector from uk

Find the immediate target that is available to you

🙏

When all else fails, carry a gun whenever you can. Train, train, then train some more!

Where do we see sparring with canes?

I don't understand why everyone advises to spin that way. That isn't how you would hold or swing a side handle baton. One figure 8 is great, but 2 is not.

Try to not leave deep gauges in an assalant the sharpened handle causes evedential wounds that are not good if a hostile lawyer examins the design and blames you . A strike from a blunt end is more exceptable in a court room and gives a hostile lawyer less to blame you they will try to turn this on you as a stick weilding preditory psico. Dont give them anything you dont need to leagaly. Keep your stick absolutly like a perfectly normal stick no club ends no sharp edges or points as the case could swing right round on you for compensation. As premeditated violence is not a charge to be caught on leagaly.

Spun dodge thrust pary BOING - Daffy Duck -

Most rough men will take a slap from a cane just to close distance, body slam and monkey stomp the caneman.

Too bad the 4-10 canes were a bad concept.

Hello do not moove sticks presence of am self defence being do not u r on going flying flights swimming ships running trains becarefull

Don't practice the Bruce Lee movie showmen moves

Spinning any piece of wood is conditioning and co ordination. The spinning readies the body to use the real weapon in Asian Martial Arts and is the BLADE. Sticks are NOT for combat. ALL wooden sticks Bo, Filipino Fighting Sticks, Jo all are used to ready the user for the BLADE! The real reason you use wood is to prepare for the BLADE and train with a partner. ALL wooden Instruments like Bo and Jo for the Spear, Shinai & Filipino/Indoneasian Fighting Sticks for the Sword...etc.ready the user for a Bladed Weapon. The Cane is no more a Force Multiplier than plastic Toy Gun? You use the cane as a divider so you do not have to deal with one or two opponents at the same time. The idea is to know that the cane is not a real weapon or a FORCE MULTIPLIER, but a defensive device. I carry a couple of knives and use the cane to create space & parry and use the knife centered on my body (sternum) and always have the blade there aimed at my attacker in case they grab me or in case they enter the kill box. I use the cane to strike long distance to discourage the attack and discourage the attack by hitting long and the blade to kill at close range. Espada Y'Dagga is what I use. Bone and Muscle do not stop a Blade of steel. The second blade is for back up incase I lose the primary weapon which is really my knife? Great video. I use the cane in my strategy to harass the legs. Then I finish it by cutting the legs out with a mobility kill. If I am not so nice and feel they want to kill me then I cut the arteries like behind the ankle or inner thigh by rolling in under them and cutting them out and then I roll back out. I trained in Silat and KunTao along with Danzan Jujitsu, Esapda Y'Daga, Ninpo Taijutsu which is really for whole body evasion and many of what they do is in KunTao. I found that at some point all Martaial Arts is strategy and that they have a context in which each straegy works. I also did praying Mantis with my Uncle Bredan Lai who was a several time Balc Belt Hall of Famer. He was friends with Mr Lee Bruce and Ted Wong, Richard Bustillio,and Dan Inosanto. I trained also under the Willem De Thouars in Old Hand Kuntao and Silat. Sucks to use a cane and it as in everything else requires skill sets. The older you get the more you must transition to a force multiplier. Great Video of common sense. That is where it begins.