How to Swing a Stick PERFECTLY? - The Art & Science of Weaponry - STAFF Martial Arts 

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While rotation and extension are certainly the means of generating maximum angular velocity, and therefore power in a stroke, it's also important to remember that in a combat, the element of distance is also important. This is a concept perhaps best illustrated by the philosophies developed by Bruce Lee, and is a large part of the reason why he developed those philosophies. A big swing might be four times as fast as a small swing, but if the big swing has five times as far to travel, the small swing will hit first. In combat, speed is often more important a factor that anything else, because if you hit first, not only can your disrupt an opponent's attack, you can often prevent them from attacking, at all. For the same reason, sword fighting in movies bears little resemblance to actual sword fighting, because in movies, the goal is drama, and big swings make for exciting visuals, whilst in an actual fight, the goals are lethality and survival, and those big swings tend to leave one relatively open to attack and unable to defend.

Fantastic! great video and we are happy to be a part of it! Really cool to see some of those principles in motion when Tom is freely moving with the stick himself.

I'm super glad that you're finding people to work with that really lets you lean into the science - I can tell that you're extremely passionate about learning and teaching and I'm _totally here for it_

Thanks for slinging without the obligatory and unnecessary twirls around the head. Also, I learned to sling from a guy who grew up "primitively", hunting with a sling. He showed how to hold the sling in the off hand with the thumb, at length, like aiming a rifle. The tension at the start helps and the initial movement away from the small game makes it think something is moving away from it, not spooking it, until the rock suddenly comes back around.

Thank you for this video, I think the idea of measuring speed is very good. I also train various fighting systems that involve the stick and usually have to make do with English sources. But in this case I can recommend a German book. "Der Stock", (The Stick) by Prof. Dr. Claus Matthek. At first it looks like a children's book because of its layout, but it is actually a scientific study of the stick as an aid (walking stick, mountain stick) and as a weapon. He is a professor of damage science and materials science, so he knows pretty well how best to research breaking something. In the past he got robbed and this is one of the reasons he wrote this book. He searched for a handy weapon and chose the stick. When he found out that it had hardly been scientifically studied, he decided to do it himself with the help of other scientists and martial artists. His book is about momentum, mass, recoil, how to straighten a stick etc. He also looks at what energy from hits goes back into the hitter's hand and how to avoid that. This is also a very important aspect of hitting with a stick. I like your videos, maybe I can give you something back with this recommendation. Unfortunately, I have to say that there is no English version of the book. Probably because it is not allowed to be distributed in the USA.

I hike a lot with a sturdy staff (and a .357 magnum.. but then I live in Texas) and I like these videos on how to use my staff to defend myself in the woods. Very interesting!! And since I'm retired I have time to practice what you preach! Fortunately I spent 40 years in the martial arts and that kind of helps!

Absolutely loved this!! The simplification and explanation of the concepts was beautifully done! Really enjoyed seeing this collaboration as well, Victoria and Ben are a wicked team! :)

Your pioneering subject on stick evolution weapon/ tool is outstanding! Thank you.

Tom I started training in the staff this past spring. Your vids are the best on the web for staff appreciation. Love it man! 😀

I used to practice martial arts a lot! Practicing with my bo staff has always been very relaxing and almost therapeutic. Though ive taken a fairly large break from practicing, your channel has gotten me back into it. I really appreciate your content and i look forward to each new upload:)

Excellent video. I can see how the gallowglass moved now as frontline heavy infantry through hundreds of years of Irish wars. In old books it describes how Galloglass would show off in front of their employers by " flourishing" their 6 foot axes or their 2 handed swords. This methodology was apparently handled done father to son, uncle to nephew in the gallowglass clans, but being mostly illiterate it was never written down by them. I think you guys solve this problem here for me. Many thanks. From Ireland.

Another great video, Tom. As you were talking about your three principles, I visualized what to me was a good symbolic representation of all three: the classic trebuchet: the triangular base for support, the arching swing of the arm, generating enormous power at the end of the throw.

Thank you for another extremely interesting video Fandabi Dozi and all the best for 2023.

This is fantastic. I think the unspoken and virtuous theme is the balance and understanding of what you are trying to accomplish at any given time. Rather than maximizing momentum, you are optimizing your force and application appropriate to different scenarios.

Can you make more videos about dirk?!

That was awesome Tom! You guys generated some outstanding speed. I love multifunctional items. That staff, or any good staff for that matter, can be utilized in so many different ways!!! Keep up the great content brother and I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and hope you have a very fruitful new year!!!

incedible video Tom! You are learning me and my nephew how to swing a stick and we're loving it.

Loved to see you trhee having fun sharing your way of using the stick ! Thank you ! 👏

As someone who also likes walking in the woods, swinging sticks and philosophizing about life: I found this both entertaining and informative. Awesome work, great instruction from both your guests!!!

in all seriousness this has to be the best explained system of movements and the motivations behind them. Hats off to you mate, this is a video to be proud out 👍

Fantastic video. Definitely learned some stuff I want to try in my next sparring session. Two of the reasons for the different speeds in your swings(you were so close to these, but didn't quite touch them) The hand positions each person took were different, changing center of rotation and center of mass. Also, the size of the combatants play a role in the amount of mass and power that can be generated.

Great video, i played around with thai short sticks years ago. This inspires me to pick up a big stick. best wishes for the year ahead.

This is So Comprehensive & Inspiring! thank you I can't wait to get outside & swing a stick with all this knowledge now.

Your approach to sharing knowledge is beautiful.

Ruckus Longhorn here, from Star, NC. I've just now discovered this channel and love it! Thank you!

Please make a series on stick/ staff . Making and training. Happy New Year!

Great video! I have made several staffs over the years and played with different woods, weights, and lengths. Great thing about a staff is as a 65 year old man with a limp, I can go anywhere in public with my staff.

Awesome. Love it. Works exactly on the spirituality that I am doing right now as well. That drawing is awesome. When you said flow, I could just see the triskelion in the drawing with the positions of my hands.

Very informative and interesting video, Fandabi! Thank you so much and Happy New Year to you!

Lovely to see Saito Sensei make an appearance. Enjoyed this, very entertaining and thought provoking.

AWESOME VIDEO!! THANK YOU SIR!! GREAT WORK!!!

I really loved this content, and how professional you guys make it :) Thank you! Have tons of great informations, and very entertaining aswell

Amazing work ! As always !

Excellent! Clean, simple, effective. Thanks.

Awesome video!! Love your content! And! I get to learn stuff👍🏻! Happy New Year’s to you!

A Highlander and a Pirate walk into a garden...

I definitely want to borrow that symbol you have made in assistance in explaining as I believe that illustrates it quite beautifully.

I live for this stuff, amazing content!

Absolutely incredible. Thank you

Exactly what I was thinking about! Great video

Nice, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Blessings to you and yours happy New Year. Coming at you from the hills of Southern Oregon

Some real data & analysis - including the human element. Well done - I'm subscribing.

Love the art you doing thanks

Love the simplicity breakdown.

Man I love Scotland, highlander culture, survival bushcraft, and martial arts and esp staff fighting so just wanna say I love your channel hahaha

I really appreciate your videos.

Brilliant stuff thanks

You're videos are always interesting, and i don't think you are weird

Happy New Year Tom.

Wonderful class. Thank you the Triangle!

This video is so good. There’s so much relevant info condensed into it. It’s like every thing you say makes me go, “Ohhhhh! Riiight! Cool.” You never think of Scots as being these great martial artists. That’s very clearly, not right.

Great Video, ate, happy that I was to some assistance 👍🏼

Excellent explanation and demonstration.

This is a great video. I'm watch from Brazil. I want to learn the art of steak. Thank you for help me. Happy new year!!

Tom are you creating your own survival martial Arts patch? 😉👍 that was a really cool video man. In my past I was a long time martial Arts practitioner of many different styles and this video motivated me to want to start training again. The hard part is finding the time to do it. Im also a leather worker and I hope to build projects for people that will enjoy using them in bushcraft scenarios and in Renaissance/LARP environments. Thanks for the video man. Keep up the awesome videos. I love learning about my celtic heritage.

Love your videos!

BLESSINGS from the Fisher Family on the West Coast of Canada 🔥

I trained in Filipino martial arts which is weapons based and follow a lot of the principles that you described here. Triangular footwork, following through on swings etc.

Best stick related video on YT!

This video was VERY well done, thank you :)

1:45 - I absolutely love what you're wearing. I enjoy the philosophizing.

Wonderful video…really enjoyed it. Love the staff.

Very cool! That would make a cool pendant too!

thanks for every thing you do i have learn alot

I would like to thank RU-vid for recommending this♥️😍let the binge watching begin

When it comes to training with a staff , one must 'stick' with it to master the art ...

Excellent video

Great video. I used to love doing aikido (then taiji and qigong etc). One of my favourite parts of aikido was the stick work - jo and bokken. Great for flow, balance, awareness, connection and awareness - as well as being great fun.

At my age (69), staff or stick self defense fascinates me. Thanks, I'll be back! 👍 Happy New Year! 🎉

Found your Videos, looking through martial Arts bo training, I must say great Find. I am so happy more people are bringing awareness to western Martial Arts!!! As a Martial Artist and teacher I like to incorporate many forms and styles into my training and teaching regiment to give myself and students a wide range of options to choose from. I have a reason for this, which would take to long to explain here.. Again Great Video and keep up the amazing Journey of self Mastery & Discovery!!!

Great video, great channel!

i love to make and use sticks.I am always looking out for new projects in the hedges and woods

Excellent!

Fantastic video buddy.......dam, now I want to swing a stick!!

I studied Philippino stick fighting for some fifteen years. I first started studying tai chi. The body dynamics from tai chi really helped me with the stick and knife arts. Mostly i just "played" with the sticks, but in a tai chi way. If that makes sense? Everything was a combination of circles,momentum and body dynamics. So good to see this video. Seems i was taught well. (R. I. P) Pat Davies. Aberdeen mixed martial arts group. Late1970s. Before all that mma stuff we see today. Thanks. Grant.

Good stuff, enjoyed the video very much.

Perfect, thank you for that video!

Excellent video !

Lovin the heavy Taoist vibes from your MA vids, mate.

Using a "good" stick as a weapon. You are speaking my love language

Awesome video! As a practitioner of Okinawan Kobudo, I love seeing the interpretations from a Western point of view. The Bo (staff) we use tends to be longer (as a rule of thumb, as long as the height of the user or 5cm longer) and the techniques are slightly different. But the base concepts, because biomechanics and physics are universal, are the same. Specifically, the concepts of the soft-tense change, the generation of power from the base (since we practise barefooted, we are taught to grasp the ground with our toes) and the snapping from the hips (the way a towel snaps) are core of Kobudo and Karate.

Outstanding video! I learned a lot and I have always been interested in European martial arts. I also like the that European MA are usually based on a set of principals grounded in science.

LOVE this.

Been looking for a vid like this for a while. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I'm collecting various 'katas' for walking-cane, short-sticks and staff, so I can use them as both cardio and flexibility workouts, plus the self-defense aspect. I'm using wood pieces from a local home-supply chain here in Thailand that are sold as hoe and rake handles. It's VERY hard and dense wood, a bit heavy but that's better than too weak. Short-sticks - I cut to 19" long x 1x1.25" dia. (25" with one end tapered when new). Cane 37" with T-handle (44" new), Staff 6ft. OK, I'm off to check out a few of your other vids. ☮

Congratulations on your channel. It is an honour to meet a real martial artist. At your disposal.

Very interesting video! Well done! I watched it from the point of view of hitting a golf ball!

I like sticks. Only complaint about the videos, is the time in between. Another great presentation glad to see you are still doing the things. Cheers ;)

This is great! Thanks so much- very inspirational;-)

Brilliant. Great inspirational video. Nice mix of history, science, martial arts and use of natural material. 97mph.....that would put you to sleep for a while. 😀

I'm going to disagree with the very last conclusion at 21:55. While you will be able to get more speed at the last moment by relaxing, you are not going to get the most power in a strike that way. When you relax, you are no longer pushing/channeling your bodymass through the stick. What power you gain in speed you will more than lose by not putting your bodymass behind it. I saw this in action on another channel where they were testing this same sort of thing against a dummy, so there was an object against which to measure the actual energy being transferred into the target. Keeping your mass behind the swing makes is much more powerful. That's why the "baseball swing" is so powerful. All your weight is behind it.

At age 62, I'm getting ready to retire and am looking for a hobby. After binge watching your staff videos, I believe that the Way of the Staff will provide the physical, intellectual and dare I say spiritual, qualities that I am looking for. Thanks for posting, and may God bless you.

Agreed, we do love to swing things about. I must say it's something I've not thought a great deal about until I watched this video. I like to swing my 6ft spear about. Hi from Northworthy!

Very interesting and enjoyable 👍

I am a fire spinner and Nomad from the USA. I have been surprising people with a martial staff and martial spear inspired flow, and this video just unlocked new abilities in my skill tree so to speak LOL. Looks like youtube auto unsubscribed me, so you get a resubscribe. I have always loved your philosophical break downs of various old world topics and staff stuff.

This Irish Kendo-ka appreciates your ideas and approach.

Interesting, will use

I like that you play with sticks. Cool. Gonna look into playing, too, I think.

that was really cool I am not into martial arts but this makes me wish I were. And by that metric i think Tom's succeeded in making an interesting and educational video