Add more padding if necessary. With much use you will start to feel the rattan, because the foam wears down after a while, but overall these are quite safe - unless you are thrusting to the eyes, throat, or groin or applying locks, chokes, or holds. In FMA contact training is really important...problem is, live blade contact training (SHOULD BE OBVIOUS NOT TO DO IT), hard wood contact training, even rattan stick contact training can break bones or cause a concussions - and rattan is chosen as a training tool (because is frays after a while vs. shattering and becoming sharp and/or sending splintered shrapnel) not a weapon to use in combat. Hardwood such as iron wood is for that. So this is a reasonably affordable and relatively SAFE training tool one can make and use with out worries unless you are doing something really stupid - again, thrusting to sensitive areas with this tool is DANGEROUS, also practicing locks chokes and holds is also DANGEROUS and can cause serious injury - train responsibly and with respect!
