Customer Reviews

Basic Stick Fighting for Combat (Specialties Series)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Basic Stick Fighting for Combat

This is an interesting little book (192 pages) about stick fighting. It was originally written as a training manual for special forces. And, it was an early book on stick fighting. To the best of my knowledge this book was published before Arnis (and other PMA) became popular. The late Michael D. Enhanis was highly trained in the Korean art of Hwa Rang Do and this book represents stick fighting techniques derived from that training.

The book covers fighting techniques with four varieties of sticks, basically sticks of various lengths (though there is some overlap in the lengths). First, the Baton with a length range from 18 to 36 inches (the pictures seem to indicate the author uses a baton in the 28-31 inch range). Some techniques would be more difficult with the shorter baton. Second, the Short Stick with a length range from 12 to 30 inches (the pictures seem to indicate the author uses a short stick in the 18-20 inch range). The majority of the techniques presented use double short sticks, though some single short stick techniques are demonstrated. Third, the Bone Breaker is an 11 inch oak stick of 1 inch diameter. This stick was the most interesting to me and the techniques are up close and personal. Fourth, the Cane. The author presents some uses of the cane I had not seen before.

The author presents blocks, strikes, and advanced techniques with each length of weapon. The reader will not find much of the "entangling" techniques of stick fighting present in many of the stick fighting books, though the author does utilize some basic trapping. The techniques all contain some degree of lethality - it was, after all, a special forces training manual. I did feel that some of the techniques bordered on the eccentric. Not all of them seem to me to utilize the best economy of motion. I have no doubt that the author could make these techniques work. I just think I would choose different combinations in some of the sequences for a different rhythm and flow. And, the author writes that each person should do just that.

So, the variety of weapons presented is a plus in this book, even if that reduces the total quantity of techniques for any one weapon discussed. The reader will gain a good basic understanding of how these weapons can be used. And the author states that his goal is to provide a basis from which the stick fighter can further research and develop his skills.

A side note, the author does discuss in brief the religious and internal aspects of Hwa Rang Do. As well, the "code" of the Hwa Rang Do warriors is provided. The book gives some brief history of the art and Korea as a whole (I think about 10 pages). It is interesting reading for those who don't already know the information.

If you're already into sticking fighting, especially the PMA, this book probably won't hold much for you, except to show you how the Korean approach may differ from the approach you currently use. Particularly interesting was the reverse grip use of the Short Stick. It reminded me a little of the reverse grip use of the Japanese Sai.

Anyway, if you're interested in stick fighting, this book will give you some information that you probably won't find in the PMA schools. Give it a read and decide for yourself. Personally, I'll gain from practicing these techniques, particularly the Bone Breaker techniques. I hope you enjoy this book and learn from it what you can.

It's 1:00 in the morning and you're walking back to a pay phone after your car broke down in the city. Before you get to the phone, a couple of young punks come out of the shadows and want your wallet. Do you have what it takes to survive? When it comes to dealing with real world life and death situations, no one can compare to the late Michael Echanis. This book, part of a series he intended to release, deals with using conventional short and long sticks. Mr. Echanis covers both offensive and defensive tactics. This book gives a brief history of the particular Korean martial art that Michael perfected, and a dedication to his instructor. The rest of the book is profusely illustrated with actual photographs showing the tactics and moves. Michael Echanis was a serious instructer who would often put students in the hospital if they didn't practice what he taught. This same philosophy carries over into his books. Mr. Echanis's philosophy is that when it comes to self defense, nothing works as good as a great offense. No trying to intimidate or bluff your way out of trouble; rather "go for the throat" to cripple or kill your opponent before he does it to you. Not for the faint hearted.

This book was one of the first of the post-Vietnam era "military martial arts" books. It is the third (and last) in a proposed series of nine books presenting Echanis' Special Forces applications of Hwarangdo. The author died while the book was in production, and it shows. The text is not nearly so detailed as in his first two books, and two sections were photographed using other people (one with his instructor, one with one of his training partners). Still, this book sports some excellent combat applications using various lengths of sticks. As in most Ohara books, the photos are of good quality. While many books have dealt with the topic of stick fighting in greater depth since this one was published, this book is a fine addition to the library of anyone who is interested in martial arts for combat.

Echanis isn't kidding when he calls it basic. He opens with a brief history and overview of stick fighting, then divides the rest of the book into four sections by weapon, one each for the baton, short stick, snapping short stick, and cane. He gives one to two pages of text about each weapon, and the rest of each chapter is just photos of stances, drills, and moves, presented without any comment.

If you're looking for a very simple outline-like primer, this is your book, but if you want a detailed resource, move on.

Echanis is a Legend in the Martial Arts world and many other Martial Artist are very, very, jealous of him even though he has been dead since 1978. While doing CIA Black Bag Ops he was killed in a airplane over Nigaragua by a planted Terrorist bomb on the plane.

The reason so many are jealous of Bruce Lee is because of his "Hollywood" connections and the reason so many were and still are jealous of Echanis is because of his "real", "Military" connections.

I have read all of his books including the infamous "Black Book" Knife Fighting and Knife Throwing for Combat which I use to read over and over again before my Martial Arts classes. O'Hara Publications took that book off the market because it was too detail and graphic. Political Correctness kills another great book, it is the best out of all Echanis books.

Echanis was a great Martial Artist and Basic Stick Fighting for Combat is a Great book!

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Michael D. Echanis', "Basic Stick Fighting for Combat." This book is directly influenced by the Korean martial art of Hwarang Do and its current Grandmaster Joo Bang Lee, who Echanis had studied under before his untimely demise in Nicaragua.

This book along with its two companion volumes, "Knife Self-Defense for Combat" and "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat," were not initially released to the general public, but instead were only available to certified and recognized self-defense instructors. These books were originally intended to be military training manuals for the various elite units in the United States military. These were units such as the Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, etc.

This volume, like the other two in this series, starts out with a brief section on the history of Hwarang Do and its relationship to hand-to-hand combat. This is followed by another brief section that looks at the theory and internal dynamics which make up this very impressive art.

Introduction:

Principles of Stick Fighting:

a. Proper Grip

Your grip should be relaxed yet firm, it should not be really tight like a vise.

b. 3 types of strikes

1. Thrusting
2. Snapping/Shocking
3. Whipping

c. Visualization and Breathing

This section, although rather brief for my liking, shows you how to use visualization and breath control in order to enhance your skill with the stick. This is effective not only for the stick, but any weapon that you may employ against an attacker.

d. Focus of Attack

The focus of your attack will generally be confined to one of five general target areas. They are the top of the head, side of the neck, the wrist, the body, and the leg below and including the knee.

e. Vital Points

Although this particular section is rather vague, the author does illustrate a drawing of a man with the vital points clearly marked on it.

Baton:

a. Principles

The author gives you the basic principles that you need to adhere to in order to learn how to use a stick properly and safely during practice and during an actual self-defense encounter.

b. Basic Blocks and Strikes

Through the detailed use of photographs and brief yet detailed text, the author takes you through the basic strikes and blocks used when utilizing a baton.

c. Combat Applications

Through the detailed use of photographs and a somewhat brief yet detailed section of text, the author and his assistants take you through several different examples of how to use a baton during an armed and also unarmed self-defense encounter.

Short Stick or Double Short Stick:

a. Principles

The author gives you the basic principles that you need to adhere to in order to learn how to use the double short sticks properly and safely during practice and during an actual self-defense encounter.

b. Combat Applications of the Short Stick and Double Short Stick

Through the detailed use of photographs and a somewhat brief yet detailed section of text, the author and his assistants take you through several different examples of how to use the double short stick during an armed and also unarmed self-defense encounter.

Snapping Short Stick:

a. Principles

The author gives you the basic principles that you need to adhere to in order to learn how to use the snapping short stick properly and safely during practice, and during an actual self-defense encounter.

b. Grasping

In this section, the author teaches you how to properly grasp the stick.

c. Blocking

Through the detailed use of photographs and a somewhat brief yet detailed section of text, the author and his assistants take you through several different examples of how to block correctly using the snapping short stick.

d. Striking

Through the detailed use of photographs and a somewhat brief yet detailed section of text, the author and his assistants take you through several different examples of how to strike correctly using the snapping short stick.

e. Combat Applications

Through the detailed use of photographs and a somewhat brief yet detailed section of text, the author and his assistants take you through several different examples of how to use the snapping short stick during an armed and also unarmed self-defense encounter.

Cane:

a. Principles

The author gives you the basic principles that you need to adhere to in order to learn how to use the cane properly and safely during practice, and during an actual self-defense encounter.

b. Combat Applications

Through the detailed use of photographs and a somewhat brief yet detailed section of text, the author and the supreme grandmaster of Hwarang Do, Joo Bang Lee, takes you through several different examples of how to use the cane during an armed and also unarmed self-defense encounter.

This book, like the other two in the series, does an exceptional job of explaining the techniques described within through detailed written descriptions and the use of clear and concise photographs and illustrations. The only thing that I would like to have seen a lot more of in this particular manner would have been some close-up shots during various phases of certain techniques.

Rex Applegate was right when he said the Echanis method was too complicated to be applied, made even worse if one is wearing gear and carrying ammo and weapons. The more basic approach will prevail in H2H.

The late Michael Echanis accomplished a lot in his short lifetime. He was a professional warrior who managed to write several informative texts on various combat methods. This book deals with how to employ the most common of weapons, the stick. This is not a recreational read but rather a book that must be studied to get the most benefit. Chapter one deals with how to best use the standard baton (18 to 36 inch models). Basic blocks and numerous strikes are shown in this section. Chapter two covers sticks between 12 and 16 inches. The use of the snapping short stick is explained in chapter three. The final chapter shows various cane self-defense techniques. As someone involved for more than 45 years in various martial arts and practical combative systems, I found many of the techniques in this text too formalized and complex for the average person seeking a simple and effective stick fighting method. It may be because of the author's back-ground of the Korean art of H Wa Rang do. In conclusion, this book is a fair guide to using various sticks for self-defense, but I personally look at it from more of a historical value. The practical combatives of Rex Applegate and Kelly McCann is much more effective.

Rating: 3 stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Cane and Walking Stick Self-Defense Techniques).

Great book for the novice, or combat vet that wants to increase his or her knowledge of available battlefield implements that can be found of the field. This is basci, but useful material.

RATING: I give this trilogy of books 1.5 stars overall.

1 star for validity, 4 stars for marketing and 5 stars for Echanis service in the U.S. Army as Green Beret, may you RIP.

Now back to the review. I am reviewing all three titles in Echanis's series of books.

Fist Echanis system of fighting was established and based on Korean Hwarang-Do, which he developed into a somewhat hybrid military hand-to-hand combative. All his methods and techniques are based on this system in all three books.

I will start with "Knife Self-Defense for Combat". This book offers compendium of 35 plus knife defense techniques that entail multiple variations that supposedly provide unlimited possibilities for the combatant. The only possibilities I see are ways to get you killed. I have been studying bladecraft for sometime now and can say that I seriously question the validity of most all these techniques in this book. The majority of the methods are way too complicated to perform under duress and stress. The moves are too long with too many steps to remember and choreographed like it is Kata. Defensive knife moves need to be simple, short and sweet, but deadly effective. Unfortunately these moves are not. Maybe if you have 5-6 hours a day to practice and learn a handful of his moves they may work for you. But for me I would rather use my time more wisely.

The second book is "Knife Fighting/Knife Throwing for Combat". Like the first volume that same echoes here. There are some points of interest to be found in this title, but can be found in better and more up to date works that are available. I have to make it know that a vast majority of the methods in this book are ridiculous. One major and contradiction to knife fighting is the topic of knife throwing, I just do not see the validity in this. If you are using a knife most likely you lost your firearm (malfunction/disarmed), so are you literally going to throw your last line of defense away? This method has no place in combat, maybe Hollywood.

The final title is "Basic Stick Fighting for Combat" which was published after Echanis passed away. It is said he never completed all the text to support this book and if so I do not think it would have made a difference. Like the other titles the moves are just to complex and very limited in there employment. I do think if you are an avid stick fighter you may get some use from this title but for the true combatant they are just too choreographed for any fluid and effective use in combat.

Overall this entire series is very poor and would not recommend using most of the moves for defense or combat. With that I do recommend the books for what not to do. They are also useful in the study of the historical evolution of modern combatives. A lot has changed in the art and science of combatives since the late seventies. Ultimately there is always something to be learned whether it is good or bad and knowing the difference may help to keep you alive to fight another day.