Those of you who know me know that I’m super traditional CMA. But this weekend, Sifu invited a senior student of The Cane Masters in the San Fernando Valley to visit us.
For the uninitiated, these guys teach older and incapacitated people (those requiring the use of a cane) how to use the cane as a weapon. Now I’m sure the thought of “cane-fu” might bring a giggle or two out of the forum, but the Cane Masters have actually created a fighting system out of a simple ambulatory device.
Unlike the CMA cane, this system is much simpler, and comprised of mainly one and two hand strikes, pokes, chokes, and trips. The other difference is the modified cane they use. The weapon features knurled edges and inconspicuous hand grips, and a sharpened hook - perfect for eye gouging or driving into the throat of a potential attacker.
Now the best part, “YOU TWO CAN BECOME A CANE MASTER!” Trust me, it’s a lot of fun. Someday we may all need to use a cane, whether in aging times or from a leg injury. Check out their website if your interested.
Canes rock. I started using one when I walk my dogs after I took a friend of mine to a Canemasters seminar. Nobody looks at you funny AT ALL, no one ever questions you for “having a weapon”. Hella cool.
Exactly how well can old people perform those movements. Say they have a bad back, a hip replacement, and a slight case of arthritis just for fun. If it can truly be used by anyone i’ll be the first to sign up for it. Oh yea, also add to the fact that the geezer probably moves in extreme slo-motion.
Hmmm, never though much about using a cain for self defense. At least not for myself anyway. It would be cool to be a cane master, After I finish my Defendo mastery. They have those canes with the sword in them at Martialartsmart.com . They might be a better weapon? Well after my next knee surgery maybe I’ll get one.
Yes, cane and baton fighting methods have been around for a long time, in both european and asain circles, Canemasters is nothing new but what does that matter.
As for self defense with a cane, well lets just say that it is a very practical weapon, you can learn to use it with a number of different methods besides the Canemaster syllabus, which I can not vouch for, western martial methods/19th century cane-jitsu, old school savate, military bayonet training, riot baton training, police tonfa, eastern methods like hapikdo, jo-stick, filipino methods, burmese walking stick methods, gung fu, and so on and so on.
A weapon will greatly increase a persons self defense abilities over just bare handed skills, be they young or elderly, a weapon is better than nothing, if they are old it is even more needed.
Did you read the following?? For the uninitiated, these guys teach older and incapacitated people (those requiring the use of a cane) how to use the cane as a weapon.
Nobody is doubting the validy and effectivness of cane fighting perse.
But HOW can “older” and incapacitated people use them when they need them to stand up and walk.
Back home when pensioners get mugged normally the muggers/thieves kick their cane away from them so that they fall down or cannot move fast.
Yes, canes are a viable self defense wapons and was heavily used as such in the 19th Century.
But here we are talking Pensioners that need the cane to walk around and NOT a fashion accesory as it was in victorian times.
Be it that they need the cane to walk is really not the issue, it is still a weapon, what would you have a old person use, there fists, not much power there, or a two-handed wack from a cane to the perps temple, either way it could be bad for the elderly person, depending on how physicaly weak they are, but from a percentage point of view I would still go with the cane.
Oh, and some elders are still a lot stronger in fighting spirit then we give them credit for, just because a guy is in his 70’s does not mean that he can not still “pack” a few suprises, there are a lot of old warhorses still out there.
In Victorian times, people used canes for both legit walking sticks and as fancy accessories, I think the term the called them was Dandy’s.
Another thing I can see in the future that Canes will only be sold to People actually needing them.
Look at what happened to Baseball Bats recently.
From what I hear they are now considered a Weapon and carrying one is getting illegal.I think you now need to have a complete Kit(Glove, Uniform, Balls,etc) with the Bat in the Car and also be able to proove that you are going/coming from a Training session.
The bat alone in the Car will get you arrested.
Agree on the old Warhorses though, our Head Teacher is 74.
What I think is a cool idea is faking having a need for a cane and making it look like you’re a cripple when you are really not. You would have an “excuse” to carry a weapon, and no one would push the issue very far.
But that reminds me of an old Tales from the Crypt comic. This lady pretended for so long that she was confined to a wheelchair to hide her ability to commit murder or something like that, that her legs eventually atrophied. She didn’t even know because she had been playing the game for so long. But then one night her house caught on fire, and when she tried to get out of the chair and run, her legs collapsed from her weight, and she burned to death in the fire.
Note to self: If you’re going to fake being a cripple, make sure you exercise those muscles so you don’t become one, and can kick some a$$ when needed.
“Tales from the Crypt” comics were so cool. I still remember the one where these people were playing baseball with this guy’s body parts. His head was the ball, his organs were the base pads, his intestines were strung out between bases, etc.
Trust me, it’s a lot of fun. Someday we may all need to use a cane, whether in aging times or from a leg injury. Check out their website if your interested.
