Stick Fight
Stick fighting is a fun way to compete with your friends and get fit! Remember that if you do it right, no one should get seriously hurt. Find out how to start stick fighting after the jump.
Steps
- Make an arena and a rule that you can't step out.
- Have you and your friend pick and/or make a weapon.
- Agree on a target area and the type of techniques that will score.
- Start out on the outside of the arena so once the judge says go, you can go in.
- While the two people are fighting, the judge watches for the players to score. Once he sees one, he will say stop and call the point.
- Lastly make a team.
- And there are such things as buddy fights with you and a buddy and the opposing fighter and his or her buddy.
- Learn some moves.
Tips
- Never try to hit the body where your opponent's guard is defending. Always look for ways to bypass defenses.
- Use your stick's length to its full advantage. If longer, keep your opponent out of your range. If shorter, try to close and overwhelm them with speed. Remember you have the speed advantage here, a one-hander is a lot faster then a two-hander or a hand-and-a-half.
- Create a guard to use. If you have a standard guard, you will be able to parry and attack more uniformly, and, therefore, more easily.
- Strike fast. Remember, power is not the key, speed is.
- NEVER NEVER NEVER, turn your back to someone this makes it almost certain that you will lose.
- Make sure you can use any attack from your standard guard. It's fine to have more than one, but try to have a manageable number.
- You may want to experiment with cutting out the arena all together, this gives birth to a plethora of options and makes it more of an maneuver based fight where footing is more important.
- While you're fighting, make sure you don't show your opponent any possible targets.
- Focus on defense. You can strike as often as you want, but if you are hit once you will lose.
- Always act tougher than you really are take hits shake them off
- Strike immediately after parrying an attack. This makes sure that your opponent is off guard.
- When attacking, make sure most of you is protected by your stick's position. For example, thrusting with your weapon slightly off center when your opponent's stick is on the side away from you protects against most thrusts.
- When you are fighting, pretend to strike low so your opponent will leave his upper body exposed. Then hit his upper body (you could also do this the opposite way).
- You may want to experiment with different types of materials to make your sticks out of. PVC pipe with foam padding or bamboo style kendo sticks help to minimize the pain. Bamboo cuts more on impact but hurts less blunt force wise. PVC, doesn't cut as much but is a bit heavier so it's a little more likely to bruise when it hits.
- Make your arena {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} by {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}
Warnings
- Generally, slashing type motions will be safer than poking type motions. Consider this when deciding on what type of hits count as points. After a certain amount of practice, however, this relation changes and thrusts became safer and more effective than cuts.
- Stick fighting can be dangerous. Don't participate if you aren't feeling well or can't take a good hit.
- It is a good idea to do this in the light of day when you can see, and with sunglasses so you don't poke someone's eye out or vice versa.
- Sticks do hurt. Be careful. Pull the attack at the moment it connects.
- Always respect your opposing fighter no matter what.
- Never swing wildly. Only use aimed shots.
- Never hit anyone in the face or chest. Even though it seems unimportant, this rule will reduce any major accidents (You do not want to hit somebody in the eye)
- A stick should not be more than 3/4" thick or have sharp ends. These are more likely to cause serious welts and deep cuts.
- Never purposely try to hurt someone.
- If a stick breaks, stop immediately - broken sticks are sharp.
Things You'll Need
- Sticks.
- An arena, or chalk to draw one with.
- Friends.
- medic kit (for extreme caution)
- Head protection - like a sparring Karate helmet (for extreme caution)
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