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.