The Cane: Part 12 – The Lunge

One-hand cane thrusts can kill or seriously injure an opponent when directed at a vital point. They extend your reach and range and add an element of surprise when the primary method of fighting is based on cuts. For all of these reasons one-hand thrusts should be in your repertoire.

Four basic lunge variations can be combined with the one-hand thrust.

(1) Forward Hand Straight Lunge
(2) Forward Hand Reverse Lunge
(3) Rearward Hand Straight Lunge
(4) Rearward Hand Reverse Lunge

Forward Hand Straight Lunge
The Forward Hand Straight Lunge starts from a one-hand cane forward guard stance. It’s executed by pushing off the rear foot, stepping forward with the front foot, and extending the cane “thru” the target. This lunge is the classis fencing lunge. The depth of the lunge – the distance between the front and rear feet at full extension – is determined by the distance to the target and your ability to recover from the lunge. At full extension, the knee of the forward leg is directly beneath the elbow of the extended cane arm.

In general, deep sport fencing style lunges are not recommended because most people recover from them too slowly and since the cane is unlikely to finish the opponent instantly you must assume your opponent will be capable of a counter-attack even if your thrust is well placed.

But, shallower lunges are very appropriate and may be combined with advancing steps to close longer distances.

Forward Hand Reverse Lunge
The Forward Hand Reverse Lunge starts from a one-hand cane forward guard stance. It’s executed by stepping forward with the rear foot, pushing off the former front foot into the lunge, and extending the cane “thru” the target.

Reverse lunges are notable in that the forward foot in the fully extended lunge position is the foot opposite from the cane hand. This lunge develops a bit slower but covers a greater distance with the same degree of extension – depth of lunge.

Rearward Hand Straight Lunge
The Rearward Hand Straight Lunge starts from a one-hand cane rearward guard stance. It’s executed by stepping forward with the rear foot, pushing off the former front foot into the lunge, and extending the cane “thru” the target.

This is the same motion pattern as in the Forward Hand Reverse Lunge. However, because the cane is held in the rearward hand, the cane arm and the stepping and lunging leg are on the same side of the body and the end result is a classic lunge extension with the knee of the forward leg directly beneath the elbow of the extended cane arm.

The Rearward Hand Straight Lunge also covers approximately the same distance as the Forward Hand Reverse Lunge. And, because of the greater distance traveled by the cane tip (from the rear hand position to a front hand lunge) along with the natural twisting of the torso inherent in this motion this is the most powerful of the four basic lunges. It delivers the greatest amount of kinetic energy to the target.

Rearward Hand Reverse Lunge
The Rearward Hand Reverse Lunge starts from a one-hand cane rearward guard stance. It’s executed by pushing off the rear foot, stepping forward with the front foot, and extending the cane “thru” the target. This is the same motion as in the Forward Hand Straight Lunge, however, because the cane in held in the hand opposite to the lunging foot the end position is the same as in the Rearward Hand Straight Lunge.

In this lunge the cane tip travels about the same distance as in the Forward Hand Reverse Lunge. But, since the cane tip starts from the rear hand position the total reach of the Rearward Hand Reverse Lunge is the shortest of the four basic lunges.

Below the four lunges are ranked by reach from longest reach to shortest reach (for the same depth of lunge):

1st. Rearward Hand Straight Lunge
2nd. Forward Hand Straight Lunge
3rd. Forward Hand Reverse Lunge
4th. Rearward Hand Reverse Lunge

Rank them by power yields the same order, but ranking them by quickness of execution results in the following order:

1st. Forward Hand Straight Lunge
2nd. Rearward Hand Reverse Lunge
3rd. Forward Hand Reverse Lunge
4th. Rearward Hand Straight Lunge

Link to Other Topics in the Special Report: The Neko Ryu Cane

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The Cane: Part 11 – One Hand Thrust

Most instructional manuals on stick fighting tell you that the stick is a striking or cutting weapon – not useful for thrusting. Then, later in the book, in discussions about practice stick fighting with a partner you’re warned against thrusting a stick at your partner because of the risk of injury.

It is precisely the risk of injury that makes one-hand thrusts an effective cane technique.

A one-hand cane thrust can kill or seriously injure an opponent when directed at a vital point such as the trachea (wind pipe), the forehead, eyes, or the bridge of the nose. It can also disrupt the opponent’s movement and balance when directed at the hollow under either clavicle (collar bone) or at the pelvis – the very top of the front of the thigh.

One-hand thrusts extend your reach and range and also add an element of surprise when the primary method of fighting is based on cuts.

For all of these reasons one-hand thrusts should be in your repertoire.


The Grip
On a crooked cane the best grip for a one-hand thrust is pistol-type grip at the crook’s shoulder. This grip allows a natural extension of your arm in line with the shaft of the cane and a natural position for the hand and wrist.

Execution
The thrust is executed by extending the arm to the target while simultaneously lunging in the direction of the target. To facilitate accuracy, full extension of the arm must be achieved before contact with the target.

Accuracy
Because the accuracy of a thrust is paramount, every cane training session should include practice thrusting at a small moving target. In fencing, this is known as “point control” and is just as essential with the cane as with the foil.

The Lunge
Four lunge variations can be combined with the one-hand thrust. They will be reviewed in the next post.

Link to Other Topics in the Special Report: The Neko Ryu Cane

The Cane: Part 10 – Backhand Horizontal Whip Cut

Like other whip cuts, the backhand horizontal whip cut “whips” around a loose grip on the crook of the cane while the arm rotates in a striking motion. Because it starts from the outside and also strikes to the outside this cut is only effective when combined with body motion (tai sabaki).

The backhand horizontal whip cut is a primary defensive strike. It’s initiated from a standard one hand cane rest position with the cane tip on the ground and a loose one hand grip on the crook - the normal position of a cane when used for support in walking or standing.

Because the cut is horizontal, a vertically oriented target is required for maximum effect. The natural targets of the horizontal whip cut are the side of the head, the naturally hanging or upraised arm (especially the elbow), or the leg (especially the knee or ankle).

To initiate the backhand horizontal whip cut begin a large arc from the shoulder moving the cane hand to the outside and up and further to the outside and through the target. As your upper arm makes its arc, your forearm straightens locking the elbow as the cane passes through the target. At the same time, the cane turns to the outside around your loose grip or wrist. Key to all of this movement is a simultaneous backward pivot step. The stepping foot (the foot on the same side of your body as the cane) moves back and toward your centerline and the pivoting foot turns to the inside around the ball of your big toe.

The pivot is toward the target and can be a 90° or as much as a 180° turn. The overall motion is similar to throwing a Frisbee sidearm but without cocking the arm in front of the chest.

Because of the multiple large arcs described by the cane, the forearm, the upper arm, and especially because the entire body pivots, the acceleration of the backhand vertical whip cut is very high and delivers a great deal of kinetic energy to the target.

Link to Other Topics in the Special Report: The Neko Ryu Cane

The Cane: Part 9 – Forehand Horizontal Whip Cut

Like all whip cuts, the forehand horizontal whip cut “whips” around a loose hand grip on the crook – or in some cases around a loose wrist - while the arm rotates in a striking motion.

The forehand horizontal whip cut is a primary defensive strike. It is initiated from a standard one hand cane rest position with the cane tip on the ground and a loose one hand grip on the crook - the normal position of a cane when used for support in walking or standing.

Because the cut is horizontal, a vertically oriented target is required for maximum effect. The natural targets of the horizontal whip cut are the side of the head, the naturally hanging or upraised arm (especially the elbow), or the leg (especially the knee and ankle).

To initiate the forehand horizontal whip cut you begin a large circle from the shoulder moving the cane hand to the outside and up and to the inside. While your upper arm makes this large circle, your forearm makes a large circle around the elbow and the cane circles the loose grip or wrist.

The overall motion is similar to throwing a baseball sidearm but without cocking the arm behind the shoulder.

Because of the multiple large circles described by the cane, the forearm, and the upper arm, the acceleration of the forehand vertical whip cut is very high – as it the resulting kinetic energy delivered to the target.

Link to Other Topics in the Special Report: The Neko Ryu Cane