Cane Fighting

A British martial arts instructor has been teaching senior citizens the art of the cane. Apparently his lessons have paid off when an elderly woman he teaches managed to fend off the attack of two muggers. "She went to the police station because she was worried about having hurt the boys," said instructor Kevin Garwood, who has been teaching traditional martial arts since the 70s in addition to his walking stick self defense class for about three years. The focus of Garwood's classes are awareness of one's surroundings, planning a route home, and skills that include simple choke holds, joint locks and throws that all incorporate the use of the walking stick. "Before you go out of the house, think about the route. Then even if you are walking slowly, if you are positive and your brain is engaged, you look less like a victim," said Garwood.

Because the elderly tend to be targets for crime, the walking stick makes for a convenient and convincing weapon without appearing too conspicuous. I've detailed some other handy weapons that are generally concealed. The cane as an effective fighting weapon is nothing new and has made appearances in a number of cultures. In Portugal, the fighting cane is called the jogo do pau. In France, savateurs train with la canne. Cannistes wear protective gear and fencing helmets in matches. A similar weapon in Japan is the jo, a wooden staff about four feet long.

At any rate, if you're planning to go out and about with your trusty walking stick in public, do so without any fanfare. As Teddy Roosevelt once advised, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

*See also:
Way of the Short Staff by Michael P. Garofalo. Exhaustive research and links on cane fighting techniques, history and styles.