Αρχική

Ακαδημία

Εκπαιδευτές

Jeet Kune Do

Filipino Kali

Kuntao Silat

Ομαδικά Τμήματα

Ιδιαίτερα Μαθήματα

Βιβλιοθήκη

Άρθρα

Τεχνικές

Σεμινάρια

Συχνές Ερωτήσεις

Επικοινωνία 

Palm Stick - Tactical Pen - Tactical Flashlight

The Palm Stick (also called Pocket Stick, Kubotan, Dulo Dulo or Olisi Palid) is one of the most effective close-quarter self-defense weapons. It is essentially a derivation of the Yawara stick, usually 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and 0.56 inch (1.5 cm) in diameter, slightly thicker or the same size as a marker pen. Attached with a key ring for convenience and concealment, the Palm Stick appears as an innocuous key fob to the untrained eye.

Aside from its size and shape, much of its usage is quite similar to the Yawara stick. As with the Yawara stick, the principal areas for attacks in self-defense include bony, fleshy and nerve targets such as knuckles, forearms, bridge of the nose, shins, stomach, solar plexus, spine, temple, ribs, groin, neck, eyes etc. The Palm Stick is usually held in either an ice pick grip (for hammer fist strikes) or forward grip (for stabbing and pressure point attacks). Common uses include hardening the fist (fist load) for punching, attacking vulnerable parts of an assailant's body, and gaining leverage on an assailant's wrist, fingers and joints. With keys attached, it can also function as a flailing weapon. As a pressure point and pain compliance weapon it can attack any point a finger can, but with greater penetration because of the smaller surface area at the ends. For example, a law enforcement officer may wrap his arm around the suspect's neck while simultaneously digging the end of the Palm Stick into the small of his back. The officer may also reach around the suspect's neck and underarm from behind and cause pain by digging the end of the Palm Stick into the top of his pectoral muscle. One typical pain compliance technique is a wrist "gasket" lock in which the attacker's wrist is captured and sealed around with both hands and the body of the Palm Stick laid across the radial bone. Downward squeezing pressure is then applied to the bone to take down the opponent. Its techniques are greatly linked to 'empty handed' martial arts techniques.

In the absence of the Palm Stick (and similar weapons like the Yawara stick and the Koppo stick) improvised versions can be readily found and used in similar fashion. Since a Palm Stick is just a rod of material any restrictive regulation would most likely be ambiguous and undefined due to the ability for any rod-shaped item to essentially be used in palm stick-like fashion. Thus, the Palm Stick can be replaced by everyday items that can include hairbrushes, pens, magic markers and Sharpies, flashlights, twigs, etc.

The palm stick is known by many names among Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) practitioners. Among the more popular terms for this weapon are tabak maliit (small sword), olisi palad (palm stick) and dulo-dulo (one end to the other).

The most common material for making palm sticks is hardwood though versions made of steel or hard plastic are also available. There are even a few traditional escrimadors who use deer antlers (sungay ng usa) as palm stick.

While there are FMA styles that offer extensive curriculum on the use of the palm stick, a knowledgeable escrimador knows that it is just another weapon. If he understands the essence of the FMA, he knows he can pick up any handheld weapon regardless of shape and size and use it effectively, to quote Dan Inosanto, “When you get to the root of a technique, it doesn’t matter what the hand is holding.”

The most obvious benefit of training with the palm stick is that it is a weapon that is easy to conceal. And even if you don’t carry a palm stick, some common objects can be used as a substitute like a thick pen, an eyeglass case or other sturdy objects of similar shape.

Folding knives like the Balisong or the modern tactical folder can be deployed in a less lethal manner by using them closed as a palm stick. Some tactical folders are built with a glass breaker making them ideal bludgeoning implements. In the case of the Balisong, it is better to use the exposed tang of the closed blade for hitting than the other end of the handle where the latch is located because the latter is more susceptible to damage.

Another benefit of palm stick training is that after the dagger, it is the shortest weapon that an FMA student can learn to understand the transition between weapons and empty hand fighting. Take note that the FMA being originally a battlefield art has a reversed progression of training compared to other Asian martial arts. In Arnis, Eskrima and Kali, the student trains with weapons first then later on progress to empty hand fighting. A quote from the late Eskrima master John LaCoste in Inosanto’s book The Filipino Martial Arts reads, “If you want to learn how to use your fist – you must first learn how to use the weapon.” As a student progresses in FMA training, he would realize that by shortening the weapon, all the techniques would work just as well in empty hand combat.

The palm stick is primarily an impact weapon that can be employed using hammering, hooking or jabbing motions. The most damaging way to use the palm stick is via trap and hit technique meaning you immobilize the opponent’s hand with some kind of hold or lock so you can pummel on his skull with impunity. In a grappling situation, you can use the palm stick to pinch on flesh or to dig on nerve-rich areas.

All the basic angles of attack employed in stick and dagger training are applicable to palm stick practice. From that, the student can progress to basic limb destruction drills with a partner before proceeding to specific self-defense techniques and eventually free sparring.

While the angles of attacks remain constant in Arnis, Eskrima, Kali training, the student must realize that there are subtle differences when transitioning from weapons to empty hand combat.

A change in reach will obviously affect how you close the gap and score a hit on your opponent. A weapon with a shorter reach also means more danger to the user. Using a palm stick therefore requires more skilful footwork before you can close in and inflict damage on your foe.

A student must also realize that a palm stick cannot compete with a regular fighting stick or a dagger in terms of stopping power. It simply lacks the weight and mass of a hardwood garote or the sharp edge of a knife hence the wielder of a palm stick must generate greater striking force and must carefully select his target to inflict a disabling injury.

The palm stick is used in close range so the necessary attributes for fighting in that kind of distance must be likewise developed. Besides hand speed, arm strength and body placement, a crucial attribute in using the palm stick is kinesthetic sensitivity. The latter is the ability to read the energy of one’s opponent through touch. Tapi-tapi and other close quarter drills where you are taught to detect pressure or lack of pressure in your partner’s limbs are good ways of developing kinesthetic sensitivity.

You need kinesthetic sensitivity when fighting close range because in that environment you cannot depend much on your sight to detect strikes from your foe. When you are in clinch or trapping range, your defense would most likely depend on your kinesthetic sense.

The Tactical Flashlight for self defense

When used effectively, the tactical flashlight is an excellent tool for self defense. It combines the power to blind an attacker with night adapted vision with the benefits of the palm stick. It's difficult to imagine how effective an extremely bright light can be, until you're shined with one in the dark. All you can see is light, as in the image to the left, and when the light goes off you see black while your eyes adjust to the change. But imagine what your attacker will experience, as immediately after losing his vision he gets kicked hard in the balls, hit in the solar plexus, or hammered in the face with what amounts to a thick, metal bolt. Not only is the flashlight a great self defense tool, but you can carry it everywhere, inculding where weapons of any kind are illegal to carry.

General Principles

Prevention should always be your first option!. Using your flashlight as a deterrent, instead of as a weapon, should be your second option. It's always better to avoid physical contact when possible. If you maintain your distance and blind a potential attacker or attackers, that may well be enough for you to escape. If it's not, many combinations will work with a "flash and bash" strategy, including empty hand combinations where you substitute the light for hand strikes or elbows. Because most people instinctively bring their hands up to their face after being flashed, my preference is generally either to kick low, punch low, or grab or smack the lead hand down to strike the head with the light as an opening move. This palm stick defense also works well as an attack after a flash, and can be done to the face, throat, sternum, or solar plexus. Like everything else, in order to use it you need to train with it. So if you do choose to carry a flashlight for self defense you must put in the training time to be able to use it.

Another important point is that the light needs to be in your hand already. It's not going to do you any good in your pocket or purse. When carrying a light for self defense you should carry it in your hand when walking outdoors at night.