I carry a walking stick regularly. It has several advantages:1. ALWAYS at hand! You never need to draw it.2. Visual deterrent. People see you walking with a big ugly stick, and know that you are armed. A knife or concealed pistol doesn't offer this advantage. 3. Greater range than a knife. 4. Harnesses the power of both of your arms (when you wield it two-handed).5. Wider force-continuum than a knife. The best way to use a knife is to make the person suffer a potentially deadly blood loss. The stick can crack bones, leave bruises, be used to grapple, or kill if need be.6. Culpability. You will fare better in court after whacking someone with your walking stick than you will opening his face with your knife. 7. Security friendly. You can manage to get a walking stick into places that disallow knives. 8. Style. A walking stick can be a dapper accessory.9. Good against aggressive dogs, if that is a problem in your area. I have a Beagle, and have had to use my stick to fend off other animals who wanted to rip his little Beagle throat out.Get the type which has a ferrule on one end, and a weighted ball on the other. These have distinctive handling characteristics, and can be used either very fast, or with a massive pendulum effect. Excellent, practical weapon.
I carry one regularly on rugged terrain cross country hikes. I don't wish people to view it as a weapon so I spray painted mine 'cute' colors. Places where I go, walking sticks are very common, but many I see are flimsy and aren't as utilitarian as my own. Although maybe legal to carry, IME a pistol or a large knife is way too heavy a thing to lug along on an 8 mile hilly hike on a 85+ degree day. But on that rocky (sometimes muddy) terrain a walking stick makes sense. If someone thinks it is not a potential weapon, that's fine. I
Disadvantage: you lose your stick in the subway or leave it by the bench where you sat down to eat your sandich. XD I lost count of how many umbrellas i lost...
Couldn't agree more with any of that...accept the idea that carrying a walking stick would make you look dapper! :) I live next to a forest and am often there walking our dogs, hiking, doing photography etc and had to deal with some aggressive dogs now and again. I've decided to get a walking stick or carry a jo..."to make it easier when hiking". I practice kali too so I'm quite used to swinging a stick around.
I have carried and used a walking stick, aka 'whacking stick', since 1990. My first stick, now retired, saved my life! It has a gouge in it from where I parried a knife attack. I carry a stick still, now for the duel purpose of support first defense second, as my knees are problematic. A good stick can be helpful in climbing stairs, opening doors, pressing elevator buttons, & can be carried pretty much anywhere, even airports and the like. I highly recommend getting and training with a good stout stick. not to light but not sluggish. Most sword techniques can be easily adapted to a stick, or there are many systems specific to walking stick (Irish and French come to mind. With French look pre 1980's as the sport has gotten very acrobatic and showy but lost much of it's combative structure in my opinion)
I inherited my Grandpa's Shaleighleigh he god from ireland back in the day. He always just called it a walking stick and I'm just like "but grandpa, it looks like a spiked mace". Nice to have my suspicions verified
well shillelagh the club sized ones were banned or something back in the day, so people just started making them bigger and thus blackthorn walking stick. if its as long as a cane it is technically a cane ;P but yes it is also a shillelagh.
"In this way, blows from a simple malacca cane can be delivered with enough force to sever a man's jugular vein through the collar of his overcoat." Thats from an online "print" of s cane fighting manual from Victorian Britain, that I have unfortunately since lost.
Hi Matt I like the new picture. You could set it a little bit brighter for my taste. The sound is good but you are picking up some sort of low humm that i could do without. thaks for the excellent videos please keep them comming
The walking stick... Crafted over weeks by only the most skilled of carpenters... formed by folding blackthorn in on itself millions of times to create a rock hard surface... capable of breaking through a tank's armour with a single hit... Truly, the most devastating weapon* known to humankind. *Except the thrown pommel, of course.
+ARR0WMANC3R Pish and Posh! It's a well known fact that the deadliest weapon known to man is the thrown cat. Test it yourself. Get a friend to throw a cat at you, really hard. You'll see.
Well, we had a few beers, and came to a scientific frame of mind...,..... Ahem.....While previously, the cat was aloof of we lesser lodgers of his home, now the cat appears convinced that we scientists are beneath contempt. Our sastickal, sasticle.......our math analysis indicates that our sample size was too small to make conclusions. We can't catch the cat for a second sample try.
Lovely fluid movement there. The thought that struck me about the second stick was that, when you put a heavy weight at the end of a flexible shaft, you’ve basically made a blackjack. The shaft will act as a spring and accelerate the heavy weight even faster. Very subtle. Bone breaking, though.
I got an Ash walking stick-Like a john bull from smiths umbrellas in London after being attacked with knives. Ash is very light and springy and suited my skinny frame. It has a ball end of knotted wood and is legal and has backed off Bandits on two occasions. Also in Smiths at the back of the shop on top of a cupboard is a huge African War Club from Malawi well worth a look, made from some type of Ironwood/ebony and would need a big warrior to bear it (It is a shame that it is almost hidden and forgotten) phenomenal piece of kit.
please do make more videos regarding this topic of walking canes and self defence. Your right there are many ways to use the W-cane single and double handed grip. for some reason it's died out in UK to carry a walking cane in public, unless your old and in need of it as a medical device. I'm a practitioner of Diwang Panlaban System UK, And EDC of such walking cane items is standard for us to use with using lots of different styles, crooked, Balled, Flexible. it's very rare to see anyone EDC these days. Yes I'm a expert in how to use in many ways in defence & offensively. The problem is most people refuse to carry this in public because of the social stigma attached. if used correctly a walking cane can be ultra deadly and awesomely practical. welcome to the world of walking sticks as one of the best Self defence tools ever.....its a equaliser! Any questions just ask.
As somebody who sometimes does need a walking stick, I can attest to the fact that using them in public is widely frowned upon. Especially if you're relatively young.
I'd like to see more videos about walking sticks. Seems like it would be one of the very rare kinds of self defense items you are legally allowed to carry. I think you could use similar techniques with a sturdy umbrella or a crutch as well. The new camera seems fine, I don't really notice any difference while watching on my phone though., the sound is a bit tinny, but slightly louder than before, which is great for the small speaker on my phone but might be less good when you watch on a computer with a good sound system.
@@arx3516 Not really, disabilities tend to be a taboo subject so most people who see someone, even someone young, walking with a cane will assume they've got some reason to carry it and will find it impolite to ask.
That second mallaca walking stick is really tasteful, you found a great piece for your collection! It's subtle, but deliberately effective for both purposes.
Hi Matt I'm from germany (sorry for the bad english)and i like your chanel very much. But this time you make a mistake. The first stick is obviously not made out of blackthorn (prunus spinosa). Because the branches of the blackthorn don't grow in regular circles around the stem. Working sticks made out of blackthorn are one of the haviest you can use, compared tho other sticks in the same size. You say that the stick is not heavy, that is an other indication for that this is not blackthorn. It looks more that someone use an old Christmas tree (fir tree or norway spruce) to make this stick. The spikes on this stick are leftovers from the small brances comming out of the main stem. They used this natural whorls in history as some kind of whisks in the kitchen or for cooking the laundry. The name blackthron actually comes from the long black thornes wich grown all over the branches of this bush and there is no chance to preserve them in the working process if you are making a walking stick. It is very common here in germany and i like to use it for woodworking because it is hard and very dense wood. Because of the thornes and the impenetrable growth of the bush the where very common used in history as border fortifications in our region.
I have always liked a hallow bat, baseball or softball, that can be filled,but a pool cue is great. It can be a club or a cane with slight modifications
I have started making sticks for walking etc and I have the Blackthorn straightened etc and I was going to remove the thorny bits but looking at yours I think I shall leaving them on.
While camping in Australia I use a fishing hand spear to walk with and put plastic drink bottle top on end or chair leg knob on end! Or when walking on rivers i dont cover it -The chair leg cover can be easily pushed off if u see a snake or something bigger ! Use two in snow for walking with and if in bear country u might have a fighting chance! My dad made me a hand spear from steel pieces at end for home invasions and it had two aholes bleeding out if my home on two different times! My dad was red beret in Ww2 from UK and I bless him for sharing this but his wood stick broke recently as I have been walking many times along rivers with it and am so glad I found the fish spear!
Good topic. Cold Steel makes some plastic walking sticks. I have several different ones from them. I most like their one patterned on the African knockberry design. I found it a little heavy though for actually doing summer time 10 mile cross country hikes with, so I ran it though a lathe and thinned it a quarter inch and added a wrist thong at the bulb end. A vast improvement with no noticeable sacrifice.
Cool stuff!!! Ive carried a walking staff for several years now and wouldnt be without one (I have several self made ones). The obvious walking aid over rough or uneven ground has save me from knee/ankle twists on more occasions than I can count! The self defence benefits are also there of course. Theyre a bit like a small version of a fighting staff. I love walking and am out a lot in the forests around where I live. The wildlife includes wild boar so having a staff with me gives me at least a small percentage chance of getting away uninjured should I stumble across one of these notoriously bad tempered beasts 😊
Hi Matt Sorry in advance for the stupid question, but I'm writing a novel and I'm looking for a type of armor that doesn't look like much in medieval(13th century Europe) standards but it could possibly be made of some special material like kevlar or something. What do you think could I use? Any pointers would be appreciated.
Thank you Matt, now I know what to hunt down when I get much older, I have a Spine Condition so I have come to terms with the fact that I may end up needing a Stick as a support sometime down the line. As a swordsman and as someone who believes in justifiable defence; I want a Stick I can also use as a Weapon, may even commission one to be custom made.
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I am a huge fan of the walking stick as an accessory and self defense choice. In today's society, they are offer a non threatening option one can carry in many more places than you can with a legally concealed weapon. Again thanks for covering these and am looking forward to more.
I have a neck and spine injury, and often use a cane, so I would be interested in your views on various canes available today along with their usefulness and best ways to use for self-defense.
Hi Matt, in my club we made some years ago a few training sessions after the manual "The Walking Stick Method of Self-Defense" reprinted by Paladin Press. There the author ("an officer of the Indian Police") suggests using "An ordinary Malacca Cane or an Ash Root Walking Stick". In his system a lot of circling motions are used and he explicitely states that you should "Sacrify weight to speed always, for remember that man is an easily vulnerable animal and has many soft spots..." After training this system for a short period of time the most convincing factor of fast spinning motions for me is the deterrence of a very fast swinging object directly in front of your face. You really think twice about whether or not you actually want to attack your opponent without any kind of protection ;D
Well, i can say just one thing: This was the video i was expecting, walking sticks. Ahhh, i love them, not sure why but i really love them so im very happy to see this video and very happy to know that tehre will be more coming. As always, great video and keep it to the max Matt, you are awesome!
The room has strong natural acoustics. For better sound you need to cancel some of the echo. I would suggest the cheap method, blankets or carpets hung up around the room or at least bunched up in the corners.
Blackthorn is another name for sloe which are everywhere in the wild and there was an extremely interesting article somewhere about Irish stick fighting. They would hold it two thirds of the way down with the club pointing forward and the last third reaching down your forearm protecting it. Then you punch and strike while quickly moving around as with most martial arts. There is obviously little Irish combat treatises but I think there are a few illustrations and descriptions.
The sound is excellent. My Brother used to show hogs when he was in the Future Farmers of America. He used a heavy ash cane to maneuver the hog around the show ring. It was about 3 1/2 feet long and 3/4 of an inch thick. I always thought it would make a good self defense weapon especially if you used the crook end to strike with.
a good stout stick is a hugely useful defensive tool that can be carried almost anywhere with out causing a stir. I carry one almost daily. Thanks for the Vid.
I've read a XIXth century self-defense manual by Montsery, and it actually compares sticks to the use of the sable - though it says some things should not be tried because of the lack of a handguard. But he recommends those sticks with a curved hand end, because you can use it to hook and grapple.
I sort of collect walking sticks I guess, have maybe a 100 or so. Good rule of thumb is the longer the tip on the end the older it is, also older sticks usually have a lanyard hole up toward the top. The one with the heavy end probably is weighted with lead and not an iron rod, the lead was poured in when liquid.
@ Canne de Combat: Did it for a while. And yes, the sticks they use in training and tournaments are pretty light and thin (mine is about 3 feet long, and 3/4" thick). But I come from a FMA background, and found that their techniques made no sense whatsoever for that type of weapon (basically, the rules require you to do very wide swings that telegraph way more than necessary). Until I picked up a croquet mallet and tried the same techniques with it - and felt at home immediately. So I'm pretty sure that Canne de Combat is meant to be used with exactly the kind of weighted, very top-heavy canes you showed here.
The wider field of view and the warmer colours is definitely an improvement, although I'm not sure if the colours is down to the camera or the lightning. Next thing to improve would probably be to get rid of some of that echo, it's one of the most glaring issues I find with most "amateur" videos.
really like the new look! the shadows are indeed a bit hard, but you are already aware of this, and it's not such a big deal for me. Keep up the amazing work, Matt!
The sound quality is significantly superior to before. I'm not noticing that much of a difference in video other than a wider field of view, but I don't have a fast enough internet to play at any higher than 480p. That spiky walking stick was pretty cool. There are probably tons of interesting designs of sticks you can come acoss that can have very versatile purposes.
i would love to hear more about this topic. Baritsu has been a huge interest to me and the cane seems to be a very functional weapon. Not to mention you can carry it just about anywhere.
Just started watching your videos. Love 'em. I've done a little fencing at a local club but it was cutting into my ballroom dancing lessons. Some day. In the meantime, I'm really digging your talks and demos. Much thanks! Since you ask for feedback, I can hear you clearly but the sound is tinny.
The stick with the heavier end can be used for very fast movements. Hold it heavy end forward with your dominant hand halfway up, and your back hand about quarter way up. Saber grip with both hands, by which I mean thumbs extending along the stick. Having it in this guard closes the centerline of your body. An explosive snap forward, performing a stopping ricochet along the forearm of the backhand. Different angles are possible, use your imagination. Switch the heavy ball end back onto your shoulder or into the crook of your arm, and wield the ferrule end in a two-handed stabbing, strafing motion to the face, go low and dig up the centerline. There's a lot more, I'll have to do a video eventually. Suffice to say that the stick can be FAST from either end, but it has to be used in a way which exploits its weight balance. It can be used from very long to very close range quite effectively. NOT like a small sword or an Asian bo-staff.
from now on known as a "Heavy whippy stick" as opposed to the plastic variety of "whippy sticks" that are actually 18" measuring sticks from the older warhammer starting boxes XD
Just purchased a large diameter heavy duty Crooked Cane from local store Tractor supply( farm supplies). . purchased a rubber tip for it at pharmacy...I can use it to jab ..strike ..& use hook to grab a perps leg & pull it out from under them ! Really inexpensive! I am impressed !
I'm starting soon with a treatise by one Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstrey which included amongst boxing and other forms of unarmed fighting, forms with which to use a cane and a quarterstaff. Have you ever heard of Col. Monstrey and/or read his book? If so, what do you think of the exercises and forms he illustrates?
Hi Matt The video is fine, also a tip - Manual focus on something you place where you usually stand otherwise we have this crisp clear view of your wall and you slightly out of focus infront :D but ya thats just nitpicking, its way better than the last camera. It's not really directly connected to this video. I did recently buy a pretty large axe (purely for fun as it looked nice Peter Szablos latest thing) and I was wondering, did something like a 2600g axe head on a 130 cm long shaft ever pop up in any treatises you know of, or have heard of it being used or produced historically ?
Malacca is a variety of palm botanically speaking, and is a climbing vine. Have a swag of sticks I have collected and made. I walk a lot with a dog and always have a stick. A familiar object/tool is an advantage when in a real scarey or confrontational situation. Many advantages, legally acceptable in most places, visible, lots of range, clears a space. I always use a bandanna/shemagh or similar as a wrist loop, easily moved along shaft for reverse or mid grip, and of course useful for many other purposes.
Id be really interested to see you bring in an expert on this Matt. Fascinating stuff. Arent canes part of Bartitsu as well? I wonder how the styles changed as walking stick fashions changed - from the Restoration through to the Regency fashion was for longer, heavier walking sticks that came well above hip level. Sticks/Canes got shorter and lighter as time went on so I guess the self defence use styles changed with the fashion.
As always superb content Matt, informative and fascinating. A small note on sound - the closer the microphone is to your mouth the better, as it will reduce the reflections from the rest of the room (though there are obvious restraints with regards to the kinds of demonstration you perform), and as others have noted there is a small hum from your computer as I assume your microphone is on you desk. In an ideal situation you might use a dedicated microphone stand so as to position the microphone *just* out of frame so it is as close to you as possible, thus solving both issues I have outlined. Again, really enjoy your content and look forward to consuming more.
As for a Martial Art involving walking sticks, I recommend you look into an intriguing Portugese martial art called "Jogo do Pau" It seems quite unique.
Hey Matt, if you're look for some basic front lighting, get a cheap stage light or lamp and mount a semi-transparent white umbrella on it. Should provide a nice bit of diffused lighting.
Can you talk about the roll of "heavy cavalry" in the times of pike and spear formations and how much actual contact there was between those two groups o the battlefield? I find it hard to warp my mind about how you would charge into an infantry block, even if you circle around the back, what stops the last few ranks to turn around and point their pointy ends in your direction? Some people claim that that horses would not charge into groups of people to begin with which I can't imagine being true since that would limit the power of shock or heavy cavalry to be anti archer and anti-cavalry only for most of the engagements. If that would be true "knights" wouldn't really be that great in a battlefield, would they?
About 20 yrs ago i cut back an applepear tree back whilst loading the trailer i notic'd two good lumpy branch's i dont know why but throw them in the shed left they for awhile then turned them into walking stick's one is quit heavy and i use it when ever i go bush very handy
Awesome. I find wooden sticks practical EDC defense. I'd love to learn more about walking sticks. Really glad you made this video Matt! Nice new camera btw, with the wider view, you probably won't have much trouble showing us larger weapons like Greatswords. polearms, etc. Good day. - Raphael
Hey Matt, i found ur channel probably 6 months ago and have watched alot of ur vids, and think ur doing great job. So keep up the good work. I wish more people my age would be into this stuff
Great topic! They probably saw more use in self defense than most any other item, especially in later times. At least that would be my guess. Sound great, view great, a little more light to see the details on these items.
Where can I buy a walking stick, with probably 10/12 inches of steel in the end ,like the one you demonstrated? If I had the tools I would get a piece of cherry wood or oak and make my own. But I am 67, also on disability, with a ruptured disc but living in a big city ( Cleveland Ohio ) I feel the need for some protection besides a knife, and I won't carry a pistol, this type of walking stick seems perfect! I'm not looking for an antique, I just want an inexpensive reliable walking stick?
The new camera is a lot clearer, as for the lighting, before you spend loads of money on an expensive rig, it might be worth looking at daylight bulbs, they're pretty expensive for a light bulb but much cheaper than a full lighting rig, they last a long time too.
The new camera makes things look a lot warmer tone-wise (unless that's colour correction or the lighting) but it looks really nice. Also sound is a lot more clear. On topic here, a cane club, that's uh great
Hello from America! I'm a history nerd and particularly interested in historical combat; that's how I found this channel. Anyway, I was wondering if you would consider discussing swords used in the Civil War, or something similar. Thanks!
Hello, I just started watching your videos and love them. I'm on a binge then will later to back and watch them in detail. The black thorn stick you have is Irish and is called a Shillelagh. They were used in medieval times until the 19th century as weappns. The wood it's made from is blackthorn. It's a thorny Bush and the knob and you hold was actually the root ball. Originally they were usually short and used as a club. Later when walking sticks became popular they were lengthened. At one time they were illegal so people his them in their chimneys hence the black colooration. Now days it's pInt. Yours however is the real deal. Two ways you can tell. One is the size of the root ball knob. These have been so popular and black thorn grows so slowly that the large root balls are gone. Also, it looks by the color to have originally been soot then later painted over. Also the metal tip was put on walking sticks in the 18th and 19th century...perhaps earlier...not as.a.weapon but so the end wouldn't wear so quickly.
Two points.. While the knobs on the blackthorn stick would seem to be an nuissance when shifting your grip, maybe they make it harder for an opponent to grab it.. And I would think brass would be better than steel for adding weight to the stick.. well they are almost the same weight.. but brass wins by a hair.
+WakarimasenKa The knobs form striking points that concentrate force. They do interfere with sliding grips, but not so much when shifting from hand to hand. The biggest drawback to a blackthorne, though is the lack of a crook. It removes several possible striks, blocks, and captures.
I can accept that argument.. though it doesnt hold equally for the entire length of the stick... At any rate, I dont see a martial need for them to be present for the full length aside for discouraging grabs. *welp* just thought of one.. you could rake all those nobs across the face of an opponent.. might have a sting to it.. as an ersatz edge...to add that final threat other than the point and the "pommel"... Oh and it should work pretty well for binding a blade, if the wood is tough enough. might even be useful for breaking the blade.. this dead piece of wood is growing on me.
+WakarimasenKa Keep in mind that part of the reason the knobs go all the way up is that they're the bases of the blackthorne's branches, and are naturally occurring. The reason you don't only leave the lower ones intact is that part of the purpose of the cane is to NOT be an obvious weapon. Leaving the nubs of the branches all the way up is an aesthetically pleasing way of not informing the general public that you're lugging around a bashing stick. The fact that they make the weapon... er... cane... more effective in combat is a bonus.
I was actually keeping this in mind. But I was entertaining the notion that they served a martial purpose. Or thats how it turned out.. I was questioning it and then I came up with a few ideas...
"Hitty end?" Thought I was watching Lindybeige there for a minute. :)
Love the effort put into avoiding saying the phrase "knob end"
I carry a walking stick regularly. It has several advantages:1. ALWAYS at hand! You never need to draw it.2. Visual deterrent. People see you walking with a big ugly stick, and know that you are armed. A knife or concealed pistol doesn't offer this advantage. 3. Greater range than a knife. 4. Harnesses the power of both of your arms (when you wield it two-handed).5. Wider force-continuum than a knife. The best way to use a knife is to make the person suffer a potentially deadly blood loss. The stick can crack bones, leave bruises, be used to grapple, or kill if need be.6. Culpability. You will fare better in court after whacking someone with your walking stick than you will opening his face with your knife. 7. Security friendly. You can manage to get a walking stick into places that disallow knives. 8. Style. A walking stick can be a dapper accessory.9. Good against aggressive dogs, if that is a problem in your area. I have a Beagle, and have had to use my stick to fend off other animals who wanted to rip his little Beagle throat out.Get the type which has a ferrule on one end, and a weighted ball on the other. These have distinctive handling characteristics, and can be used either very fast, or with a massive pendulum effect. Excellent, practical weapon.
I carry one regularly on rugged terrain cross country hikes. I don't wish people to view it as a weapon so I spray painted mine 'cute' colors. Places where I go, walking sticks are very common, but many I see are flimsy and aren't as utilitarian as my own. Although maybe legal to carry, IME a pistol or a large knife is way too heavy a thing to lug along on an 8 mile hilly hike on a 85+ degree day. But on that rocky (sometimes muddy) terrain a walking stick makes sense. If someone thinks it is not a potential weapon, that's fine. I
Disadvantage: you lose your stick in the subway or leave it by the bench where you sat down to eat your sandich. XD I lost count of how many umbrellas i lost...
Couldn't agree more with any of that...accept the idea that carrying a walking stick would make you look dapper! :)
I live next to a forest and am often there walking our dogs, hiking, doing photography etc and had to deal with some aggressive dogs now and again. I've decided to get a walking stick or carry a jo..."to make it easier when hiking". I practice kali too so I'm quite used to swinging a stick around.
Excellent analysis, you could make a video out of it
@@scottfairbairn5269 Thank you, I have taught the walking stick as an art for many years, but don't venture into making video content for the public.
I have carried and used a walking stick, aka 'whacking stick', since 1990. My first stick, now retired, saved my life! It has a gouge in it from where I parried a knife attack. I carry a stick still, now for the duel purpose of support first defense second, as my knees are problematic. A good stick can be helpful in climbing stairs, opening doors, pressing elevator buttons, & can be carried pretty much anywhere, even airports and the like. I highly recommend getting and training with a good stout stick. not to light but not sluggish. Most sword techniques can be easily adapted to a stick, or there are many systems specific to walking stick (Irish and French come to mind. With French look pre 1980's as the sport has gotten very acrobatic and showy but lost much of it's combative structure in my opinion)
Does anyone else have a "holy shit" moment anytime they see how fluidly Matt can move a sword or club?
+Tom New Nah, that's the 12th Doctor :P
+Noah Weisbrod That is what decade of working as "historical European marshal arts" instructor does to your muscle memory pal.
+Noah Weisbrod "woooosh" when the cane went at high speed.
Well he’s English
I inherited my Grandpa's Shaleighleigh he god from ireland back in the day. He always just called it a walking stick and I'm just like "but grandpa, it looks like a spiked mace". Nice to have my suspicions verified
well shillelagh the club sized ones were banned or something back in the day, so people just started making them bigger and thus blackthorn walking stick. if its as long as a cane it is technically a cane ;P but yes it is also a shillelagh.
Shilleghlah...im Irish
The "hitty" end.
I love the technical talk here. Subscribed.
"In this way, blows from a simple malacca cane can be delivered with enough force to sever a man's jugular vein through the collar of his overcoat."
Thats from an online "print" of s cane fighting manual from Victorian Britain, that I have unfortunately since lost.
in addition to self defense, these sticks are also good for putting on the ritz.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN comes to mind. 😂
Thank you for this
Hi Matt
I like the new picture. You could set it a little bit brighter for my taste.
The sound is good but you are picking up some sort of low humm that i could do without.
thaks for the excellent videos please keep them comming
+Ferdinand Ruprecht I think the low humm is probably my computer CPU! lol
+scholagladiatoria You said 'give me your feedback' right as I was about to comment that you're getting some audio feedback.
+scholagladiatoria
I love the brightness the way it is. Makes the image rather Cosy and rustic.
+Ferdinand Ruprecht Turn the gain/mic sensitivity down
+Ferdinand Ruprecht I'm actually okay with the slightly softer light. It's easier on the eyes when you're staring at a giant lightbulb.
The walking stick... Crafted over weeks by only the most skilled of carpenters... formed by folding blackthorn in on itself millions of times to create a rock hard surface... capable of breaking through a tank's armour with a single hit... Truly, the most devastating weapon* known to humankind.
*Except the thrown pommel, of course.
but can it be deflected with your forearms?
+Armando Gutierrez With or without a broken bone? Blackthorne ain't no joke.
+ARR0WMANC3R
Pish and Posh!
It's a well known fact that the deadliest weapon known to man is the thrown cat.
Test it yourself.
Get a friend to throw a cat at you, really hard.
You'll see.
Well, we had a few beers, and came to a scientific frame of mind...,..... Ahem.....While previously, the cat was aloof of we lesser lodgers of his home, now the cat appears convinced that we scientists are beneath contempt. Our sastickal, sasticle.......our math analysis indicates that our sample size was too small to make conclusions. We can't catch the cat for a second sample try.
I so nearly liked your comment until you made the pommel joke.
"The hitty end"
That terminology is a bit too esoteric for us laymen, Matt.
It's a bit like stabby end or slashy side only more hitty - much like the pummeling end ...
i know I'm kinda off topic but does anybody know a good website to stream new series online?
@Anders Conner Flixportal :P
@Winston Dwayne thank you, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I really appreciate it !
@Anders Conner Glad I could help :)
Lovely fluid movement there. The thought that struck me about the second stick was that, when you put a heavy weight at the end of a flexible shaft, you’ve basically made a blackjack. The shaft will act as a spring and accelerate the heavy weight even faster. Very subtle. Bone breaking, though.
'more hity' - the technical term
+John Mousley Indeed, as well as some bladed weapos are more choppy.
+Matías Tonazzi Choppy is colloquial. The technical term is "cutty."
top kek
+John Mousley - its scientific :)
I got an Ash walking stick-Like a john bull from smiths umbrellas in London after being attacked with knives. Ash is very light and springy and suited my skinny frame. It has a ball end of knotted wood and is legal and has backed off Bandits on two occasions. Also in Smiths at the back of the shop on top of a cupboard is a huge African War Club from Malawi well worth a look, made from some type of Ironwood/ebony and would need a big warrior to bear it (It is a shame that it is almost hidden and forgotten) phenomenal piece of kit.
Hi Matt you was talking about irish walking sticks or cane, do you know more about that if so could you talk more about it. Nice camera by the way,
Never underestimate the power of a humble wooden staff/stick...
Speak softly and carry a big one....
please do make more videos regarding this topic of walking canes and self defence.
Your right there are many ways to use the W-cane single and double handed grip.
for some reason it's died out in UK to carry a walking cane in public, unless your old and in need of it as a medical device.
I'm a practitioner of Diwang Panlaban System UK,
And EDC of such walking cane items is standard for us to use with using lots of different styles, crooked, Balled, Flexible.
it's very rare to see anyone EDC these days.
Yes I'm a expert in how to use in many ways in defence & offensively.
The problem is most people refuse to carry this in public because of the social stigma attached.
if used correctly a walking cane can be ultra deadly and awesomely practical.
welcome to the world of walking sticks as one of the best Self defence tools ever.....its a equaliser!
Any questions just ask.
As somebody who sometimes does need a walking stick, I can attest to the fact that using them in public is widely frowned upon. Especially if you're relatively young.
Lord Benjamin Salt Yes I agree a young person would be noticed alot more than a older person.
however we must break this trend and start to EDC.
I'd like to see more videos about walking sticks. Seems like it would be one of the very rare kinds of self defense items you are legally allowed to carry. I think you could use similar techniques with a sturdy umbrella or a crutch as well.
The new camera seems fine, I don't really notice any difference while watching on my phone though., the sound is a bit tinny, but slightly louder than before, which is great for the small speaker on my phone but might be less good when you watch on a computer with a good sound system.
'cept here in the good ol' US of A where we can get permits to conceal carry handguns xD
The problem ith walking sticks is that if you're healthy and young you would look weird carryng it.
@@arx3516 Not really, disabilities tend to be a taboo subject so most people who see someone, even someone young, walking with a cane will assume they've got some reason to carry it and will find it impolite to ask.
There are umbrellas with very sturdy shafts and pointy ends. I'm pretty sure that's for a good reason.
That second mallaca walking stick is really tasteful, you found a great piece for your collection! It's subtle, but deliberately effective for both purposes.
Hi Matt
I'm from germany (sorry for the bad english)and i like your chanel very much. But this time you make a mistake. The first stick is obviously not made out of blackthorn (prunus spinosa). Because the branches of the blackthorn don't grow in regular circles around the stem. Working sticks made out of blackthorn are one of the haviest you can use, compared tho other sticks in the same size. You say that the stick is not heavy, that is an other indication for that this is not blackthorn.
It looks more that someone use an old Christmas tree (fir tree or norway spruce) to make this stick. The spikes on this stick are leftovers from the small brances comming out of the main stem. They used this natural whorls in history as some kind of whisks in the kitchen or for cooking the laundry.
The name blackthron actually comes from the long black thornes wich grown all over the branches of this bush and there is no chance to preserve them in the working process if you are making a walking stick. It is very common here in germany and i like to use it for woodworking because it is hard and very dense wood. Because of the thornes and the impenetrable growth of the bush the where very common used in history as border fortifications in our region.
I have always liked a hallow bat, baseball or softball, that can be filled,but a pool cue is great. It can be a club or a cane with slight modifications
I have started making sticks for walking etc and I have the Blackthorn straightened etc and I was going to remove the thorny bits but looking at yours I think I shall leaving them on.
While camping in Australia I use a fishing hand spear to walk with and put plastic drink bottle top on end or chair leg knob on end! Or when walking on rivers i dont cover it -The chair leg cover can be easily pushed off if u see a snake or something bigger ! Use two in snow for walking with and if in bear country u might have a fighting chance!
My dad made me a hand spear from steel pieces at end for home invasions and it had two aholes bleeding out if my home on two different times!
My dad was red beret in Ww2 from UK and I bless him for sharing this but his wood stick broke recently as I have been walking many times along rivers with it and am so glad I found the fish spear!
Good topic. Cold Steel makes some plastic walking sticks. I have several different ones from them. I most like their one patterned on the African knockberry design. I found it a little heavy though for actually doing summer time 10 mile cross country hikes with, so I ran it though a lathe and thinned it a quarter inch and added a wrist thong at the bulb end. A vast improvement with no noticeable sacrifice.
Cool stuff!!! Ive carried a walking staff for several years now and wouldnt be without one (I have several self made ones). The obvious walking aid over rough or uneven ground has save me from knee/ankle twists on more occasions than I can count!
The self defence benefits are also there of course. Theyre a bit like a small version of a fighting staff.
I love walking and am out a lot in the forests around where I live. The wildlife includes wild boar so having a staff with me gives me at least a small percentage chance of getting away uninjured should I stumble across one of these notoriously bad tempered beasts 😊
Hi Matt
Sorry in advance for the stupid question, but I'm writing a novel and I'm looking for a type of armor that doesn't look like much in medieval(13th century Europe) standards but it could possibly be made of some special material like kevlar or something. What do you think could I use?
Any pointers would be appreciated.
Blackheart AMVs silk
Concealed chainmail was used in the "wild west" if that helps you at all, a year later.
Watch the tv show called “The Cape”, it has some interesting ideas.
There's nothing stupid about your question at all. Kelvar sounds like a good idea.
Thank you Matt, now I know what to hunt down when I get much older, I have a Spine Condition so I have come to terms with the fact that I may end up needing a Stick as a support sometime down the line. As a swordsman and as someone who believes in justifiable defence; I want a Stick I can also use as a Weapon, may even commission one to be custom made.
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I am a huge fan of the walking stick as an accessory and self defense choice. In today's society, they are offer a non threatening option one can carry in many more places than you can with a legally concealed weapon. Again thanks for covering these and am looking forward to more.
it sounds and looks darker than the last one, might be your settings.
I have a neck and spine injury, and often use a cane, so I would be interested in your views on various canes available today along with their usefulness and best ways to use for self-defense.
Hi Matt,
in my club we made some years ago a few training sessions after the manual "The Walking Stick Method of Self-Defense" reprinted by Paladin Press. There the author ("an officer of the Indian Police") suggests using "An ordinary Malacca Cane or an Ash Root Walking Stick". In his system a lot of circling motions are used and he explicitely states that you should "Sacrify weight to speed always, for remember that man is an easily vulnerable animal and has many soft spots..." After training this system for a short period of time the most convincing factor of fast spinning motions for me is the deterrence of a very fast swinging object directly in front of your face. You really think twice about whether or not you actually want to attack your opponent without any kind of protection ;D
Well, i can say just one thing: This was the video i was expecting, walking sticks. Ahhh, i love them, not sure why but i really love them so im very happy to see this video and very happy to know that tehre will be more coming. As always, great video and keep it to the max Matt, you are awesome!
Sound quality tip: you may consider hanging comforters or other thick, sound absorbent fabric on your walls to reduce echo.
The room has strong natural acoustics. For better sound you need to cancel some of the echo. I would suggest the cheap method, blankets or carpets hung up around the room or at least bunched up in the corners.
I'm actually pretty excited for some more videos on walking sticks.
Blackthorn is another name for sloe which are everywhere in the wild and there was an extremely interesting article somewhere about Irish stick fighting.
They would hold it two thirds of the way down with the club pointing forward and the last third reaching down your forearm protecting it. Then you punch and strike while quickly moving around as with most martial arts. There is obviously little Irish combat treatises but I think there are a few illustrations and descriptions.
The sound is excellent. My Brother used to show hogs when he was in the Future Farmers of America. He used a heavy ash cane to maneuver the hog around the show ring. It was about 3 1/2 feet long and 3/4 of an inch thick. I always thought it would make a good self defense weapon especially if you used the crook end to strike with.
I can imagine that stick, on seeing Matt walking into the shop, start pleading please by me, please take me home.
a good stout stick is a hugely useful defensive tool that can be carried almost anywhere with out causing a stir. I carry one almost daily. Thanks for the Vid.
it would be nice if you did a new video on this subject. thanks for the intertanment
I've read a XIXth century self-defense manual by Montsery, and it actually compares sticks to the use of the sable - though it says some things should not be tried because of the lack of a handguard. But he recommends those sticks with a curved hand end, because you can use it to hook and grapple.
I sort of collect walking sticks I guess, have maybe a 100 or so.
Good rule of thumb is the longer the tip on the end the older it is, also older sticks usually have a lanyard hole up toward the top.
The one with the heavy end probably is weighted with lead and not an iron rod, the lead was poured in when liquid.
Sound quality is much improved. If anything, I would suggest turning it down just a tad.
Perhaps talk about the art of Bartitsu, and how the cane (as well as fists and cloaks) were used within it.
Just a thought ^^
yes, more videos on the use of the walking stick would be awesome and appreciated!
Great video and great quality Matt. Keep them coming.
Excellent video 📹 thank you!! I carry a walking (stick) in Brooklyn......very handy.
@ Canne de Combat:
Did it for a while. And yes, the sticks they use in training and tournaments are pretty light and thin (mine is about 3 feet long, and 3/4" thick). But I come from a FMA background, and found that their techniques made no sense whatsoever for that type of weapon (basically, the rules require you to do very wide swings that telegraph way more than necessary). Until I picked up a croquet mallet and tried the same techniques with it - and felt at home immediately. So I'm pretty sure that Canne de Combat is meant to be used with exactly the kind of weighted, very top-heavy canes you showed here.
The wider field of view and the warmer colours is definitely an improvement, although I'm not sure if the colours is down to the camera or the lightning. Next thing to improve would probably be to get rid of some of that echo, it's one of the most glaring issues I find with most "amateur" videos.
really like the new look! the shadows are indeed a bit hard, but you are already aware of this, and it's not such a big deal for me. Keep up the amazing work, Matt!
"The hitty end." That sounds a bit technical. Could you perhaps dumb it down a bit for me?
The sound quality is significantly superior to before. I'm not noticing that much of a difference in video other than a wider field of view, but I don't have a fast enough internet to play at any higher than 480p.
That spiky walking stick was pretty cool. There are probably tons of interesting designs of sticks you can come acoss that can have very versatile purposes.
i would love to hear more about this topic. Baritsu has been a huge interest to me and the cane seems to be a very functional weapon. Not to mention you can carry it just about anywhere.
The round part on the end is for swinging it around and using it like a spear.
Just started watching your videos. Love 'em. I've done a little fencing at a local club but it was cutting into my ballroom dancing lessons. Some day. In the meantime, I'm really digging your talks and demos. Much thanks!
Since you ask for feedback, I can hear you clearly but the sound is tinny.
Thought about throwing a little foam up on the wall we can't see? If you're worried about sound quality.
The stick with the heavier end can be used for very fast movements. Hold it heavy end forward with your dominant hand halfway up, and your back hand about quarter way up. Saber grip with both hands, by which I mean thumbs extending along the stick. Having it in this guard closes the centerline of your body. An explosive snap forward, performing a stopping ricochet along the forearm of the backhand. Different angles are possible, use your imagination. Switch the heavy ball end back onto your shoulder or into the crook of your arm, and wield the ferrule end in a two-handed stabbing, strafing motion to the face, go low and dig up the centerline. There's a lot more, I'll have to do a video eventually. Suffice to say that the stick can be FAST from either end, but it has to be used in a way which exploits its weight balance. It can be used from very long to very close range quite effectively. NOT like a small sword or an Asian bo-staff.
New camera works well, and I would be very interested to see more on the walking stick subject.
I live in the the southern us and a popular thing down here is canes with concealed blades or daggers. I knew someone with a collection. Good video.
Nice video quality! it is much warmer and not at cold as you're previous videos.
Stick with it!
I agree
As usually, great vid Matt. Those two pieces can indeed be sinister weapon in capable hands, especially that second whippy steel-caped one.
from now on known as a "Heavy whippy stick" as opposed to the plastic variety of "whippy sticks" that are actually 18" measuring sticks from the older warhammer starting boxes XD
speed, mass, momentum, no mention of energy; at least someone seems to understand physics here.
Thank you Matt!
Just purchased a large diameter heavy duty Crooked Cane from local store Tractor supply( farm supplies). . purchased a rubber tip for it at pharmacy...I can use it to jab ..strike ..& use hook to grab a perps leg & pull it out from under them ! Really inexpensive! I am impressed !
I'm starting soon with a treatise by one Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstrey which included amongst boxing and other forms of unarmed fighting, forms with which to use a cane and a quarterstaff. Have you ever heard of Col. Monstrey and/or read his book? If so, what do you think of the exercises and forms he illustrates?
Ryan Ashley I recommend broad sword and singlestick by R. G. Allanson Winn. Informative and historical look at training.
Hi Matt
The video is fine, also a tip - Manual focus on something you place where you usually stand otherwise we have this crisp clear view of your wall and you slightly out of focus infront :D but ya thats just nitpicking, its way better than the last camera.
It's not really directly connected to this video. I did recently buy a pretty large axe (purely for fun as it looked nice Peter Szablos latest thing) and I was wondering, did something like a 2600g axe head on a 130 cm long shaft ever pop up in any treatises you know of, or have heard of it being used or produced historically ?
Malacca is a variety of palm botanically speaking, and is a climbing vine. Have a swag of sticks I have collected and made. I walk a lot with a dog and always have a stick. A familiar object/tool is an advantage when in a real scarey or confrontational situation. Many advantages, legally acceptable in most places, visible, lots of range, clears a space. I always use a bandanna/shemagh or similar as a wrist loop, easily moved along shaft for reverse or mid grip, and of course useful for many other purposes.
Id be really interested to see you bring in an expert on this Matt. Fascinating stuff. Arent canes part of Bartitsu as well?
I wonder how the styles changed as walking stick fashions changed - from the Restoration through to the Regency fashion was for longer, heavier walking sticks that came well above hip level. Sticks/Canes got shorter and lighter as time went on so I guess the self defence use styles changed with the fashion.
As always superb content Matt, informative and fascinating. A small note on sound - the closer the microphone is to your mouth the better, as it will reduce the reflections from the rest of the room (though there are obvious restraints with regards to the kinds of demonstration you perform), and as others have noted there is a small hum from your computer as I assume your microphone is on you desk. In an ideal situation you might use a dedicated microphone stand so as to position the microphone *just* out of frame so it is as close to you as possible, thus solving both issues I have outlined. Again, really enjoy your content and look forward to consuming more.
As for a Martial Art involving walking sticks, I recommend you look into an intriguing Portugese martial art called "Jogo do Pau" It seems quite unique.
This was a very interesting topic and I, for one, would like to hear more about defensive walking sticks: materials and tactics. Thanks a million.
The sound has improved there is no echo like before, and the visuals look clear.
Hey Matt, if you're look for some basic front lighting, get a cheap stage light or lamp and mount a semi-transparent white umbrella on it.
Should provide a nice bit of diffused lighting.
Thanks for the vid! Stick based self defense is big for us who use a cane daily. Hope to see your expert videos soon.
Everything looks great. I've loved the channel for a long time. Congrats on the new gear as well as breaking 100k subs!
Chock grips do allow for slightly easier disarms. But great for increased dexterity. Good to see
Can you talk about the roll of "heavy cavalry" in the times of pike and spear formations and how much actual contact there was between those two groups o the battlefield? I find it hard to warp my mind about how you would charge into an infantry block, even if you circle around the back, what stops the last few ranks to turn around and point their pointy ends in your direction?
Some people claim that that horses would not charge into groups of people to begin with which I can't imagine being true since that would limit the power of shock or heavy cavalry to be anti archer and anti-cavalry only for most of the engagements. If that would be true "knights" wouldn't really be that great in a battlefield, would they?
About 20 yrs ago i cut back an applepear tree back whilst loading the trailer i notic'd two good lumpy branch's i dont know why but throw them in the shed left they for awhile then turned them into walking stick's one is quit heavy and i use it when ever i go bush very handy
Your sound quality is excellent. I am interested in a good quality Blackthorn for defensive purposes. Cheers.
Awesome. I find wooden sticks practical EDC defense. I'd love to learn more about walking sticks. Really glad you made this video Matt! Nice new camera btw, with the wider view, you probably won't have much trouble showing us larger weapons like Greatswords. polearms, etc. Good day. - Raphael
Hey Matt, i found ur channel probably 6 months ago and have watched alot of ur vids, and think ur doing great job. So keep up the good work. I wish more people my age would be into this stuff
Matt! The audio! the picture! YOU'VE DONE IT! IT NO LONGER SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE IN A BATHROOM!
The visual is good. Great presentation.
Cheers from California,
Nathan
Please do a video about BARTITSU! Thanks and sorry for the capslock. :)
More stick defense videos please, great stuff & keep Em rolling!
Great topic! They probably saw more use in self defense than most any other item, especially in later times. At least that would be my guess.
Sound great, view great, a little more light to see the details on these items.
Where can I buy a walking stick, with probably 10/12 inches of steel in the end ,like the one you demonstrated? If I had the tools I would get a piece of cherry wood or oak and make my own. But I am 67, also on disability, with a ruptured disc but living in a big city ( Cleveland Ohio ) I feel the need for some protection besides a knife, and I won't carry a pistol, this type of walking stick seems perfect! I'm not looking for an antique, I just want an inexpensive reliable walking stick?
love this channel, keep up the good work Sir.
The new camera is a lot clearer, as for the lighting, before you spend loads of money on an expensive rig, it might be worth looking at daylight bulbs, they're pretty expensive for a light bulb but much cheaper than a full lighting rig, they last a long time too.
The new camera makes things look a lot warmer tone-wise (unless that's colour correction or the lighting) but it looks really nice. Also sound is a lot more clear.
On topic here, a cane club, that's uh great
Make sure to practice your limp.
Or tell a friendly doctor it sometimes hurts when you walk, and ask him to prescribe a cane or walking stick. :)
Wow, you hit 100,000! Congratulations man. The new picture looks incredible, too.
Hello from America! I'm a history nerd and particularly interested in historical combat; that's how I found this channel. Anyway, I was wondering if you would consider discussing swords used in the Civil War, or something similar.
Thanks!
Hello,
I just started watching your videos and love them. I'm on a binge then will later to back and watch them in detail. The black thorn stick you have is Irish and is called a Shillelagh. They were used in medieval times until the 19th century as weappns. The wood it's made from is blackthorn. It's a thorny Bush and the knob and you hold was actually the root ball. Originally they were usually short and used as a club. Later when walking sticks became popular they were lengthened. At one time they were illegal so people his them in their chimneys hence the black colooration. Now days it's pInt. Yours however is the real deal. Two ways you can tell. One is the size of the root ball knob. These have been so popular and black thorn grows so slowly that the large root balls are gone. Also, it looks by the color to have originally been soot then later painted over. Also the metal tip was put on walking sticks in the 18th and 19th century...perhaps earlier...not as.a.weapon but so the end wouldn't wear so quickly.
Dude! The new camera rocks! Looking crisp!
As a professional recording and media specialist, I just want to say kudos for the upgrade. It's a major step forward for you.
I'm very interested in the topic of walking sticks. Please do lots more.
That cane with the metal rod inside sounds like it might have been used for Vigny style cane fighting. Maybe Bartitsu?
Add padded walls for your acoustics
Lil echoey in there
Two points.. While the knobs on the blackthorn stick would seem to be an nuissance when shifting your grip, maybe they make it harder for an opponent to grab it.. And I would think brass would be better than steel for adding weight to the stick.. well they are almost the same weight.. but brass wins by a hair.
+WakarimasenKa The knobs form striking points that concentrate force. They do interfere with sliding grips, but not so much when shifting from hand to hand. The biggest drawback to a blackthorne, though is the lack of a crook. It removes several possible striks, blocks, and captures.
I can accept that argument.. though it doesnt hold equally for the entire length of the stick...
At any rate, I dont see a martial need for them to be present for the full length aside for discouraging grabs.
*welp* just thought of one.. you could rake all those nobs across the face of an opponent.. might have a sting to it.. as an ersatz edge...to add that final threat other than the point and the "pommel"... Oh and it should work pretty well for binding a blade, if the wood is tough enough. might even be useful for breaking the blade.. this dead piece of wood is growing on me.
+WakarimasenKa
Keep in mind that part of the reason the knobs go all the way up is that they're the bases of the blackthorne's branches, and are naturally occurring.
The reason you don't only leave the lower ones intact is that part of the purpose of the cane is to NOT be an obvious weapon.
Leaving the nubs of the branches all the way up is an aesthetically pleasing way of not informing the general public that you're lugging around a bashing stick. The fact that they make the weapon... er... cane... more effective in combat is a bonus.
I was actually keeping this in mind. But I was entertaining the notion that they served a martial purpose. Or thats how it turned out.. I was questioning it and then I came up with a few ideas...