1 stick vs. 2 sticks

[bjung]

Woof All:

Due to technical problems, I'm bringing the original post which started this thread here and deleting the original.

Crafty
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hey what do you think's better for someone starting out with the sticks, single or double? i'm trying to learn double but i'm thinking of going over to just one, i'm basically putting all my power into the right hand anyways, out of habit. is it better to learn the fundamentals on one, then branch out to two when you can use the single with either hand? while i'm on the subject, can someone with one stick go up against someone else, same skill level, with two?


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I think it's better to learn double first as learning just one may lead to bad habits, such as a non-active/limp, complimentary hand. Plus, being able to fight with either hand is necessary in competition, street, etc.
When I started I often wanted to work my strong side because my other side was terribly weak. Although this stroked my ego, I didn't imrpove my left side at all. If you are going to work just one stick, start with your off-hand, and work on improving it. Make your bad side good and your good side better.

A person with one stick can do fine against a person with two.

C-Pornstar Dog

[guest]

i think its best to work one stick sometimes with both hands equally....developing both hands as even as possible, though you will without a doubt have one hand hopefully only slightly stronger than the other. in the same breathe though working two sticks helps bulid a continuity with your hands making them both quick and effiecient with or without a weapon. so bottom line one stick  working both hands......and two sticks as well......why not......both are applicable!!

[Stickgrappler]

woof guest:

"one stick working both hands"

not sure i understand you. do you mean work one stick with both hands at the same time like dos manos grip (working with 28" stick or 4-6' staff) or working with a stick one hand at a time but being sure to work the complementary hand?

TIA.[/i]

[mookie]

If you look at the progression in the DBMA videos it goes as follows
Power Training (one stick)
Footwork (one stick)
Siniwali (double stick)
Jiu Jitsu
Blocks Punyos etc.(one stick?)

IMO, i would work both both double stick...and make practicing power strokes part of your workout so you can build up your week side.  

The way I see it, (I could be wrong so take this with a grain of salt) They  bring in double sticks somewhat early, and there is probably a good reason for that.

If you train with one, even when you fight with two you will use them as if you only have one because thats how you trained.  If you train with two you will instinctively use your free hand as if you had two.

just my $.02

[Mike]

Hi guys,

i've read the postings and here are my thinkings on it:

In some martial arts, like jeet kune do, you first train your good side. Because if you can sharpen your best weapon like your right hand, its more important as be a rookie with boths hands. In the early years, when i began with stickfighting like pekiti tirsia or lameco escrima i do the same. At first i develope my strongest weapon.

Kind regards, Mike from germany

[tomek]

From the scientical point of view: working on worse side (usually left) will help You with mastering dominant one (usually right). So working both hands is really needed.
Also it's good to train double sticks to gain coordination, control and technique. Even if You use full power only on one side, try training both, simultanously or not, and You'll be surprised...
Long time ago I was training sword one hand only... After learning some FMA I can do techniques both sides, and my right hand is much better.
And last, but not least... it's better to fight with 2 sticks, or be able to work both sides:)

[guest]

sorry my post was a little confusing, i must admit. i meant to work with one stick, right handed but also train with one stick left handed so as to be as equal as possible with one stick...... but able to fight with either hand. obviuosly one hand will most likley be stronger than the other, but hopefullly not to much so.....in case your strong hand may be hurt and you are forced to fight with the weaker, you will be able to do so. hope that makes a little more sense.

[Crafty_Dog]

Woof All:

A couple of points:

1) What Mookie refers to as the DBMA videos are properly called either "The Dog Brothers videos" or "Real Contact Stickfighting".   They comprise our first series.  The DBMA videos are our second series.\

2) Many people prefer to develop their dominant side first and many of them have good results.   My concern with this approach is that, unlike boxing/kickboxing where both hands/feet are active, it tends to increase the disparity between dominant and complementary hands/sides and, for many people, to develop only linear footwork.

Some systems, e.g. LaCoste, solve this by teaching long and short first.

3) In DBMA we teach double from the beginning.  Apart from the fighting benefits of this, it develops the body evenly (and if you train with gusto imbalance is a risk in training only one side IMHO) and opens the door to footwork that changes lead.  Not to say that the off-lead in single does not have its place, but if it does not matter which side is forward then all triangles become possible.

4) The skills developed by this approach we feel have importance in 360 degree situations.

Woof,
Guro Crafty

 and when working single stick usually teach the complementary hand first.  This transposes readily to the dominant side (vice versa not doing so in our experience) and yields a natural comfort with the motion(s) in question on either side.



3)

[sting]

A disharmonious perspective is that you may be better off being 100% on your dominant side than 50%/50% on both sides.

[LG Dog Russ]

I've found with my students that it is not any more difficult for a new student to start double stick once they are tough how to use proper body mechanics with a single stick at first.  Learning double stick techniques first may even be a better way to go since you begin to develop bi-lateralism from the get go.  Also.... try baseball bats!  Heavy weapons training is very important at first since it will correct a students poor form.... or else!

Woof,
LG Dog Russ

NYC

[Anonymous]

i feel when my life is on the line i want to be 100% with my lead had, and not 50-50 with both. your non dominant hand has its own specific job to do when fighting, and you need to let that had develop those skills 100%. i feel it's better to train long and short if you want to use two weapons instead of two weapons the same size. with same size weapons you only have one striking range.

[Anonymous]

while working on L side You actually develop both, also Right. it's a scientifical fact. So the Q is not if to have right hand for 100% or 50/50, but rather if to have right 100 or right for 100 and left for 80 of their maximum.
left hand of course got a lot to do, but staying one-sided You will never get Your maximum.
try left and You will really see the difference in right.

[fresh blood]

this is a great discussion for someone who is just beginning FMA, with no other martial arts experience.

to go on a tangent... i've finally saved enough money to be able to afford two of the DB videos.  i've already decided to buy "grandfathers speak", and now trying to figure out which second video to get.

i'm not looking for a 'how to' video, but the video which completely captures the essence of FMA and the totality of an actual encounter.  which one should i get in addition to "grandfathers speak"?

[dogfighter]

Fresh blood, I think the video titled"GATHERING OF THE PACK" is what you are looking for. It is part of the second series of tapes offered through the dog brothers. This tape is designed to give you a feeling of what a dog brothers gathering  experiance is like.This tape has virtualy no naration and is packed full of fights from past gatherings up to the late 90's. It has been said another video is in the works titled"DOG BROTHERS GREATEST HITS" but to the best of my knowledge it is not available at this time.   BTW one of my double nunchaku fights against Eric (topdog)Knaus is on the gathering of the pack tape along with other mixed weapons such as knife and staff. I can't think of any other tape in the new series that fits the description of what you are looking for as much as this one. I am sure this will meet your needs. Also: Tape six of the first series of dogbrothers videos would be a good choice. Remember to purchase tapes directly through Dog Brothers inc. for the best price.    Dogfighter

[faust]

what do you guys recommend as a complimentary exercise? jogging seems like the obvious answer, but are there some other drills i could be doing to build up the hand-eye coordination? i'm looking to improve my speed on getting the sticks up for those blocks on overhand strikes.

[Lazyhound]

I used to spend 10-15 minutes a day just doing sinawali on a punching bag (don't have access to one at the moment, though). It seemed to help my speed and forearm strength quite a bit.

[jayceblk]

My two cents. What feels better to you? Do that. While you should definately train with both hands, with one stick and two sticks, and maybe even both hands on one long stick, try out what feels natural to you and work on the rest when you gain more confidence.