The Stick Kata

The First Walking-Stick Kata

Dedicated to the memory of

Shihan Jack Matthews

A note on the walking-stick:

The form is designed for a hardwood stick the length of the practitioner's leg, from the ball-and-socket joint to the sole of the foot. The handle is hooked 90 degrees from the shaft and is of a length to accommodate the closed hand and no more. If the handle is made of smooth metal (e.g.: a brass duck's head) so much the better, but care should be taken that the handle is well adhered to the haft.

This walking-stick has features in common with several existing martial arts weapons:

The stick can be held in two hands and used like the bo or con, (quarterstaff) to block and strike.
The techniques for jo, or short stick, are almost all suitable for the walking-stick.
The handle provides a hook which can be put to various uses, much like the hooked kama.
The handle allows use of many of the techniques developed for the tonfa, especially when the tonfa is held reversed. The walking-stick can also be held on the handle with the shaft along the fore-arm, reinforcing blocks like the tonfa.
Any techniques developed for swords, rapiers etc. also have application.

But unlike the above weapons, the walking-stick can be carried anywhere in a non-aggressive manner and is thus a suitable self-defence weapon, especially for walkers.

In the hands of a competent karateka, the walking-stick is a good defensive weapon, suitable for defence against knife, stick, or a larger unarmed aggressor. It gives the user distance and confers the capacity to deliver hard, even lethal strikes and blocks.

A note on the kata

The stick kata and a large set of basics were developed in response to an expressed need for walkers and hikers to feel safer while walking outdoors.

It is designed to be part of a karate training and would probably be unintelligible to anyone unfamiliar with karate.

Click Here for some hints if you do decide to practice it.

Notation:

The positions on the stick:

← Handle

↑ ↑ ↑

Tip Centre Haft

Breaths:

▲        In-breath
↑          Short in-breath
▼        Out-breath
▲        Long in-breath
▼        Long out-breath
▼!       Kiai

Directions:

The directions are given as compass points, assuming that the kata begins facing 'north'.

	Action	Hands	Stance/breath
	Rei	Stick handle under R hand	Heels together
	Kamae Step out L, move stick to both hands	L palm up, R palm down R one hand from haft, L middle	▲▼ Hajiji dachi natural stance facing N
1a	Threat from N. Step back	Move stick to cover L side, raising tip to vertical	▲ Zenkutsu dachi forward stance facing N. R forward
1b	Expose R side to draw attack. Slide R leg back , blocking L	L middle, R near haft, R forearm parallel to floor. Stick vertical, tip up.	...▲ Nekoashi dachi cat stance facing N. R forward
2	Attack to mid-body from N. Step forward, blocking to R	L middle, R near haft, pivot vertical stick to deflect blow	▼ Shiko dachi straddle stance facing NNE. L forward
3	Counter to N. Turn hips, reverse strike	L middle, R haft. Turn L wrist on top to focus	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N. L forward
4	Threat from N. Slide L leg back , blocking R, drawing attack to L side.	Change hands, L to near haft, R to middle, stick vertical, tip up	▲ Nekoashi dachi facing N. L forward
5	Attack to L side middle (ribs) Step forward, blocking to L	L near haft, R middle, stick vertical in line with hara, firm. Pivot to deflect blow to middle.	▼ Shiko dachi facing NNW. R forward
6	Turn hips, counter reverse strike N to mid-region.	Full chamber to L, R hand forward, turn hips to focus	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N. R forward.
7	Threat from SW. Strike down with L to attacker's knee	L at haft, R open hand at hara, palm down, fingers up	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi R forward
8	Turn to face SW. Attacker has evaded knee strike attacks to middle	L haft. R catches middle as you turn. Circular block to L	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing SW, L forward
9	Step forward to repel attacker	L haft, R Middle. Reverse strike with point to chest, shoving attacker away	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing SW, R forward
10	Threat from E. Strike down with L to attacker's knee	L at haft, R open hand at hara, palm down, fingers up	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi R forward
11	Turn to face E. Attacker has evaded knee strike attacks to middle	L haft. R catches middle as you turn. Circular block to L	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing E, L forward
12	Step forward to E to repel attacker	L haft, R Middle. Reverse strike with point to chest, shoving attacker away	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing E, R forward
13	Attack from NW to L leg.	Shift L hand down to middle, block behind. R at hara open-hand	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing E, R forward
14	Attack to middle Turn to face NW and block	R to handle, middle block towards L	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing NW, L forward
15	Step forward NW, lunge strike with point to middle.	L middle, R haft, R remains bent at focus	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing NW, R forward
16	Attack to L leg from S.	Shift L hand down to centre of stick, block down to cover L leg with stick firmly against L forearm.	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing NW, R forward
17	Attack to middle from SSW. Turn to face S	R haft, L middle, middle block towards L	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing S, L forward
18	Counter. Step forward, lunge strike with point	R haft, L middle, Chamber to R, R remains bent at focus	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing S, R forward	(Picture from back)
19	Attack to back leg L from NW. Evade by turning 90° to heron stance, tucking L foot behind bent R Knee, hips facing E	Block with circular movement using L haft. R in open-handed age uke	↑▼ Sagiashi dachi Heron stance on R Leg, Blocking Age Uke R, facing E, looking over shoulder NW
20	Counter, step out with L, strike to top of head.	Bring stick up in a big curve with L, grasping stick with R as it reaches the zenith. L at haft, R touching L	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi L forwards
21	Strike to side of head	Strike in a circle inwards then out	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi L forwards
22	Attack to back leg R from E. Evade by turning 90° to heron stance, tucking L foot behind bent R Knee, hips facing E	Block with circular movement using R haft. L in open-handed age uke	↑▼ Sagiashi dachi Heron stance on L leg, Blocking Age Uke R, facing N, looking over shoulder NE
23	Counter, step out with R, strike to top of head.	Bring stick up in a big curve with R, grasping stick with L as it reaches the zenith. R at haft, L touching R	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing NE, R forwards
24	Strike to side of head	Strike in a circle inwards then out	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing NE, R forwards
25	Knife attack to head/ upper body	Shift R up stick, L haft, block to above the head with stick parallel to ground	▲▼ Kiba dachi facing N
26	Counter, kick to solar plexus	Maintain block, flick upwards	↑▼ Mae giri with L foot
27	Counter, Strike with side of shaft to throat	L at handle, full focus to push knife arm up and strike	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward
28	Block blow from N to L	L haft, R above, moving R up in a circle	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward
29	Block blow from N to R	L at handle, R below moving R down in a circle	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward
30	Counter, strike up to groin	Shift L onto handle and bring it towards hara. Use R to swing stick down & up, pivoting in L	↑▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward
31	Attack to groin, step back and block.	Shift L haft, block down with stick parallel to floor	▲▼ Heiko dachi facing N
32a	Step back, block blow to head	Haft L, block up with shaft supported between thumb & fist of R, fist facing out	▲ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, R forward
32b	Slide back, blocking blow to head	Handle L, block up with shaft supported between thumb & fist of R, back of fist facing out. Stick 45deg from vertical to deflect downward blow	...▲ Neko ashi dachi R forward
32c	Counter, shift forward, strike side of head from L. Kiai!	Move stick in a big circle behind back. Shift R to grasp stick, touching L. Strike in circle, reaching forward	▼! Slide forward into Zenkutsu dachi with R while striking
33a	Step back, block blow to head	Haft R, block up with shaft supported between thumb & fist of L, fist facing out	▲... Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward
33b	Slide back, blocking blow to head	Handle R, block up with shaft supported between thumb & fist of L, back of fist facing out. Stick 45deg from vertical to deflect downward blow	...▲ Neko ashi dachi facing N, R forward
33c	Counter: Shift forward, strike side of head from R	Move stick in a big circle behind back. Shift R to grasp stick, touching L. Strike in circle, reaching forward	▼ Slide forward into Zenkutsu dachi with R while striking
34a	Evade leg strike	Chamber stick to R, shifting L to middle, R to haft.	▲ L foot drawn up to knee height next to R leg
34b	Counter, step-slide forward to strike with point. Kiai!	Use force of body and arm strength to focus the blow. L shifts to middle of stick, R on haft.	▼! Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward.
35	Counter, strike down with handle point	Invert L to knuckles on top. Turn handle to face up with R. Slide R down past middle to move stick in a circle forward.	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward.
36	Prepare for low attack	Move R to centre and move stick, handle down, to hide behind body on R. L at hara, open hand.	▲ Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward.
37a	Attack to hara. Step in, bringing stick around to block…	R middle, L at hara, open hand.	▼... Zenkutsu dachi R forward.
37b	continue to block, turning hips to turn the stick, and catching enemy's weapon in the crook of the stick	R middle, L at hara, open hand.	...▼ Zenkutsu dachi R forward, Facing W, turned 90°
37c	Turn the hips and throw attacker's weapon / arm to the R	Grasp stick on tip side of R, assisting with the throw	▲ Zenkutsu dachi Facing N, R forward
38	Counter, step forward and strike downwards with the tip of the handle. Kiai!	Pull back over right shoulder, to arc high and downwards.	▼! Zenkutsu dachi facing N, L forward.
39	Step back, covering opponent with point.	Rotate the stick with handle uppermost, to point tip at attacker. R haft, L middle.	▲▼ Zenkutsu dachi facing N R forward
	Centre		▲▼ Heiko dachi facing N
	Bow	L open to side, R on handle, tip on ground at right	▲▼ Rei

Photographs: Julia Martin

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