Stick Fighting: Techniques of Self-Defense

It shows uses of not only the Bo staff, but also shorter stick techniques. It is very good for overall ideas of different staff sizes, though not a very good one for a normal staff techniques.

If your looking for ideas, it's great. If your looking to start from sctach and go onto high techniques, not so good.


Fantastic book for all Martial Artists   April 7, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Stick Fighting is a book with multiple defence techniques to be learnt using various types of stick. The Kali is the most regularly used stick in the book; however a smaller stick and a hand stick are also used. It has defences for a punch, front kick, grabs from behind, grabs to the stick, to the wrist and to the sleeve. Each technique is explained with great accuracy and illustration are provided to aid the learner.


Good book; however I do have one complaint...   December 22, 2003
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I love the way this book is set out. Diagrams are very user friendly with clear and concise instructions in technique deployment.

My complaint? That the techniques are so effective, no one wants to help you in learning them... (!)

An excellent book for anyone who is a martial arts practitioner or who carries a stick.

Speak softly, but carry a (big) stick.
A man without a (blackthorn) stick is a man without an expedient.


Unique insight and quality publication.   October 4, 2002
A reader
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

This is the first widely-available book by Hatsumi that concentrates purely on taijutsu mechanics expressed in bojutsu - now followed by a sequel book. There are a few others, but their coverage is nothing as compared to this book and they are either out of print, in Japanese and/or unavailable over here.

The book covers more than 50 battlefield techniques of Kukishin Ryu -The 9 Demon Gods School - of which Hatsumi is the 28th Grandmaster.

The Kukishin techniques shown are those organised by and have come down via Takamatsu Sensei.

Beginning with sabaki-fundementals of movement it then covers 8 aspects of bojutsu from defensive moves to immobilisations. This includes bo, jo, hanbo and tessen techniques (different sizes of stick or staff) and henka (variations) of techniques.

This book is published by Kodansha International. For those in the know, this is as huge 'guarantee' of quality as any other - I've only ever seen them publish the very best amongst the best of titles.

For Bujinkan practioners there are familiar techniques of Take Ori, Oni Kudaki, Ganseki Otoshi , etc. Whilst fully exploring the unique characteristics of the bo, the universality of taijutsu means that this book will also apply to empty-hand.

It is presented in a format worthy of a Japanese artist. Fine illustrations are added to the very clear photos of the younger Grandmaster's demonstration. Much attention has been also paid to clear, uncluttered layout that flows with the description. Often the double page spread is used to full effect with the images moving across between the pages.

Overall this book is ideal for practioners of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu looking for a practical book, for anyone interested in traditional Japanese martial arts or for anyone interested in stick and staff fighting from any or no tradition.

This is a book martial arts publishers should set their standard by.

Five Stars.