Sword and Pen – February 2009 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
LIKE the knife, the little yawara hand stick is an old, old weapon that refuses to become obsolete. We thought that discussing it might be helpful to our readers; and we‘ll go ahead and offer some practical training and use suggestions, too.
First of all, let‘s quickly explain what a yawara hand stick is, just in case anyone is not aware of what the implement is.
The yawara hand stick is a short stick (could be plastic, wood, or metal, but wood is the most common) that is about five or six inches long, and varies between about an inch and an inch and a half in diameter. Many examples have been commercially manufactured and sold, but the truth is that a simple length of hardwood with no shaping, designing, or modifying whatever will serve as well as any commercially purchased ―yawara stick for practical use. The little device probably originated in China or India (used in conjunction with ch‘uan fa or "kung fu" systems, or with Hindu varmannie) but it is best known as deriving from that Japanese ju-jutsu system known as yawara (hence the popular name "yawara stick").
As the stick was employed in that ju-jutsu system it was an adjunct to control and manhandling when the bugei (warrior) took on the role of a fuedal age cop — ie keeping order, arresting non-dangerous but politically inconvenient or annoying types, etc. The purpose of the yawara stick was to enable the user to inflict severe pain by applying tremendous force and pressure — using the end of the stick — to vulnerable nerve centers and pain points that the warrior relied upon to make control and arresting grips practicable. In the hands of a powerful, well-trained, Samurai ju-jutsu and sword fighting expert who was battle-hardened and whose task was to control unskilled, physically puny (if obstreperous) peasants, the yawara stick worked like a charm. For modern and practical employment in the self-defense venue, we completely disregard the use of the yawara stick in its classic ju-jutsu form.
We regard the handy little yawara stick as an often valuable personal defense aid when utilized to augment the capability of its possessor to strike focused, hard blows to vulnerable target areas. We have always incorporated basic yawara stick training into our fundamental stickwork, which we teach at Brown Belt, 3rd Class.
We do not recommend that anyone purchase a "manufactured" yawara hand stick. This is not because there are not good quality yawara sticks available for purchase. There certainly are. However, a yawara stick per se is a "weapon". And, carried in a pocket it becomes a concealed weapon — something that, if observed and challenged by a law enforcement officer, either because it was noticed or perhaps used against an assailant, could bring about some serious problems for the individual who used the stick.
[Bloggers note: Below are examples of commercially available "yawara sticks" offered by Cold Steel. They are from left to right; the Sharky (or Pocket Shark), the Koga SD1 & the Mini Koga SD2. While I would prefer to carry and utilize the SD2... both of the Koga models are CLEARLY weapons! (The SD1 ia also TOO LARGE for the purposes delineated in this atricle.) The Sharky however... is a fully functionaly PEN! You can carry it on an airplane, into a courthouse... virtually anywhere that you cannot carry any other weapon except perhaps a walking stick.]
There are plenty of simple substitutes for a manufactured "yawara stick" that can be carried and used for personal defense without being construed to be "unlawful concealed weapons", should one unfortunately find oneself having to explain "just what that 'thing‘ is, and how come you were carrying it!?" We strongly urge that a reader opt for one of those items, rather than a "yawara stick" per se.
Here are some suggestions for an improvised yawara hand stick:
• An old pot handle
• A mini-maglite
• A 5" to 6" plain piece of steel tubing (1 to 1-1/2" in diameter)
• A 5" to 6" piece of hardwood (1 to 1-1/2‖ in diameter)
• A thick, heavy pen
• A utility knife handle (steel or hard plastic)
Note: While due to the fact that a utility knife is "not really a weapon"
you could probably carry one with impunity with a blade inserted.
However, whether to do so or not is something each individual will
need to decide for himself.
That ought to be sufficient fuel for thought and consideration if the yawara stick appeals to you! There are other things that make excellent yawara type sticks, too.
A yawara stick is properly gripped by holding it securely in the center, allowing a small protrusion of its mass from both ends of your clenched fist. Each of the protrusions constitutes a striking point to be employed against the opponent.
Master the HAMMERFIST BLOW and the HANDAXE CHOP. You now have the proper striking technique for that portion of the yawara stick that protrudes from the little finger side of the gripping hand.
Master the INWARD REVERSE HANDBLADE STRIKE and/or the INWARD FOREARM BLOW and you have the proper method of delivering decisive hits with the portion of the yawara stick that protrudes from the thumb side of your clenched hand.
That simple? Why, yes it is. At least in theory. Then comes the hard part: PRACTICE.
Best targets for the yawara hand stick blows delivered in the thus far described modes are:
• Eyes
• Mouth/nose/philtrum/nose bridge area
• Temples
• Sides of neck
• Ribs
• Kidneys
• Testicles
• Base of neck
Another application of the yawara stick is by direct, straight-line thrusting. For this blow to be effective you simply master the straight punch — COMBAT style. This means a simple straight line untelegraphed blow in which (when the hand is used for the punch, per se) is never delivered to any but the soft STERNUM TARGET area. And the fist is ALWAYS palm-in (or in that position referred to in karate styles as the vertical fist position). For your information: Do not "corkscrew" a punch when delivering a fist blow barehanded. This causes the bones of the wrist to twist, and weakens the wrist support for the blow, on impact. With a yawara hand stick in your grip cant the fist forward so that the thumb side protrusion of the stick is foremost. That will be the impact point and you will drive the stick‘s end in a straight-line punching action to the desired target.
Targets for this blow may be:
• Any part of the face or throat or neck
• The solar plexus or sternum area
• The hypogastrium (lower abdomen, just above bladder)
Since the stick will be the contact point rather than any part of your bare hand, it is okay to target the bony facial area with this type of "punching" action.
One method of using the yawara stick that we personally developed involves a movement that depends upon a bit more practice than the more fundamental, basic blows thus far described. It is simple and employs gross body movement — but it‘s just a little more advanced and ought to be worked on after the simplest blows have been developed. We call it the "EYE CRUSH".
Our "eye crush" blow is delivered by directing a palm down thrust of the fist directly toward the attacker, at head level, and having the fist "go right past, and alongside" the adversary‘s temple area. This causes the protrusion of the yawara stick from the end of the fist to literally crush the eyeball into the opponent‘s head. Yes — it‘s a nasty technique, and we developed it and intended it to be so — purely and exclusively to enable a perhaps physically disadvantaged defender to stop a potentially lethal criminal assailant in a legitimate self-defense emergency. This action is not to be practiced on a human partner, and it should not be utilized save in the most extreme situation.
Another use of the yawara stick that we favor is RAKING or RIPPING ACROSS the enemy‘s face in a vicious downward/inward type hammering kenpo blow — tearing at his eyes/nose/mouth/lips with the little-finger side of the fist protrusion of the stick. This is done as though the stick were a sharp blade and the intention was to "cut right through" the entire facial structure of the opponent. Also, a very dangerous, nasty technique. To be employed exclusively in situations where on has no choice but to physically stop someone who might cripple or kill him, or do such a thing to a loved one, etc. (NOTE:— The reader will no doubt surmise that the utility knife — with the blade inserted — is perhaps the best configuration of yawara stick for this particular technique!) Warning: These actions are dangerous and potentially lethal. To be used only to save life and limb. Readers are responsible for their own actions and we disclaim all responsibility for any use or misuse by anyone of these skills. Our purpose here is to merely provide information academically. NEVER USE ANY DEGREE OF FORCE UNLESS IN UNAVOIDABLE SELF-DEFENSE, AND ONLY IN PROPORTION TO THE NEED AT THE TIME.
There are some simple ways to develop a high level of yawara stick ability. Let us suggest a few of them here to get readers started .................
• Holding the yawara stick in a secure grip practice pounding either end into a tree. This will strengthen your grip and insure that the stick will not "slide" in your hand when you strike a live adversary.
• Practice with a wrist or ankle weight around your striking hand. Do this once per workout for every five or six workouts you undertake with the stick.
• Use one of Bruce Tegnér‘s brilliant ideas for developing accuracy: Tape a ping pong ball to a string and suspend the ball to whatever height you require for delivery of whatever blow you wish to develop. Strike at (but do not actually hit) the ping pong ball. You can actually hang several ping pong balls at varying heights and practice rapid, multiple hits, as your proficiency improves.
• Try to establish a permanent carry place for your yawara stick. Make it convenient, and try not to change it. Now, practice speedily accessing the stick — and then going into immediate action with your strikes. For obvious reasons, if you carry a little stick, it is a good idea to have it already in hand when going to your vehicle in a lonely parking garage, or when leaving your house in the evening; or when returning home, if you anticipate the prospect of encountering any creatures who might mean you harm!
• Work the stick into both defensive (ie counterattacking) and offensive combinations and skills that you normally work on unarmed.
Good luck to all of you in mastering this handy, effective little ancient/modern weapon of self-defense!
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