Kata, martial arts and miscellanea

I'm actually not looking for it to weight the same, but for it to balance the same. With wood that ought to make it possible to have something a little less dangerous but more realistic.
 
Wooohooo!! Interesting side story. I was walking down the street yesterday doing a bit of Christmas shopping when I noticed out of the side of my eye a motion that didn't match the scenery. I turned into a defensive strike and there was one of my absolute favorite kohai from my training days. He was sneaking up to see if I was paying attention :D Then he noticed my cane from my recent health issues and said he felt awful. I told him not to since if he had turned out to not be friendly he would have found that 2 feet of razor sharp steel live inside that cane. So now i have talked him into a sparring session as soon as I am physically able :D He moved back into the area a month ago and didn't know I lived nearby until he saw me out. It is always great to see old friends now if I can just keep him from smacking the daylights outta me during the sparring. He has years of being the younger 2 years behind in training to make up for though so I am probably in for some bruises. :D
 
Note to self: never try and sneak up on Shavru, or if attempting, don't look like I'm sneaking up. Hide in plain sight instead.
 
Shavru said:
Wooohooo!! Interesting side story. I was walking down the street yesterday doing a bit of Christmas shopping when I noticed out of the side of my eye a motion that didn't match the scenery. I turned into a defensive strike and there was one of my absolute favorite kohai from my training days. He was sneaking up to see if I was paying attention :D Then he noticed my cane from my recent health issues and said he felt awful. I told him not to since if he had turned out to not be friendly he would have found that 2 feet of razor sharp steel live inside that cane. So now i have talked him into a sparring session as soon as I am physically able :D He moved back into the area a month ago and didn't know I lived nearby until he saw me out. It is always great to see old friends now if I can just keep him from smacking the daylights outta me during the sparring. He has years of being the younger 2 years behind in training to make up for though so I am probably in for some bruises. :D
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Cool...always nice to see that "one's still got it", and seeing a fellow student is always nice. Great opportunities for both to learn anew, and maybe even something new, by way of revelation. That's great news! Have fun.
 
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Scara said:
We shall see. And a metal one would have plenty of its own issues. For one, I need something that won't get the cops called on me when used outdoors.
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I think you have to paint tip red and your good to go:foot:
 
And while I'm at it, maybe I should paint it red each time so that it will be bright and drippy to make it clear that nothing's wrong.
 
My skill level advanced tremendously when I learned how to "dance" & I stopped "fighting" with an opponent. My moves would be in unisum, not trying to beat him / her.
 
sams said:
My skill level advanced tremendously when I learned how to "dance" & I stopped "fighting" with an opponent. My moves would be in unisum, not trying to beat him / her.
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Reminds me of the mirroring technique my instructor mentions in his book, not identical, but similar.
 
Hiding in plain sight is by far the best way to go about it. It is funny though how you just know something is off and then you see what you don't expect. Especially funny that we were just sort of discussing that. I imagine it might have made me even more aware than usual, he might have surprised me if I hadn't been active on this thread just a few hours before and thinking about awareness in public. Some times everyone needs a reminder to be cautious. Hubby and I remind each other every time one of us leaves the house to be careful and be alert. But for everyone who doesn't have someone to do that for you... Remind yourself every time you are out in public you amplify your vulnerability significantly. Keep your eyes open and aware of your surroundings. And don't let someone see if they can knock you out as they pass you. Be safe out there.

Yes, the cane I have these days is actually faster for me to respond with for close up than my conceal carry, as it is always in my hand. So since he was that close when I noticed him, I went with that instead of pulling out the SR1911c. It is a Cold Steel heavy duty sword cane. Looks just like my regular medical cane, very boring but the inside is a 24" blade that is really well done. Not a wimpy "sword cane' at all, this one has a sturdy blade with a good grip and while not my first choice for weapons is very effective. Only problem I had with mine was the old oil they used to protect the blade and the glue they used to put the annoying rubber tip on STUNK badly and I wanted to replace the rubber tip with a better slightly softer one so cut that all out and had to wash/scrub down the whole thing with rubbing alcohol trying to de-funk it to the point I wouldn't have people moving away from me on busses ect. A little graphite powder on the O-rings that secure the body to the sword so it draws smoothly but stays in place when not needed and I am well prepared to take to the streets, when I have to.
 
I too have a need for a cane. A motorcycle accident left one leg shorter. I bought a Burger cane years ago with a stilleto blade, not the spike. I never had to use it. Oh wait, I would gently whack the grandsons on the butt now and then, but I don't think that counts. :-)
 
canes are some of the coolest things to collect in the antiques trade, they really made some fantastic canes in the 1800s; could not agree more about being aware in public, I never understood people who wear headphones when they run-- why would you want to be unaware?
 
Now a Burger is DEFINATELY a classy item and very well made. And the Stilleto model the way it looks is very awesome with the stilleto coming out of the top of the grip very sweet and very efficient too. I love the way the stilleto's handle is designed to give you a really good grip for thrusting even without a crossguard or anything else to keep your hand from slipping forward onto the blade. I think it looks like they did an incredible job on that part but how secure does it feel when you actually have one in your hand? Oh and my wish for you sams is "may a gentle wack on the youngest generation's backside and keeping you mobile be the only use your cane ever needs to provide you." But it is nice to know it is there should you ever need it.

The CS one I have is no where near as beautiful it is infact significant for it's uglyness. It looks so orthopedic no one pays any attention to it. Which is why I liked it.

Gehazi, have you been branching out your collection towards 1800 canes? And not sharing pictures? :D

When I get back to running I will go back to using a mp3 player. I use a single earbud like the ones you used to get with old fashioned AM portable radios. The whole thing fits one ear and I keep it low enough it is background, I can hear it but it doesn't blast out all other sounds around me. I find the slight risk a trade off for the beat helping me keep running at pace. But yeah I wonder about the ones with the big old beats headphones over both ears with the music up so loud I can hear it 1/2 a block away. Then I watch them run and realize they have no situational awareness at all. Running right through the middle of big crowds, jogging along with people at their elbow they don't even know are there. Scary stuff!
 
I've considered running with a little music, but only on an established track, and never with the music loud enough to impede situational awareness. But I've never actually done it. I don't have a player small enough that it wouldn't hinder my ability to run by its size. I did however use my iPod when I was working custodial and needed to keep from being bored. One time I even caught myself moving to the beat of Imperial March from Star Wars. Eventually I got bored of music and got an audiobook version of Starship Troopers.

And Shavru, I love how Cold Steel calls that sword cane of yours "stylish". I don't see anything stylish about it.
 
@shav I have been eyeballing antique canes for awhile now, but mainly I am still buying mandaus; canes are just really cool and you get a good excuse to use fine woods, and I really like the art that the handles allow craftsmen to show off, I will definitely let you know if I ever get a nice one!
 
When I was a lot younger I ha rhe opportunity to buy a gent's stick from victorian London: ebony haft with a tempered steel rod running the full length, with a peened foot and a steel brazil nut head-no sword, but you could definitely knock somebody outta the park with it. Wish I'd bought it.
 
J W Bensinger said:
Just checked out the Burger website. Perhaps I need to branch out the product line a bit...
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The talk of sword canes and stilettos has made me wonder if anyone has made one that hides a Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife or an Arkansas Toothpick.
 
I think you have to go wheelchair to pull that off. I speak with some experience.

My usual load out would make your average TSA agent faint dead away.

Went to Disney on Ice. They screen everybody, look in purses and bags, try to pretend they are TSA. Usually wave me right past without consequence but always a nervous moment.
This time was very crowded, line held up with me right at the checkpoint. I just patted myself and said I'm pure as the driven snow, he smiled. Not sure if it was a know smile or he the dumbest purse checker ever born.
 
Bawanna said:
I think you have to go wheelchair to pull that off. I speak with some experience.

My usual load out would make your average TSA agent faint dead away.

Went to Disney on Ice. They screen everybody, look in purses and bags, try to pretend they are TSA. Usually wave me right past without consequence but always a nervous moment.
This time was very crowded, line held up with me right at the checkpoint. I just patted myself and said I'm pure as the driven snow, he smiled. Not sure if it was a know smile or he the dumbest purse checker ever born.
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Actually a Fairbairn-Sykes is easy, even without a wheelchair, all it takes is a zipperless hoodie with a good length kangaroo pocket. I speak from experience here. And the Arkansas Toothpick depends on the length. If you get one with say a six-inch blade, no problem.
 
The problem with that Scara is the crossguard would be impossible to hide in the size of the head. The Burger stilletto that pops out of the top of their cane is very similar to a F-S blade without the crossbar though. You should take a look. Just be aware they are BEAUTIFUL... and you pay for that well. :D

JW, I would think you would be able to fashion something incredible and I know it would be well designed to make maximum use of all of it to the best possible way.
I would love to see what you design and discuss cost ect of making one once you have something you feel would workout and be worthy of putting your stamp on.

As Scara said, my current is not stylish at all I mean it is so hideous it goes anywhere with no one looking twice at it. But I would love to have one that looks great and works as well too.
 
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