Padded sticks

[The Boss]

What kind of padded sticks do you like and how do you use them (ie. drills, sparring etc.)

:confused:

[Chad]

Action flex, and starting to play with the Sayoc-branded smack-sticks. Primarily used in sparring and teaching demos, sometimes in drills.
Also, from time to time, home-padded rattan...

[Datu Tim Hartman]

I started out by making my own, which was a pain! A few years ago I hooked up with the action flex guys and was very happy. Now I deal with Smak-Stiks. I feel that they are most likley the best padded sticks on the market! I use them in all aspects of my training. Besides sparring I use them in many different energy drills.

:)

[Chad]

We did a good bit of padded stick drilling in Tim's Philly seminar this weekend; mix was probably 50/50 action flex vs. smack-stiks (I'm going to spell the product right one of these days) with a few others (lameco, home made, etc.) thrown in. Having used both, I'd have to give the edge to the smack-stiks. Action flex works well, and they do honor the warranty no questions asked, but the action is, well, too whippy. The smack-stiks also have a lot of give to them, but you can execute a more credible block. More important to me (at least as I like to play) they offer a credible-enough thrust that your partner/opponent has to recognize the hit; a thrust with action-flex simply does not evince much of a response.
I was also impressed with how much grappling the sticks will take. I'm not 100% over into the smack-stik camp, but definately much closer. (Now if they would make a constant-diameter staff in 4 and 5 ' lengths- no grip section, just straight staff...)

[Bob Hubbard]

I just got a pair of Smak-Stiks. Love em. Good feel in the hand, they don't "whip" like a cheep flyrod on impact, let you know you've been stung on impact and yet have enough padding to let it be safe.

[arnisador]

We'll have to try them out the next time I'm in town!

[JohnJ]

Smak-Stiks are by far the best on the market in terms of durability, quality and versatility. Per Master Rey Galang's request, Smak-Stiks made a model with a 5"-5.5" grip. They were tested at Bakbakan's East Coast Invitational and look and feel even better.

The only other padded stick I would consider having tried most if not all, are the original Lameco designs and newly released model available through mandirigma.org BTW...this site is operated by the Sulite Orehenal Group (a.k.s. Lameco Tribe)

John J

[WT_ATL]

Thanks for kind words John. Everyone at SMAK-Stiks is extremely pleased with the performance of our products. We actually went through almost a hundred prototypes before the final design.

I actually received word from Master Galang regarding his recent Bakbakan tournament in the PI. He was expecting on 45-50 participants, but ended up getting over a hundred players. It was an awesome turn out. Consequently, he only brought 10 SMAK-Stiks for the tournament. Impressively, he ran the entire tournament using only 10 SMAK-Stiks. Only one broke during the entire event.

With his permission I’m posting excerpts from his email:

“The entire set of 10 sticks managed to help us make it through the 18 events we had with the 100 participants. Only one (1) broke and some suffered tears on the tips (3 - 4 inches area from the tip).”.

“As for the broken stick, 1 out of 10 isn't bad considering the abuse it got.”

“You should be pleased with this results. Everyone was impressed at how the Smak-Stix products endured the intense beating it got at the tournament.”

[Datu Tim Hartman]

Winston-

The sticks went fast here in Sweden, I need another case!!!!

[WT_ATL]

That's awesome Tim! Give me a call when you get back in town.

[ap Oweyn]

I've just been using the regular old padded sticks available in every martial arts catalog in the world. For sparring mostly. They smart a bit. But no big deal.

If I can coax the group into doing more intensive sparring, though, I think we'll probably make the transition to better padded sticks.


Stuart

[JPR]

I had a chance to use the SMAK-Stiks that Hardheadjarhead ordered this weekend and wanted to pass along my impressions of them.

Overall, I think they are great! They have a good feel to them as to weight and size. Their action is nice. It is firm when striking / blocking, but the impact isn’t harsh (yes it hurts / stings, but no lasting damaging is done). The stick isn’t whippy, and if it flexes when you are using it, it isn’t noticeable. A great advantage it has over the LAMECO sticks is the grip area. With the SMAK-stik design you get a good grip versus the slippery / twisting grip you often get on the LAMECO sticks due to the padding. The one area that I have a little concern with is the punyo. It is padded, but maybe not enough. I didn’t receive any punyo strikes this weekend to know for sure about this. But again, I liked what I experienced and recommend the SMAK-stiks.


Jerry

[JPR]

Just and addendum to my review. One thing the SMAK-Stik isn't good at is stick locking / grappling / choking / throwing. It does flex too much for that type of application. Oh well, you can not have everything.

Jerry

[Datu Tim Hartman]

Just and addendum to my review. One thing the SMAK-Stik isn't good at is stick locking / grappling / choking / throwing. It does flex too much for that type of application. Oh well, you can not have everything.

Jerry

Actually I think they are good for that as well. There are certain things that only a real stick is good for, but I have used them for a variety of locking techniques and they do well. Body chokes aren't going to work, but neck and fang chokes work great!

[JPR]

Tim,

I agree. I used my daughter as a test subject, and triangles / fangs work well. I guess what I was refering to before was things like levers (shoulder / hip) or bearhugs etc. I have not tried a single or double leg takedown yet either. So maybe I should have said for throws, not chokes. Still, they are nice sticks.

Jerry

[themadbuddha]

I bought 4 Smak Stiks when i started out, I ended up selling all but one to other members of our group and recently my last one broke. Survived just over a year, maybe 18 months of abuse. Decided to try Arnold Noche's padded sticks from allthingsfilipino.com and they hit much harder than the Smak Stiks. Also a little heavier to swing but because they are rattan cored they can handle a force on force block much better than the Smak Stik and when you get the opportunity to close for a lock, you're not worried about the stick bending or breaking.

Personal preferance though, and even though I'm personally sold the the Got Stick? brand, I'm more than willing to try another one on the market. My dead Smak Stik recently gained new life when I opened it up and replaced the plastic/nylon core with a rattan stick of similar thickness but I still like sparring with the ATF product more.

End of the day, whatever works for you and you're comfortable with I guess...