Rattan stick alternatives

[Malapitan]

I'm curious about the various rattan stick alternatives that are becoming available, like this one:

http://www.coldsteel.com/escrimastick.html

How do they feel and perform as compared to rattan? What are the other similar products available in the market?

[The Phalanx]

Guava is a pretty nice wood...

[Diana]

29,99 $ for ONE stick?? Is that for members of an arnis-millionaires-club or something??

[The Phalanx]

That stick is overpriced... If you want durability, do what I did, get a pair of metal pipes from Home Depot, wrap them in hockey tape and whack away at a tire or somethin'... It will wear you out before you can wear it out...

I mean $30 for one stick is just overkill...

[Hickory]

Well, curiosity got the better of me and I ordered one. It's heavy and several inches longer than a 'regular' stick - which I do find useful for conditioning. The added weight and length really gives my wrists a good stretch.

That said, I agree it is really overpriced - and I think you get just as good a workout with a pair of kamagong sticks...or a Louisville Slugger.

[Malapitan]

I have no intention of buying one LOL! I was just wondering if this and other sticks have been used by the members here and how it performs compared to good old rattan.

there are others who offer synthetic sticks... I can't recall the brand names

[Bob Hubbard]

Only one I've used is Durrattan.
Review http://rustaz.net/nonfiction/durattan.htm

[arnisador]

Nice looking stick, but kamagong is fine for me!

[Brian R. VanCise]

Nice looking stick, but kamagong is fine for me!

I like Kamagong as well! http://www.fmatalk.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Hickory]

I have no intention of buying one LOL! I was just wondering if this and other sticks have been used by the members here and how it performs compared to good old rattan.

there are others who offer synthetic sticks... I can't recall the brand names

What can I say...it was an ebay buzz LOL!

[tellner]

Reshaped axe handle

[The Phalanx]

Like what I said, use metal pipes...

[MichaelJB]

I use "close node" rattan for speed work, bahi for everyday training and a metal pipe for conditioning. I really like the bahi sticks. IMO kamagong is good for solo practice due to the possibility of breaks and flying shards. Bahi has good weight and, like rattan, is fiberous and will fray before breaking. I never got into the synthetics - I prefer the feel of the natural materials instead.

[arnisador]

The metal pipe sounds uncomfortable to grip for a long period!

[The Phalanx]

The metal pipe sounds uncomfortable to grip for a long period!

Don't overdo it the first time... Slowly (very slowly)until you get the hang of it... Or else you'll totally mess up your carpals and tendons...

[MichaelJB]

"Don't overdo it the first time..."

Which, of course, I did. I had trouble for about 4 months in my wrist and shoulder.

"The metal pipe sounds uncomfortable to grip for a long period!"

I wrapped my pipe with duct tape that I purposefully let wrinkle as it was applied to help with grip. Even with the tape helping with grip, the weight of the pipe definitely gives the hands a workout. I only use it a short time within my overall workout - basic angles, forward/reverse figure 8's, redondo, abaniko and pictos - both left and right hands.

Best advice I can give to anyone wanting to swing a metal pipe is to work up to it, which seems obvious but sometimes enthusiasm can get the best of us - like I did myself. Use lighter sticks and gradually get to the pipe. Also, like The Phalanx mentioned, go through the movements slowly. I use the slower movements to work proper form more than just swinging something heavy for the sake of a workout.

[The Phalanx]

"Don't overdo it the first time..."

Which, of course, I did. I had trouble for about 4 months in my wrist and shoulder.

"The metal pipe sounds uncomfortable to grip for a long period!"

I wrapped my pipe with duct tape that I purposefully let wrinkle as it was applied to help with grip. Even with the tape helping with grip, the weight of the pipe definitely gives the hands a workout. I only use it a short time within my overall workout - basic angles, forward/reverse figure 8's, redondo, abaniko and pictos - both left and right hands.

Best advice I can give to anyone wanting to swing a metal pipe is to work up to it, which seems obvious but sometimes enthusiasm can get the best of us - like I did myself. Use lighter sticks and gradually get to the pipe. Also, like The Phalanx mentioned, go through the movements slowly. I use the slower movements to work proper form more than just swinging something heavy for the sake of a workout.

I did that in my first month of FMA... I overdid it with my sinawalis... Next day, I could barely grip a pen or fork... At least it only lasted a week for me, good thing I asked FMA guys from MySpace about how to do it properly early on or else I'd be really in trouble...

I don't use it as a replacement for actual sticks, not a good idea... But it helps with a better grip and strength... It's a good supplement equipment...

But as far as rattan is concerned, I use the ones from KIL which is about 1 1/4" thick... Good weight and good size for your daily movements...

[Carol]

I like to work my arms with a piece of rebar. Bare handed in the cold. Dang I wish Bobbe was here to tell me I was nuts. :D But I digress...

I don't hit anything with it, I use it to practice strikes and control when I don't have something specific to hit. Plus its a handy tool to keep in the car. ;)

[Segi]

I have used composite sticks, they are definatley heavier and will probably last a good long time. The only problem I have is they "bounce" big time so you really have to hang on to them!If I use them to long my hands actually get a buzzing sensation which is definatley weird.

[sjansen]

Those sticks are made so that you can cut them down to the right length. If you look, you can tell that the breaks are different at each end so that you can make them 30", 28" or 26" if you want cut it down.

My Rattan sticks all are loosing out in less than 3 months with regular use from cracking, spintering or breakage. It doesn't seem that bad an investment to me. Let me know what you think of them after 3 months.

[MichaelJB]

My Rattan sticks all are loosing out in less than 3 months with regular use from cracking, spintering or breakage.

Depending on what I'm teaching, rattan sticks can be completely destroyed on their first day of use. This is why I like the Bahi sticks. They take a pretty good beating and when they start to fray they still work well when taped before it's finally time to throw away.

However, I'd also like to find out how the Cold Steel sticks work out...

Michael

[sjansen]

Depending on what I'm teaching, rattan sticks can be completely destroyed on their first day of use. This is why I like the Bahi sticks. They take a pretty good beating and when they start to fray they still work well when taped before it's finally time to throw away.

However, I'd also like to find out how the Cold Steel sticks work out...

Michael


Me too, especially since bahi is as expensive if not more so in my area as the plastic ones. If they work like they claim, which I find hard to believe, they would be a worth while investment. Although I would miss the smell of hard working rattan. The burn smell is replenishing when you work them.

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

Bahi doesn't have to be that expensive.

I sell them for $60 for 2 pairs (well - to FMA Talk members anyway ;)) which includes shipping. The ones I have are 450g so they're as heavy as most Kamagong sticks you tend to find.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb74/bid4bargains/roundoff.jpg

(And that's the "off" side of the stick :) )

[:Stick&Blade::Warrior]

I own a Cold Steel Stick. I cut it down to 28" (what I normally train with). It's durable, but flexible (think of a really hard rubber). I use it on my tire dummy and I doubt I could break it.

However, like others have said, its heavy, and sometimes feels unbalanced. Also, if you're training with a partner, then they need one too, otherwise you'll tear up their stick. I also find that I have to switch to two rattan sticks when doing double stick work as a cold steel stick and a rattan stick is too unbalanced.

Overall, if you do a lot of bag work or looking to strengthen your wrist/forearm, its worth the investment. But, if you're training with partners and you want to use it for that, unless everyone buys one, its not worth it.

[sjansen]

Bahi doesn't have to be that expensive.

I sell them for $60 for 2 pairs (well - to FMA Talk members anyway ;)) which includes shipping. The ones I have are 450g so they're as heavy as most Kamagong sticks you tend to find.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb74/bid4bargains/roundoff.jpg

(And that's the "off" side of the stick :) )

Everything I have gotten from you has been the best quality I can hope for. I love the carabao dulo-dulos that I got and have ordered more. I can't wait to get the kamagong sticks I ordered from you. I have some bahi, but not from you, and they have splintered off. I'm not sure if they are not from the outer portion of the tree and not the inside, but I have not been impressed. I use my waxwood sticks daily and they are holding up, but I miss the smell of rattan. Do you have any good rattan sticks that don't have the gloss (varnish) and will hold up? I've been eyeing the plastic ones for practice.

Sorry to deviate from the thread, but when you have the man with the goods you have to find out.

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

Hi Scott,

It's always great to hear from on of our customers and that you like the products.

At the moment I have been suffering a shortage of rattan and have back orders of about 400 sticks :( Please let me know what size thickness you want. I do have some Labsica 7/8th of an inch in stock but am short of my 1" Tumalin at the moment.

When I get back to Manila (I'm in Cebu at the moment on "business" - we actually went to a couple of rattan factories yesterday seeking a long term solution to our problem) I will check through the sticks I have and see if I can find you a good pair :)

Bye for now and thanks again,

Simon.

[sjansen]

Hi Scott,

It's always great to hear from on of our customers and that you like the products.

At the moment I have been suffering a shortage of rattan and have back orders of about 400 sticks :( Please let me know what size thickness you want. I do have some Labsica 7/8th of an inch in stock but am short of my 1" Tumalin at the moment.

When I get back to Manila (I'm in Cebu at the moment on "business" - we actually went to a couple of rattan factories yesterday seeking a long term solution to our problem) I will check through the sticks I have and see if I can find you a good pair :)

Bye for now and thanks again,

Simon.

I prefer 7/8ths. Will labsica stick last? I hit hard and train daily with partners and on a pole. I don't want to replace them in a month. I have broken or ulcerated/frayed many rattan stick in the last 3 months (6 to be exact) and I don't want to waste my money. That's why I am looking to alternatives. Please let me know if you get or have some rattan that can take the punishment. The I&I sticks I bought are junk now. Same with the Tiger brand. I want unfinished rattan that can last.

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

Hey Scott,

I've just checked and can get you a pair of tumalin and and pair of Labsica to bang with.

I'm willing to let you have all 4 sticks for just the price of shipping from the Philippines ($15) if you promise to post back in this thread how you get on with the sticks!

I have found Labsica for it's size (it's usually thinner and lighter than Tumalin) to do a great job. The Tumalin stick is the most durable rattan I sell.

The sticks are unvarnished.

[Effilcdar]

I just thought I'd mention that the Cold steel sticks are cheaper on ebay then their site. I personally would prefer to have the Bahi sticks shown below then the plastic for the same reason I prefer fine wood furniture to plastic lawn furniture. They may last longer but I'd rather have a little less plastic in my life. Enough things are synthetic as it is.