I’m actually searching for a serious cane-centered martial arts discipline. Have reviewed “Cane Fu” from Canemasters (for people more generally impaired than I am)and the British guy’s stuff from the turn of last century (still evaluating), but I think you’re right: any discipline of this sort must be practiced and honed on a daily basis, and “these kids today” don’t have the patience, discipline or farsightedness to become truly competent.
Hope I will.
Colonel, USAFR
“I’m actually searching for a serious cane-centered martial arts discipline.”
You should start with fencing as practiced at every modern Olympics.
The only change reguired for transition from saber to cane would be a little more strength in the hand and wrist.
Fencing, of course, is superior not only to all other martial arts, but to all other sports and games. If you can fence, you can use a cane.
Fencing has several characteristics that prevent it from gaining popularity in the states. One is that it takes a lot of time and work before results are seen. More importantly, it will never be a spectator sport because (a) if a person is significantly better than you are, you can’t see what he’s doing; and (b) watching people who aren’t better than you are isn’t very interesting.
The fastest object in sport is the bullet coming from a marksman’s barrel; the second fastest is the tip of a fencing sword. Most people have a reaction time of around a tenth of a second. Fencers tend to have a reaction time of around one thirty-second of a second. The principles of timing and distance are about the same as boxing or karate. A 90-mph fastball doesn’t look very fast to a fencer.
Ennyhoo, if you want to learn to use a cane as a weapon, that’s a good place to start.
Check out Filipino 'stick fighting' (don't know it's correct name). MY SIL and his two brothers are taking it up. It's not as uncommon as it may seem. There's Clubs all over I'm told.
btw I use a Cane at times too, depending on my arthritis pain factor. I pity the fool who comes after me thinking I'm easy prey. (Everything is a weapon)