Joe Varady is an award winning author of The Art and Science of Staff Fighting, and a sixth-degree black belt with over thirty years of experience in martial arts. He has trained in numerous Eastern and Western disciplines, including karate, judo, eskrima, boxing, fencing, and long sword. He has won numerous awards competing in full-contact weapons tournaments around the world. Joe holds a master's degree in elementary education. He is the head instructor at Satori Dojo and Modern Gladiatorial Arts. Joe Varady resides in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

• Overview
• Why Learn Stick Fighting?
• A Brief History of Stick Fighting
• Traditional versus Progressive
• Getting Started

Warming Up and Cooling Down

• Warming Up and Stretching
• Training Equipment: The Jump Rope
• Cooling Down

Level 1: The Foundation

• Choosing a Stick
• Holding the Stick
• Stances
• Basic Striking
• Ready Positions
• Types of Strikes
• Snap Strikes
• Range and Distancing
• Footwork
• Training Equipment: The Floor Pattern
• Twirling: Figure Eights
• Power
• Training Equipment: The Tire Dummy
• Level 1 Workout

Level 2: Long Range

• The Outside Game
• Controlling the Distance
• Training Equipment: The Evasion Bopper
• Long-Range Defensive Tactics
• Long-Range Offensive Tactics
• Training Equipment: The Target Stick
• Feinting
• Twirling: The Six-Count Flower
• Training Equipment: Striking Point
• The Long-Range Battle Plan
• Level 2 Workout

Level 3: Crossing the Gap

• Entering Offensively
• Entering Defensively
• Level 3 Workout

Level 4: Middle-Range Offense

• Understanding Middle Range
• Center, Centerline, and the Line of Combat
• Targeting at Middle Range
• Basic Middle-Range Combinations
• Speed-Striking
• Training Equipment: Weighted Clubs
• The Middle-Range Battle Plan
• Level 4 Workout

Level 5: Middle-Range Defense

• Checking
• Blocking and Parrying
• Middle-Range Disarms
• Level 5 Workout

Level 6: Close-Range

• Infighting
• Punching
• Butt Strikes
• Hubud
• Hooking
• Double-End Grip
• Chokes
• Training Equipment: Compression Dummies
• Level 6 Workout

Level 7: Single-Stick Sparring

• The Moment of Truth: En Garde!
• Safety Equipment
• Training Equipment: Padded Sticks
• Armor
• Types of Matches
• Controlling the Fight
• Intensity
• The Seven Principal Rules
• Level 7 Workout

Level 8: Short Stick versus Other Weapons

• Mismatched Weapons Stick versus Knife
• Training Equipment: Padded Knife
• Stick versus Staff
• Training Equipment: Padded Staff
• Stick versus Unarmed Opponent
• Level 8 Workout

Level 9: Empty-Hand Defense against the Stick

• Introduction
• Crossing the Gap
• Evasion
• Improvised Armament
• Level 9 Workout

Appendix: Training Equipment

• Jump Rope
• Floor Patterns
• Tire Bag
• Indoor Tire Dummy
• Evasion Bopper
• Target Stick
• Striking Point
• Weighted Clubs
• Arm Compression Dummy
• Neck Compression Dummy
• Padded Sticks
• Padded Knife
• Padded Staff

About the Author