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RAISING CANE
By Master Dave McNeill, Soke
from The Black Book
March/April 1998
Sometimes we overlook the obvious. As martial artists, we all too
often spend a great deal of time training and practicing an aspect of our art
that can never be used outside of the Dojo or tournament venue.
Case in point would be some of the traditional martial art
weapons. Many of the weapons in the Kubudo catalog are illegal to carry in most,
if not all of the States and can only be transported to and from the Dojo or a
tournament. Think of it, all that hard work and the Dojo and tournaments are the
only legal places that these weapons can be carried or used. It would be akin to
leaving your feet and hands at the Dojo when you left for the night.
Yet in the name of "tradition", weapons are taught that are not
practical, not legal, BUT are required in order to advance in a particular
martial arts system.
What would be a weapon that could be used in the Dojo or at a
tournament and still be legal and practical? Let me propose a simple test to
judge the legality and practicality of a weapon: Can you take it on vacation to,
say, Maui? Can you carry it openly in the airport or take it aboard a commercial
airline? Can you take it to a restaurant or the theater? Would the Bo, Sai, Kama,
Katana, Tonfa, or Nunchaku make it to Hawaii? Double doubt it.
Don't confuse the issue of practicality as in carry it anywhere -
with effectiveness. A short-barreled 12 gauge shotgun, loaded with 00 buck, is
WAY effective but you are not going to be able to board a plane to the land of
the grass skirts with it.
I have trained with traditional weapons, mainly in Bojutsu and
Escrima, and I enjoy the beauty and power of a well displayed weapons kata. I
also support the honoring of tradition, but not at the expense of survival on
the mean streets. When it comes to weapons the bottom line is - can it be
carried with you at all times? If not, then what is the purpose of learning the
use of that weapon.
To the question of a legal and practical weapon, Goju Shorei has,
I believe, the answer: the humble, misunderstood and highly effective CANE. Is
the cane a new weapon? Nope. I'm sure that a cane was used by the first cave man
that stubbed his toe. And then while Og was limping around he probably took a
poke at his neighbor with the cane over some meat dispute. Presto, the cane as a
weapon was born.
No, Goju Shorei did not invent the cane, but they systematized
the study of the cane by developing exercises, katas, techniques and ranking
standards.
A complete series of dynamic tension exercises, using the cane,
were developed under the guidance of trained professionals.
These exercises are designed to tone and strengthen the upper and
lower body of the martial artist and the non martial artist alike. Anyone with a
physical impairment would still be able to benefit from these exercises as many
of them can be done sitting or lying down.
The six katas are designed to be chained together; the last
move(s) of each kata is the first move(s) of the next kata. And the last move of
the last kata is the first move of the first kata. By running through the
chained katas - referred to as the `Chain Gang' several times the student
develops remarkable endurance and cardiovascular strength. The katas are not
just a series of random moves strung together, each kata is meant to teach a
specific self-defense idea or concept.
The techniques are the core of the weapons system. Each of the
moves in the katas are broken down into individual techniques, so that the
student is learning realistic self-defense applications as he progresses through
the ranking. These techniques use all aspects of the cane at all ranges; weapon,
striking and grappling.
The Goju Shorei Weapons Branch has a unique way of designating
rank. An octagonal patch is worn on the students uniform with the appropriate
colored chevron - from yellow to black - indicating the rank of the student,
sewn to one of the eight sides on the outside of the patch. This means that the
student can still wear the uniform and belt color of his/her parent martial arts
system while receiving rank in a supplementary weapons system.
Goju Shorei has gone one step further to promote this legal
weapon. By using modern technology, distance is not a barrier to learning the
Gojo Shorei cane. Ranking videos are available for sale through Cane Masters,
and ranking will be done by video.
The student will send in a video of his test for each ranking.
The test will then be the judged by the head of the Goju Shorei Weapons Branch
and any corrections or adjustments will be passed on to the student directly.
This convenience along with seminars that are given around the country has
opened the doors for other martial artists to learn a weapon that is intended to
compliment, not replace, what their system or style teaches. Now an instructor
can offer to their students both the traditional weapons of their system and the
street legal instruction of the Goju Shorei Cane.
The cane is generally thought of as a long or middle range
weapon. With pun intended, that is selling the cane short. The short range use
of the cane is just one of the many surprising facets of the Goju Shorei Cane.
The following techniques are shown and described along with the meridians and
their corresponding points that are being attacked I plead guilty to a certain
prejudice against the traditional weapon. And I readily admit that I am a
passionate advocate of the Cane. I hope logic, and this article, will also show
the reader not only of the superior aspects of the Cane, but that the Goju
Shorei Weapons Branch teaches an extremely effective, efficient and practical
use of the self defense weapon of the 21st century, the humble and misunderstood
walking cane.
About The Author: Dave McNeil, a 8th degree black belt, has been
studying Goju-Shorei Karate since 1971. He is the head of the Goju-Shorei
Weapons System and holds an 8th degree black belt rank in the Weapons Branch.
Master McNeill gives seminars on the Cane around the country and can be
contacted through Goju-Shorei Systems, 1-775-267-2506. |
