All of these strokes may be thrown as a jab, a slash, or a smash. The basic stroke that makes up the majority of your applications should be the slash. If you are practicing the stick expecting to transfer these skills to the blade or to heavy improvised tools like boards, cow bars, etc., then you should be aware that the jab has no application to these other weapons, and is only good for sniping in sport duels or striking the hand of a knife-armed antagonist in a survival situation with a light stick.

The slash has the largest forgiveness factor for error of the three basic stroke types and, if properly delivered, is the most powerful stroke. When slashing, be certain to slash through the target to chamber points. Chamber points are where the weapon hand comes to rest and include: the hip, elbow, and shoulder areas. Do not leave the weapon hand extended or permit it to come to rest in the center of your body, but at a chamber point.

Practice the following stroke variations without foot or body movement.

#1: The first stroke in the count is a diagonal forehand to any target. This is the safest and most difficult to foil lead-off stoke. It also diverts to a beat more easily than any other stroke, and is therefore the first stroke in most counts. The best targets are the hand and the head. When solo-drilling this stroke, try a jab to the hand followed by a smash to the head.

#2: The second stroke is the diagonal backhand, which is best aimed at the opponent’s hand or collar bone. This stroke is most often a beat or a counter and is a clutch transitional stroke. It is very important although it does not often score. It serves, like a blocker on an offensive line, to open up targets and obscure finishing strokes.

Having thrown the 1-2 X pattern, throw another #1, then throw a #3.

#3: The third stroke in the count is the lateral backhand, which is best delivered to the side of the opponent’s head for a stoppage, or to his hand if his stick is guarding the head. Throwing the #3 to the legs is not recommended. This stroke usually needs to be cloaked in the middle or end of a combination to score against an astute fighter. Successfully leading off with this stroke requires the proper guard.

Having thrown the 1-3 pattern, throw another #1, then throw a #4.

#4: The final stroke in the count is the final stroke in most FMA counts. This is a descending vertical backhand to the hand, top of head, or collar bone. As a jab the #4 makes an excellent lead off stroke, especially to the novice’s extended hand. As a smash it makes a good finish, as a slash with a circular rebound to guard it makes a good passing beat or counter. When solo drilling this stroke, try slashing at the hand with the #4, then following through into a vertical loop and coming down with a smash to the top of the head. This is the one stroke that combos best with itself in various forms.

To review, the opening count is a six beat pattern:

#1

#2

#1

#3

#1

#4

The basic count is an introduction and continuing reference point, not a rule, or a form. It is a learning aid, that, if used in combat instinctively will yield better results than other patterns, but is not optimal, as no pre-set pattern is. It is primarily a learning aid. The stroke numbers are identifiers, not sequence place holders as in FMA, but a simple shorthand for the angle of attack, like the 1,2,3 & 4 punches in boxing.

Now reverse the count:

#4

#1

#3

#1

#2

#1

Break into the count at the middle:

#1

#3

#4

#1

#2

#1

Try a backhand count:

#4 jab

#4 slash

#4 smash

Try a forehand count:

#1 slash to hand, permitting the stick to rotate around your body with your hand passing over your head, to a

#1 jab to the elbow, to a

#1 smash to the head

Stand and stroke, combining the various strokes, and the three methods of stroking, into their many possibilities. While doing this note how certain strokes affect your balance and feed into other strokes, looking for smooth transitions. Divert some strokes to beats, imagining aborting a head shot, let’s say, to divert your stroke to intercept his stick that is coming for your head or hand.

Generally speaking the lead backhand favors the more muscular man and the lead forehand the longer limbed man.

This is an exploratory session. These are not effective combat strokes yet. Practice them in the air, making certain to turn the hand over after the stick has passed through the imaginary target. Practice slow, mechanically, and deliberately. Speed up until you cut air, being careful to note how breaking your wrist or not, in time with the target passage can affect your grip and tug on the elbow and wrist joint. Work on a smooth delivery so that you do not damage the wrist and elbow at full speed.

Future segments will focus on striking apparatus, deploying the stroke from the guard, and powering it with movement.

For now, the one habit that you should cultivate, is to never, ever, lift the hand from its resting position before throwing the stroke. The stroke most be delivered from a resting position. Do not ‘Donkey Kong’ the hand by raising it in preparation for a stroke.