The three basic methods of throwing any of the four angulated stick strokes are the jab, the smash and the slash. The pros and cons of matching your method with your stroke will be covered in individual segments such as, The #1 Jab, The #1 Shift Slash, etc. This section is concerned with imparting the basic concepts of stroke methods.

Essentially the jab strikes at the target, the smash penetrates into the target, and the slash rips through the target. In terms of edged weapon translations, the jab is not a viable stroke, the smash is a cleave and the slash is a slash, meaning that slashing stick fighters should transition to blade fighting more effectively than jab and smash stylists.

Stylistically, FMA stylists who practice a lot of stick tapping partner training sets and feeder drills will tend to jab, and do too much of it, when a more effective stroke is available.

Fighters who do a lot of solo shadow stick tend to slash more often than others and miss jabbing and smashing opportunities.

Likewise, fighters who do most of their training on bags will tend to smash, which can cause clinches and lead to disarms.

Sequencing of stroke mechanics is covered in the section for each specific stroke application.

The jab is done with the end of the stick. This is a sharp retracting motion. The jab does not have stopping power and is used primarily as a way to damage the opponent's hand and piss him off by raping him in the head. It will fracture knuckles and finger bones. The nature of the strike dumps the force into a very small area. If this area is bone and offers resistance, like a hand wrapped around a stick, then the tip of the jabbing stick might break a bone that is lightly padded—like the middle knuckle in a WEKAF mitt—or get between the pads of a segmented lacrosse or hockey glove.

The jab is powered by the tricep and the flexor tendon, and then withdrawn as quickly as possible as the opening made is exploited or the failure to achieve a tactical advantage makes moving off the wise choice. Counters will be coming back toward the spot you jabbed from, and since those counters are likely to be more powerful slashes, or possibly a smash that follows your jab back to its source, you want to step off or bounce away.

Jabbing is best supported by boxing type, on your toes, foot work. If properly timed some power from your ballistic weight distribution can be achieved. It takes a lot of athleticism and excellent timing to get any leg or body weight into a jab without over committing yourself. The key is the tip of the stick must strike at the same instant that your weight is shifted onto the ball of your lead foot. This amounts to synchronizing two precise bouncy movements.

To get the most out of your jab practice striking roped posts, boards, and car tires.

A smash is the same as a jab, in that body weight is only transferred to the target when moving forward, and when the stroke scores at the same moment as the lead foot lands. The smash is easier to put power into because the lead foot lands flat and the last six inches of the stick is used, meaning that more weight is shifted and the stick and foot surfaces used for the force transfer are larger and more forgiving of error.

Again the tricep and flexor tendon power this shot. The smash is a full commitment forward stroke that leaves the stick in contact with the opponent, so must be delivered with shocking power to prevent a disarm. Do not use a smash to the body if clinching is not acceptable against this opponent.

One of the most effective smash targets is the thumb, using the opponent’s stick as a guide if he presents it point on.

To get the most out of your smash you must do bag work.

Slashing offers the most options for power amplification and is the only stroke that knocks people out when you are moving away from them. An effective stick fighter must slash.

When shadow slashing pay attention to when your wrist ‘breaks’ as in baseball batting and be certain to turn the hand over when the wrist begins to break. Start out slashing slowly in the air and slowly increase you stick speed until you are cutting air. A slashing action sends the stick out and then pulls it back across the body, causing the speed of the stick to accelerate as the arch is traced.

When striking bags and other targets, do not turn the hand over until the stick has passed through the target, maintaining a shearing slash while in contact.

When the body is slashed with the end of the stick it will leave track patterns that are more hollow in the middle the faster the stick is travelling, as blood is forced farther away from the impact sight the more power is applied.

When a bone or lean muscle mass is hit the stick will want to bounce back. This effect is a friend to your jab, but the enemy of your slash. The slasher forces his stick through the target, which, as indicated by some lateral bruising patterns, actually results in a double hit when the stick lands below the tip and it is forced on course. For this reason training on a rubber car tire and forcing slashes through is important.

Fat opponents will tend to engulf the stick with their blubber. To prepare for punishing big boys the heavy bag is perfect as you practice ripping through soft tissue with a blunt object.

Striking sand and water in a natural environment, as well as hanging vines and willow branches would be useful slashing practice. A heavy hanging rope in the gym is ideal.

The slash begins with the motion powered by the flexor tendon. The tricep is engaged as the elbow leaves the body, followed by the engagement of the bicep and then the lat muscle as the stick is pulled through the target. At whichever point the target is struck, as with the jab and smash, the flexor tendon is now fully contracted to further amplify the strike.

The various methods of amplifying slashes with body motion are extensive and will be covered in their own segments.