Shift away, triangle out, step away, shuffle step away or do a weak pivot off line to begin this sequence.

Do not enter with this combination.

Each stroke may be a strike or a beat, all depending on where his weapon is. This is one of the few combinations that works just as well with stick or machete.

The first stroke is an advanced stroke, and is not in our count. Realistically it is usually a beat [weapon deflection] and not a strike. It is dangerous to practice this on striking apparatus. Indeed I have hurt my wrist hitting big men with this. Target only the hand, elbow or chin with this rising stroke. The first stroke in the count is only for targeting light weapons and hands. If you enter with it and it is read by the opponent, say goodbye to your hand—probably the thumb.

The three strokes of this count describe a cursive t.

Stroke #1

[step away, reverse shift or side step right or left]

The stroke is advanced

The first stroke is a rising diagonal forehand taking the business end of the stick from your knee area to just above his shoulder.

The tip of your stick traces a line from his left knee to right shoulder.

Your stick hand travels from your right hip to your left shoulder.

Stroke #2

[step away, side step, or reverse shift left]

The #1 stroke of the basic 4 count

This is setting up a backhand, so you want to move to your left as your stick hand chambers to your left hip, hoping he falls for the triangle trap and steps into the pocket you are vacating.

As your wrist breaks at the top of the arc, make a loop around his head and bring down a diagonal forehand descending from just above his left ear through his left hip, with your hand flowing from your left shoulder to your left hip.

If he is any good you have both just banged sticks, and he has hopefully taken the bait and stepped in for a smash.

Stroke #3

[depending on his energy, step in or continue evasive footwork]

The #2, 3 or 4 stroke of the basic 4

If you have side stepped away to the left and he bought the trap you laid by moving off with your first rising stroke, take his head off with a #3, lateral back hand. This T-combination may also be envisioned as a horizontally bisected X-pattern.

If you were driven back as he read and countered your trap evade to your left with a #2 diagonal backhand, most likely a beat against his weapon. This becomes an X-combination.

If he retreated, then lunge or shift forward with a #4 on the highline and try to catch him on his heels with that descending vertical stroke. This becomes a vertically bisected X-pattern.

As you can see the T-combination only occurs some of the time, but is the mid-ground variation, so we practice and go into variants from there. Drill this in the mirror and with a partner.

Realistically, this is mostly weapon to weapon contact, with any hits scoring on the hand, a conservative, long range combination.