Why train sticks for empty hands?
I’ve heard it many times.
I don’t want to train sticks because I don’t know when I would ever use them.
I’m just going to train my hands and my legs.
Stupidity.
I was actually told this by a trainer I knew way back in my Bally days.
I knew he was wrong then, and he’s still just as wrong now.
I actually have really good, strong punches because I use sticks.
Why is this?
It’s because the movements of the stick are the movements of empty hands.
There is no difference.
With sticks, you have to generate power from your body and not your arms.
Even though some people hit hard with their arms, they could hit harder with their body weight behind it.
Bruce Lee used to try to talk about this a lot.
People didn’t understand physics (which he studied excessively on his own)
That’s why his one inch and three inch punch were so powerful.
That’s why his pendulum side kick could cannonade someone many feet away.
You have to learn to use your body weight to punch effectively.
That’s why I love sticks, nothing will teach you to use your body weight more effectively than a stick.
Plus it makes the scariest sound ever if you’re too close to it.
I’ll post up the video of my power swings when I get the chance.
But, if you want to punch harder, kick harder, and be faster, then start training with sticks.
Never be intimidated.
