I’ve recently started to incorporate weighted sticks into training in my classes.  These are approximately 5 lbs stainless steel sticks.  I’ve found them useful for three main things.

1. Execution of proper technique
2. Strength
3. Flexibility

This article is going to focus solely on the first item.  I hope to discuss 2 & 3 in a later entry.  When students first start training with sticks there are a lot of learned muscle memories that I feel are counter to proper technique execution for Arnis.  Some of these include:

1. Leaving the stick in front of you rather than chambering it back
2. Flicking of the wrist at the last minute
3. Going too fast to effective learn the technique.

What I have found in my own training is that number one, if you leave a weighted stick out in front of you all the time, your shoulders and forearms are going to get tired.  This will naturally force one to bring the arms, elbows, etc closer to the body.

For number two, most people will not be able to effective flick a heavy stick.  The weight of the stick, even at 5 lbs is heavy enough to eliminate this tendency.

Finally, tying into the previous item, the weight of the stick prevents quick execution of the movements.  For some reason, we have come to believe that speed is a sign of mastery and every student tries to go fast.  With a weighted stick, once a student realizes that they cannot go fast due to the momentum of the weight, then they can actually focus on the technique.

View the short video above demonstrating its use.