From the colonial periods to the modern era, arnis sticks represented the Filipino Martial Arts of Eskrima. It's both fast and deadly. The stick has changed the course of Eskrima history.
During the Spanish Colonization in the Philippines, Filipinos were banned from using blades and practicing Eskrima Arnis. That is to avoid a bloody revolution from the natives. But Filipino Eskrima martial arts warriors continued to train in secret using sticks.
The makers of these Filipino kali sticks have turned the weapon into an object of beauty of combat. It's a perfect fusion of craftsmanship and function, and it has the ability to thrill and appeal in equal measure.
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In this post, we will discuss step by step, how these Eskrima sticks are created so you can create one in own home and train with it.
So keep reading…
How to Make Rattan Arnis Sticks
Creating excellent rattan kali sticks is quite taxing and labour intensive. However, the result is worth the effort. The step in making rattan sticks are simple, but there are a number of steps that you should follow to do it right.
Cutting and Trimming
Step 1. Initially cut the rattan to the length you want.
Step 2. Next, grind flat the ends of the stick on a disk sander.
Step 3. Then, bevel the edges to reduce sharp portions and stop it from splintering. Sand the nodes of the stick until they’re smooth. This process involves angling the stick’s side against the sanding disk’s rim because an incorrect angle will scratch into the wood, and the stick should always be turned to avoid flat portions.
Oiling and Burning of Trimmed Arnis Sticks
Step 1. After sanding, use a propane torch to bring the wood’s oils to the surface. Constantly move the stick as you burn it to avoid over burning and use hot pads because the stick can get extremely hot.
Makers often bring the oils up one half of the stick and then put a burn pattern before switching to the end and burning the other half. It is crucial that you keep the stick moving once the colouration appears to get off the spot. You can observe poor burning techniques on many commercial sticks.
Eskrima Weapons You Need To Train With
Training with these weapons will develop your coordination, speed and rhythm! Get your Free List Here.
You can also see tiny holes or blisters in the skin of the skin where the oils popped due to the heat. This is an indication that the wood is over drying. A little colour is an indication that the stick is burned properly. One trick for the burned area is to rub the oil secreted by your nose onto the wood.
This type of oil is as high-quality as a sperm whale oil. This oil is also great for repairing scratches in musical instruments and furniture, as well as in defogging your glasses.
Step 2. Throughout this process, burn the ends of the wood. Light the end as though you’re lighting a candle, then always turn it to prevent deep, overly dark burns, and finally blow it out.
Creating Arnis Sticks Burnt Patterns
Step 1. You can do the “Tiger Stripes” – another burn pattern – by rolling the stick across an electric stove. In fact, some Hawaiian Eskrima practitioners would throw their escrima sticks on barbeque after cooking their food, in order to bake the wood as well as get the patterns off the BBQ grill. And reversing the stick angle can provide it with a crosshatch pattern.
Step 2. Bake the stick in an oven approximately 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Always monitor the eskrima sticks, so they do not over bake. At this point, the steam will come out of the stick’s end. Once the steam stops emerging, the stick is now done!
There are times where one end will finish first before the other end. Do not let the dry touch the oven. Pull out the stick and tap its ends on the tile. If it sounds “wet,” then it’s not finished. Once the crisp is heard though, it is ready.
Step 3. If the stick is crooked, then straighten it while it is still hot. Lay it on the floor. Bend the other end up. As the stick cools, it will retain the adjustment. A stick that is properly treated is essentially hollow. You can even blow on its end and feel your warm breath come out the stick’s other end. An overly dry stick will do similarly as well.
Step 4. Lastly, when the stick is warm, try to rub it down the bone. Doing this makes you hear little crackles as the portions of the wood compresses. Buff out the stick on a buff wheel. This provides it with a great shine, spread its oil evenly, and enhances the grip’s adhesion. It also feels nicer and will give off a common burning smell during your training.
Measuring your Rattan Stick for FMA
In FMA or Filipino Martial Arts, your weapons personalisation is extremely crucial. You success highly depends on the coordination of your learned skills through your weapon – the stick. You will spend many, many hours of learning how to it to your advantage.
If your weapon does not compliment you, then your ability to learn FMA successfully and effectively will suffer greatly. Your weapon has to match by design or training, or both.
Shape and Length
Having longer arms indicates that you need a longer stick. If you do not have an instructor who can help you determine the length of your stick, then tuck your cane’s butt or pin it on your pit and extend your arm. Have someone mark where your middle falls on your stick.
Secure your stick in a vise or clamp. You can then cut it using a saw, sand to smooth the surface and bevel its edges.
Arnis Sticks Preservation
There absolutely no need to burn your stick to harden it, but still, inflexible material such as wooden dowels can break and bend fast if you use them hard. Also, bamboo can split when abused. Moreover, wrapping your arnis sticks with duct tape in spirals may be great, but it will help the stick last through more intense training sessions.
Diameter
Your stick’s diameter should enable you to get the best grip. Roll the stick – place the stick in your fingers, roll it down, and lock it in by putting your thumb over your fingers; this makes it a secure grip. Your stick’s diameter should not be so big that you can’t roll your stick in your fingers.
Also, if you grip your stick in your hands and your fingertips touch your palm, then you have now closed any opening out of which your stick may slip out.
This technique is perfect for an excellent grip, but it may also mean the stick is too skinny for some practitioners. You may have to find another solution by choosing a diameter that enables you to have a great grip, yet also has sufficient weight to provide you with a better experience in training.
Utilizing a light stick will help you develop your speed yet may not develop your stamina. Also, it may break faster and be more difficult to use when training with someone who uses a larger, heavier stick. The average diameter of an FMA stick is around 7/8 of an inch to one inch.
Weight
If you are a beginner, use a medium weight stick. Rattan arnis sticks have a tendency to range from light (3 to 4 ounces) to heavy (11 or 12 ounces). The average stick is approximately 6 to 7 ounces. A heavy stick is great for developing your power, but it can limit to developing your precision.
A light stick can aid you with enhancing speed and reaction time, but it will not develop your grip or generate too much power. If you are just starting out, a medium weight stick is perfect for you. As you advance, incorporate heavy stick into our training.
Choosing your first set of sticks
Which stick is right for someone like you? Choose a stick according to your style or system. When attempting to decide what size is perfect for you, ask your instructor and follow his or her recommendation specific to your system. Also, you may consider the previously mentioned points.
As you advance in your FMA training, you will replace your rattan stick many times, which allows you to experiment with various weight, lengths, and diameter of the stick.
To help you choose the best escrima sticks for your training, we've reviewed our best arnis stick choices – including kamagong (Philippine ironwood), and padded kali sticks in the article – Awesome Escrima Sticks – Our Top 5 Best Picks
Final Thoughts
The perfect stick is made to your system, including your training weapon. Having the weapon tailor-made to fit you guarantees your ease of use. And having it tailor-made to your system guarantees that you can apply what you’re learning. When you require a weapon for survival, each advantage you could get is crucial to your success.
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