Stab vs Slash with stick?

Question

Making broad generalisations, when stickfighting, is it more damaging to strike the opponent with a slash or stab?

I'm asking as most stick fighting styles are predominantly slashing styles. However, most sword fighting styles developed into predominantly stabbing arts. When we used to spar with sticks, we didn't use stabs as they were deemed too dangerous.

I know it's obvious that swords have sharp points, whereas sticks don't, but a stick's point still has a much smaller surface area than it's edge and therefore a stab is probably more likely to cause internal injuries.

Answer 1

Well I disagree with you that "most sword fighting styles developed into predominantly stabbing arts"

Ask yourself how fast will the tip of the stick be moving if you thrust and how fast will it be moving if you slash. And if you think it is thrusting that is fastest why do golfers not thrust at a ball.

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And does the bag move more when you push it or when you punch it. When you hit a bag you want it to deform and jolt rather than just swing.

Travis, a thrust will have the same amount of power no matter where it hits, the target doesn't make the thrust any more powerful.

Answer 2

Sticks are better used to stab with, however, repeated thwackings with  the side of a stick tend to hurt just as much in the long run as they bruis a larger area. (try to slash)

Answer 3

Well...now your in my field of study lol.  I teach Kenjutsu and I remember fighting with sticks when I was younger.  I fought with anything from Bamboo to broomsticks as well as Bokken.  Even a cheap wall hanger sword will pierce skin, no matter how dull the edge is.  As far as sticks go (not counting Kali sticks) it is generally more durable and damaging to use a calculated thrust, as a swing will likely break it.  Lets use a Pool stick for example...with it's physical structure, no matter how you swing it...it's likely to break.  Whereas it is designed to thrust when it hits a ball.

Damage wise, it really depends on your accuracy.  Using a stick, rod, pole, pool cue, kali stick, ect.  a thrust delivers much more power, especially if it is directed at vital points.

As for Kenjutsu, the slash and thrusting methods can tell a lot about the Ryu or style.  A slashing style was likely oriented to battle, as you had to account for the possibility of your sword being stuck in the body of your enemy while being attacked by another.  The thrust found it's way into dueling oriented styles where you were often facing a much more skiled opponent and not an Ashigaru foot soldier.  Of course most styles have both, so it's a generalzation.

My style of Kenjutsu is actually oriented on quick calculated thrusts and evasion as opposed to blocking or slashing, even though I teach them all.  If you want more info on tactics or techniques with either thrusting or slashing, you can e-mail me anytime.

Edit:  I was refering to power as effectivness at that point.  True it has the same power, but I was meaning that it was more effective when targeted at the throat, solar plexus or other vital area.  I apologize that I did not specify that.

Answer 4

slash

Answer 5

It all depends on the situation. A thrust is much harder to defend against then a slash, the same way it is harder to block or avoid a jab then a roundhouse. This is because as it travels a straight line it is much faster.

However a slash tends to do more damage, ecpecially if it is done with the last inch of the weapon, and will rip skin, as opposed to just hitting with a stick. It would be very hard for a stick in a stab(try saying that fast 5 times) to do internal damage per say, simply because of the amont of force that you can put behind it. The longer the stick, that you can use with two hands, the more damage you can do.

Answer 6

what kind of stick?? any stick, or a knife shaped stick, or an escrima stick like the Filipeno Martial Art

For Competion wise, I'm a slasher. I'm very quick and my fencing skills paid off to I get head shots all the time

For the streets....stabber, for I need timing to do this. Trust me, if it ends up in the streets, it will always be the scenerio of my life on the line and find a stick as a weapon since I usually walk away from fights or put them them empty handed. I aim at the vital points, but if it gets too serious, very vital points (groin and eyes)