Darrin Cook > Quotes

“By extending both hands, the left hand is in a position to grip the baton in what I call “staff grip,” with both hands grasping the baton at both ends, palm down. In GM Estalilla's terminology, you can now slam, hitting the the opponent with the portion of the baton between your hands. This is also called a “bar strike.” This is potentially a very powerful move, which can be further strengthened by stepping forward with the left foot and slamming, while driving upward from your feet. Practice this strike on the heavy bag. Practice throwing multiple backhand chops, followed by a slam, driving into the bag and pushing it backward. Practice the snapping slam, wherein you burst out explosively to slam the bag, then quickly draw it back in. Train to throw multiple slams in quick, explosive bursts.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition

“Countering the Knife The knife attack is very serious, and easily fatal. Avoid a knife confrontation if at all possible. If you must confront the knife wielder, and are able to do so at a distance, draw both the ASP and the neck knife. You can start with Kick and Draw to get the expandable baton into play while keeping the opponent at bay with a low kick. Your basic strategy is to hit the opponent with the ASP from a distance. His kneecap is a good target, because it is hard to defend and if you damage his knee, it will become difficult for him to close in on you. The knife serves as a backup and a deterrent to keep him from rushing in on you, which is the obvious strategy against someone armed with a stick or baton. In close, you can execute Move 2, striking with the ASP at his forearm as you twist your torso. Hit with the empty hand or slash with the knife. The prison-style knife attack, wherein the attacker grabs and smothers with his lead free hand while repeatedly stabbing with the rear hand, is a simple yet deadly attack that is difficult to defend against. The most effective counter to the prison-style knife attack comes from Ray Floro. First of all, assume the existence of a knife. It is too easy to assume that you are in a fistfight and get surprised when you are stabbed. Many people who are cut or stabbed are unaware of the existence of a knife, and may perceive a thrust as a punch. So don't get surprised by a weapon in an opponent's hand –be looking for it. From the High Backhand Guard chop downward at the opponent's forearm, only add the live hand. Grasp the ASP with both hands in staff grip and repeatedly slam the attacker's forearm. The slams are parallel to the ground, forming a very powerful counter to the upward knife thrust. These multiple slams not only serve as a defense, but as an offense, damaging the opponent's weapon arm. The Vertical Strike From the High Backhand Guard, strike vertically, chopping straight down with the ASP. Like the horizontal chop, the left/live hand follows just behind the ASP as you strike, and retreats with it as you quickly retract it back your original start position in the high backhand guard. The vertical strike can be used to hit targets of opportunity, such as a hand or elbow, but it can also be used to defend against a horizontal attack, such as a swing with a bottle, a slash with a knife, or a kick. Don't think of the strike as a block, but as attacking the opponent's striking arm or leg.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition

“From the slap your left hand will come down along the opponent's weapon arm. Rest with your left hand palm on the opponent's right thumb. What you want here is a crushing grip. Master Ed Planas had forearms that seemed larger than my calves, and brutal grip strength, which is key when grappling for a weapon. The right hand now turns palm up and also grasps the opponent's knife hand, in this case at the base of the fist with the fingers digging inside his palm. Step back with your left foot, dropping down as you twist both arms to your left. This creates a powerful outward wristlock. The opponent either goes down or his wrist is broken. By stepping back and down, you also position yourself where he cannot hit you with his left hand or use his left hand to help retain the knife.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition

“From GM Vasquez I learned the advanced concept of block by striking. Let us say you strike with an overight and your stick is moving toward my head. If I strike straight downward, my stick will make contact with yours and slide down your stick until it impacts your hands. Like in Modified Tapado, I make vertical strikes that dominate the centerline and intercept every attack of yours while simultaneously striking you. This is like GM Estalilla's principle that I call “cutting through”--I am not thinking about blocking, but of cutting into you every time you strike.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“Following up the butt strike, your weapon is now at your left shoulder, held in rifle grip with the right hand palm-down at the handle of the weapon and the left hand palm-up maybe one third to one half the distance up the stick. To execute the rap, bring the right hand in toward the right hip while the left hand pushes the barrel end outward into the opponent's face. The weapon retraces the path it originally took from middle guard to the left shoulder, only in reverse. In practice you will find that the left elbow acts like a shock absorber, causing the end of the stick to snap back. Redirect this rebound up to your right shoulder, while letting your left hand slide down to bat grip. Follow through with an overight strike. Practice these three moves in sequence: underight butt, overleft rap, overight strike from bat grip. Your weapon will trace a 'V,' moving from one shoulder to another. Slam I have also seen this technique referred to as a “bar strike” because you are striking with the portion of the stick between the hands, which is like a bar. The slam is typically performed with the hands palm down in staff grip, equidistant from the ends, and thrown so that the stick is horizontal. Realize, though, that the slam can be thrown with multiple grips in multiple orientations. From the middle guard, throw the stick forward and diagonally, parallel to your adversary, striking him in the chest. Don't just shove the opponent, but aim for an explosive strike that knocks him back on impact. If the attacker crouches and lunges in to tackle, jam the portion of the stick between your hands into the juncture of the opponent's right shoulder and neck.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“If your intent is to throw a barrage of dozens of strikes, thinking that an accumulation of tens of strikes will drop the opponent, you have the wrong mindset. GM Maranga is one of the few short stick fighters with the right mindset. He counters with a single strike, but most importantly, his intent is to drop you with that strike. And trust me, he hits very hard. I have a saying: “My goal is not to hit the opponent, but to drop him. Hitting him is a means of achieving that goal.” It's not enough to hit him. It's not enough to hurt him. Getting him to yell “Ouch!” is not going to stop a meth addict with a blade. My aim is to shut him down. So if I'm hitting him but not incapacitating him, my strikes are ineffective. In my mind I am crushing his kneecap. I am fracturing his skull. If he raises an arm or stick to block, I am committed to blasting through it like a runaway dump truck. In my mind I am breaking any upraised arm.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“The Advantage of Long Range Technique and Why Close Range Is Deadly Let's be clear: you always want to maintain distance. For the long stick, long range is the optimum strategy. At long range, the opponent must reach out with his hand to hit you. At the farthest range, he can only hit you with that hand: the other hand is too far back to touch you, and his feet are planted as he stretches. If he extends to kick you, his hands can't touch you, while his other foot is planted. In either case, at this longest range only one hand or foot threatens you. With the big stick, you want to maintain a range where you can blast him, but he can't touch you. This is the safest range. As the opponent gets closer he enters a range where he can hit you with both hands and kick you with both feet, so you now have four potential weapons to contend with. At even closer range he can hit with the hands, elbows, knees, head, so the number of threats grows larger still. At this range if he has a knife, he can use one hand to hold you while he stabs with the other, which is easily a fatal attack. At close range an opponent can bring a concealed gun or knife into play, and you may not see the weapon until it is too late. While long range is the desired range, you must realize that you can't always maintain that range, so you must be prepared to fight in close. You not only want to be able to hit at very close range, but be able to drive the opponent back out into the kill zone. Countering the Closing Opponent 1) Recognize the Danger Avoid overconfidence, the delusional thinking, “If anybody tries to tackle me I'll knock him out.” It's not that easy. As long as you're standing, running is always an option, but once an opponent has clinched or tackled you, you lose that option. If you get taken to the ground spectators can very easily kick you in the head, a very powerful, inconspicuous kick that is like kicking a football off a tee. Martial artist Geoff Thompson knew two men who were killed in just such a fashion. A gang tactic is to assign one member to tie you up, sacrificing himself if necessary, so that the rest of the gang can pick you off. Against multiple opponents your primary strategy is mobility, fleeing if possible, but once you're clutched or tackled you've lost that option. A clinching assailant with a knife is your worst nightmare, posing a highly lethal threat.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“The examples go on and on—victims typically don't see the knife that they are stabbed or cut with. Therefore, you must assume that he has a knife. Study his hands. Is one hand behind his back, held behind his leg, in a backpack, etc.? Be prepared for him to pull a concealed knife from his waistband or pocket. Just yesterday I struck up a conversation with a martial artist who told me combat was all about getting in close. NO! NO! NO! Part of assuming the knife means that you maintain distance whenever possible. The moment you close, the odds shift in favor of the guy with a knife. Even if you dish out serious punishment up close, if he clutches onto you it may be fatal when he draws a knife or ties you up, leaving you helpless as his buddies close in.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“Underleft-Overleft Strike with an underleft to the opponent's lead knee. On impact, suddenly redirect the strike into an overleft. Like swinging a sledgehammer, slide your left hand up to help relaunch the weapon. The big stick is heavy enough that you don't want to try to redirect it upward with just your wrists. Overleft-Left Knee Begin with the weapon in left high guard. Throw an overleft strike. Upon contact, draw the stick back to re-chamber it in left high guard. Be aware though, that when you recover from a strike and attempt to re-chamber or reload, you are vulnerable to a counterattack. Keep in mind that a common short stick strategy is to get you to commit to a strike, then charge into close range after you've swung. Perhaps an attacker intends to tackle you—his strategy may be to draw your high strike, such as an overleft, then burst in low to take you down. As the stick comes back to the left shoulder, use this momentum as a counterbalance to throw the left knee. Do not throw an upward knee, which is weak. Instead, throw the Thai knee, in which the knee travels forward, moving parallel to the ground. An important tip is to throw the hip forward, tilting your torso back as you throw the left knee. This has the added benefit of developing your abs and core when you train. The knee is among the most devastating of weapons against the tackler because he tends to run into the knee face-first.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“Rob Eiter sells a video on the high crotch”
― Darrin Cook, Super C: The Ultimate Grappling Move

“Keep your weak hand up by your face, so that you can easily defend your head if a punch is unexpectedly thrown. Use the weak hand to scratch your head or cheek, brush your hair, wipe your brow, adjust your hat, etc., but keep that hand up. Remember that you will most likely be reacting to an assault, and therefore it will take too long to bring a hand up from your waist to your head to defend yourself against a sneak attack. Cover This block/cover comes from boxing, and is identical to the one taught in my book The Cook Method of the Sap for Law Enforcement and Civilians. The weak (left) hand comes up and brings the hand to the ear as though you are talking on the phone. The upraised elbow and bent arm create a large, strong defense against any type of blow, especially a hook punch, which is difficult to defend against by trying to parry or block with the hand. You can also think of this move as raising the left elbow upward. In close, this shielding move can be used as a strike, hitting the attacker with an upward elbow strike. Train this move by having a partner slowly and lightly swing with his right hand at your head. If you get boxing headgear and gloves, you can gradually increase the speed and power of this strike. It is also possible for your partner to swing at your head using the punch mitts. Hammerfist As the left elbow comes up and the left hand is placed just off your ear, your right hand –which has been resting near your left armpit-- snaps outward, striking with the bottom of the fist. Aim for the opponent's jawline. A problem with punching on the street is that it's easy to damage your knuckles when hitting someone's skull or teeth. The bottom-of-the-fist blow, also known as a hammerfist, is a very powerful blow that can be delivered with little risk of injury to the knuckles or wrist. It has proven itself to be devastatingly effective in the full-contact cage matches of the mixed martial arts. Practice doing both motions at the same time; raising the left elbow up to cover the head while striking out with the right hammerfist. Practice slowly at first, then move to the heavy bag. You can also have a partner with the focus mitts swing the right mitt while holding the left mitt up as a target for you to hit with the right hand. Once you have the form down, make the move explosive. Burst outward with the elbow and hammerfist simultaneously. Snap the hammerfist, bringing it quickly back to the start position. Another tip as you practice this move is to drop your head down, so that your chin and the side of your face are not exposed. With your chin down, the striking right hand and arm will help to shield your head from attacks with the opponent's left hand. This is how you defend yourself when an opponent has surprised you with a flurry of punches –not by trying to block a rain of blows, but by striking while protecting your head.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition

“I had inherited from GM Estalilla's kabaroan a one-handed stick technique coupled with the staff grip bamboliya technique, and I was at an impasse, unable to progress or innovate any further. When I showed GM Maranga bamboliya technique he told me directly, “I don't like it. Let me show you what I would do.” He then held the stick in what I call “rifle grip,” with the right hand palm down and the left hand palm up. At first, rifle grip seemed all wrong, but the more I studied it I realized it was superior to staff grip in every application. Then I had a sudden insight—I could transition from bat grip to rifle grip and vice versa simply by sliding the left hand forward and back. That was the crucial concept in the development of Big Stick Combat. The Pop Up The pop up is a technique of GM Estalilla that enables the practitioner to transition from low guard to middle guard. Begin in low guard, with the right foot forward, both feet pointed straight ahead, the knees bent, and your shoulders squared to the opponent. Your aim is to lever the stick up so that it comes from its resting point on the ground just outside of your right foot up to your chest where your left hand can catch it. Rather than lift up with your right wrist or arm, the secret is to jerk your right elbow backward, which causes the end of the stick to arc upward off the ground. Place your left hand at your chest, palm out, to catch the stick as it swings upward. Once you have stopped the stick, rotate your left palm around to grip the stick so that your left thumb faces your chest. An important tip is to keep the end of the stick aligned with, and pointed at, the opponent's centerline. Rapier Thrust Execute the pop up, but the moment the stick hits your left palm, throw the end of the stick forward as your thrust with the right. Your left hand will slide along the stick until it comes to rest against the right hand—you are now in bat grip. One possible follow-up is to step forward, kicking low to the knee or groin with the rear left foot. As you kick with the left foot, throw the stick over your right shoulder in preparation for an overight strike, When your left foot plants, strike with an overight diagonal blow. The kick can serve as a counter to a disarm or to prevent an opponent from closing as you wind up for the overight. This technique can also be used as a means of closing the distance: rapier thrust, low level kick, then overight finishing blow. You can also execute the rapier thrust from middle guard. Don't get hung up on the middle guard as a stance, even though many styles use the middle guard as a fighting stance, GM Estalilla among them. Think of the middle guard as a transition point where you are defending yourself at close range.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“This is similar to the Twister technique, in that you are using a two-handed grip on the big stick in order to duplicate the sudden redirection of short stick abaniko, or fan, technique. Start in right high guard with the stick resting over your right shoulder. Throw an overight, then suddenly change direction so that the stick travels 180 degrees in the opposite direction, striking the opponent in the knee or groin with an underleft. It helps to step out to the right with your right foot to clear a path for the second strike. Suddenly pull the left hand back and downward, like pulling a lever, while simultaneously pushing forward and upward with the right. One possible application is to draw the opponent's left hand up to block your overight strike, then drop down to strike at the opening created at his knee or groin. Practice this technique on the heavy bag, striving to make both strikes as powerful and as close together as possible.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“As long as you're wrestling for the knife, the guy with the knife has a HUGE advantage. A solid slap to the side of the head serves the vital role of disrupting the opponent's offensive mindset. As long as he's thinking, “Cut, cut, stab, slash, stab....” you're screwed. A solid thwap! to the side of the head is necessary to create a gap that you can exploit. Although GM Maranga has a different method of creating the gap, he is in total agreement that some sort of interruption is needed, something to jar the assailant out of his attack, or else you'll never succeed in disarming him. From the interview position, twist counterclockwise and swat the side of the opponent's head with the left palm. Coincidentally, this body twist is the same as that used to evade the knife. Like the hook punch, this blow is thrown with torque from the hips rather than movements of the arm and shoulder. Practice this on the focus mitt, with your partner holding the mitt in his left hand, canted upward at an angle. When you strike, do not hit with the fingers or the knuckle joints on the palm, but with the hollow of the palm. Like the elbow, don't push the hand, but whip it through. When you hit the pad correctly, you'll hear a deep, resounding thwap! Putting It All Together Like the first move, practice all of the elements individually, then slowly practice linking them all together. The twist, parry, and slap should all occur in one smooth, explosive movement. Have a partner thrust slowly with a dummy knife while holding the punch mitt in position for the slap. Gradually increase your speed and power. If all you have is these three elements –the twist, parry, and slap-- you've defended yourself and created a gap that you can exploit to get the hell out of there. When a knife is involved, don't be too proud to run.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition

“Advantages of the ASP I have already explained how the ASP is advantageous with regard to its compactness and ease of carry, but there are other advantages. Carrying an impact weapon gives you the ability to counter a threat with less than lethal force, which may save you a long stint in prison. The compact ASP has advantages over the 28-inch stick of the traditional Filipino martial arts. When you are chest-to-chest against an opponent, it's difficult to hit him decisively with a 26-28 inch long stick. Filipino martial artists practice raising the arm and twisting the wrist to snap the tip into an opponent's head, but these flicking strikes can't be counted on to drop an attacker. Also, because of the stick's light weight, space and distance are needed to wind up and generate power. At very close range the short, heavy stick –such as a blackjack, sap, or an 8-inch steel bar-- is a better weapon. The striking tip of the ASP is made of steel, and the middle section is high-grade aluminum. This solid construction means that the ASP hits hard. The unexpanded ASP can be used like a metal yawara (palm stick), which is devastating in close. The Knife The second weapon in Steel Baton EDC is a knife carried at the neck. The knife should be compact and relatively light so that it is comfortable enough for neck carry. Get a light beaded chain that will break away, so that you aren't strangled with your own neck lanyard. The knife should have a straight handle without loops or fingerholes, because you want to be able to access the knife with either hand in an instant, without having to thread your fingers into holes or work to secure a grip. Avoid folding knives. You want a knife that you can draw in an instant. No matter how much you practice drawing and opening your knife, or even if you get an automatic (switchblade) or assisted opener, you will always be slower getting the folding knife open and into action, particularly under stress. Keep in mind that “under stress” may mean somebody socking you in the face repeatedly. Once again, you want open carry. Open carry is almost always legal and is more easily accessible if you are under attack. You can get a neodymium magnet and put it in the gap between the seam of your shirt, in between the buttons. The magnet will attract the steel blade of your knife so that the knife will stay centered and not flop around if you're moving. My recommended knives for neck carry are the Cold Steel Super Edge and the Cold Steel Hide Out. The Super Edge is small, light, and inconspicuous. It also comes in useful as a day-to-day utility tool, opening packages, trimming threads, removing tags, and so on. Get the Rambo knife image out of your mind. You only need a small knife to deter an attacker, because nobody wants to get cut. And if your life is on the line, you can still do serious damage with a small blade.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition

“Carry Grip Big Stick Combat is principally composed of three grips: 1) stick grip, in which the right hand grasps the end of the stick; 2) rifle grip, in which the right hand is at the base of the stick, palm down, while the left hand is near the middle of the stick, palm up; and 3) bat grip, in which both hands grip the weapon like a baseball bat, with the left hand over the right. Yet there is another grip, carry grip, that must be considered. Unless you need a cane in order to walk, you will typically carry the baseball bat, cane, or long stick in the middle, grasped by your right hand if you're right-handed. It is important to train to strike automatically and non-telegraphically from carry grip, especially if you are attacked by surprise. Cover and Hit You are holding the stick in carry grip, with the right hand at the balance point near the middle of the stick. An attacker swings with his right hand at your head. Bear in mind that his “punch” might be a beer bottle, a set of brass knuckles, or a knife, so it is best to crouch down to try to evade it completely. Raise up your left elbow, placing your left palm over your left ear. This is a multipurpose shield of your head. Swing the end of the weapon into the opponent's groin. Strike repeatedly into his groin and midsection as necessary. To follow up, grab the base of the stick with the left hand. You are now in rifle grip, only in reverse, with the right hand forward and the left at the pommel. If you slide the right hand down into bat grip you will be in the traditional right-over-left grip. Although these grips are the opposite of what I have taught in the book so far, I believe it is best not to shuffle the hands. I believe your first priority is not to lose your weapon! I refer to the right hand grip at the base of the weapon as “anchor grip,” because it is firm and permanently fixed. No matter how the left hand moves, the right always maintains a solid grip. I have rejected the grip shifting of other styles because I want to avoid at all costs losing the weapon, particularly under the stress of combat. Crotch Lift This technique is a natural follow-up to the preceding Cover and Hit. This can also be used as a follow-up to the low thrust, the very first technique in the book. The crotch lift can also be used in close-quarters grappling. Pass the stick between the opponent's legs, high up near his crotch. You may naturally find yourself in this position after a thrust to the groin. Reach around the opponent's back with your left hand and seize the end of the stick, palm up. Bend your knees and lift the opponent by straightening your legs and lifting with both arms. Arch your head and body to the right in order to dump him. If he falls with a leg still entangled, you can squeeze in on the weapon in a crushing technique.”
― Darrin Cook, Big Stick Combat: Baseball Bat, Cane, & Long Stick for Fitness and Self-Defense

“It may seem unnecessary to learn to evade the knife by twisting: After all, can't you just use your hand or hands to block? The twist may be a last ditch defense. Reality is that you may not detect a knife thrust until the last second, and you may not have time to get your hands in position. Also if your block or parry doesn't work, your evasive body twist is your backup. This body twist was an essential part of my instruction under Master Ed Planas and Grandmaster Maranga. The most deadly knife attack does not travel parallel to the ground in a straight line, but hooks upward like an uppercut, thrusting a blade up under the ribcage. This is devilish to block or parry, so getting the hell out of the way by means of the body twist is your best option. The Parry Once you have the body twist down, the next step is to add a downward parry with the right hand as you twist. Imagine karate chopping downward, not perpendicular to the opponent's forearm, but intersecting it at a slight angle. If you try to chop the forearm at a right angle, you have a very narrow window to intercept the attack. A perpendicular block also places your body in the wrong position. By intercepting the attacking forearm at a slight angle, there is greater opportunity to intercept at several points, and this move meshes with the body twist that presents the left shoulder parallel to the line of attack.”
― Darrin Cook, Steel Baton EDC: 2nd Edition