The Deadly Cane Techniques
of the Goju-Shorei Weapons System
By Terry Wilson

At a recent seminar in Lake Tahoe Nevada the power of the cane was put to task as Goju Shorei stylist Dave McNeill demonstrated how effective this walking stick can be when used for self defense.

"What can you do against someone like me with that thing?" quipped a large and very muscular bystander.

"Well, why don't you grab me, or throw a punch?" answered McNeill. "Go ahead, any move you want to make."

Seconds later the power lifter's question was answered. He was flipped, dipped, choked, tagged and bagged by the old gent with the cane. After tapping out, the big man smiled, and another believer in the power of the cane was born.

Over the years I have seen many instructors use the cane for self defense but never have I met someone who has such a complete mastery of the art and it's affect on the human body.

"The United States Goju-Shorei Association decided to teach legal arid practical weapons back in 1988," says McNeill. "We felt that we would be doing a disservice to our students if they were taught something that couldn't be used on the street. We picked the cane and knife as our weapons of choice and I was put in charge of creating the weapons system for the United States."

McNeill labored over the task until he came up with a formula that worked for him and the Goju-Shorei organization. The curriculum includes exercises, katas, and ranking requirements.

One of the reasons why the cane is McNeill's weapon of choice is because of it's practical nature. By law the cane isn't considered a weapon, therefore it can be carried anywhere, even on an airplane. However, this harmless looking carved stick can be a lethal weapon in the hands of someone who has had even minimum training.

"The cane is a lethal weapon that can do a lot of damage when used as such," says McNeill. "Some cane's have sharp edges on them so they can cut, but even so, the cane is legal and can be carried anywhere in the world. One of the things I like to do at my seminars is to offer up a challenge. I'll fight anyone with any weapon of their choice. It can be a shotgun, sword, pistol, doesn't matter; only I get to pick the location. That location will be the boarding gate at United Airlines. If they can get their weapon through the gate then we'll fight. Of course they can't. But I can take my cane anywhere."

So how effective is the cane against a blade?

"When it comes to a cane against a knife, the cane will win every time because of distance," explains McNeill. "It is a great blocking device, and it can be used to throw a person, or lock them up into some kind of an arm or leg submission hold. Striking and choking with a cane is very effective too. But to learn how to do these things effectively takes practice. People who carry a cane for self defense but have never trained to use one is just asking for trouble. You must train to be effective."

McNeill tossed me one of his canes and for about 20 minutes he drilled me on some of the ABC's of how to use the weapon.

"The first thing to learn is the striking area," explains McNeill. "There are 13 different striking areas on the human body. We start low and work our way up. The higher the number the more lethal the strike. Grip the cane. by the crook, and only use one hand to swing the cane, not two, because you want to be able to parry off the other person's attack. Another reason why we use one hand is for our acceleration moves. When we swing we actually use the free hand to push the cane hand to accelerate the strike. Now I don't mean to imply that you can't land a powerful blow by grabbing the cane with two hands because you can. But using two hands often forces the user to be square-on with your attacker and that's not the best position to fight from. Using one hand allows the cane fighter to use more angles."

An expert in pressure points and body mechanics, McNeill says that it's important to know what the body likes and what it doesn't like in order to use the cane to it's maximum effectiveness.

"As we attack the body, it's done in such a manner to keep it (the body) from adjusting to the blows," says McNeill. "For example, if you press in on the ribs, that won't do that much damage because they are meant to expand in and out when you breathe. But when you move up and down against the ribs it's a different story. Nature didn't design them to work that way, so it's very painful when you drag a cane up and down a persons rib cage. If you hit the knee caps straight on it may sting but chances are very little if any damage will result. However, if you hit the knee cap at a downward angle you sheer off the kneecap causing great pain along with nerve damage. The head is a good target, but you should aim for an area that isn't used to being hit. For instance, along the line of the ear is a good place to strike. When attacking the arm, go for the elbow. Don't hit the biceps, there is too much flesh there. The point of the shoulder is good as is the hand. The metacarpal are small bones and break quite easily, go for those. As you can see, an important part of the training is knowing angle and direction. Something about pain you should also know is that if you continue to apply pain the body will adjust and the pain will eventually subside. So when you apply pain, don't stay on one area for a long time, go someplace else. Overload the body with pain. Doing that can cause the attacker to go into shock. If I hit the knee a bunch of times, after the third or fourth strike it won't hurt so much. But if I hit the knee then the head followed by the arm and hand I have begun to distribute the pain throughout the entire body. To accomplish this, we teach multiple striking techniques. The body is divided into different zones."

The use of pressure points also plays an integral part in McNeill's program.

"It's very important for people to learn how to find and use pressure points," McNeill says. "If you overlay the cane on a pressure point it will always work."

To demonstrate this, McNeill allowed himself to be put into a bear hug. He placed the tip of the cane against the small of the attacker's back, then with his free hand pressed the tip against a point where the ribs attach to the body. In an instant, the large attacker was on his knees begging for mercy.

"There are 361 tsubos (acupuncture) points on the human body," says McNeill. "At leas half of them can be used to inflict pain."

These techniques are called "percussion moves". Knowing how and where to drive the tip of the cane into your adversary is a simple, yet very effective way to put an attacker on the ground. McNeill has 10 such moves in his arsenal along with a variety of strikes, chokes, locks, and throws.

Another key factor when it comes to being good with a cane is possessing the right rhythm.

"Using a broken rhythm is the key to success when wielding a cane," says McNeill. "Any boxer who uses a steady rhythm is in the loss column. You can slow down your attack or speed it up, this will off set your opponent. Never let your opponent figure out your timing."

In order to teach his cane techniques, McNeill has designed a course on video that can take anyone from beginner to black belt. After studying the various techniques on video, the student will tape his or her application of those techniques and send it to McNeill. If done to his satisfaction, a certificate of rank will be awarded by mail.

And forget those expensive exercise machines you see advertised on late night infomercials. McNeill has also created an exercise program using a cane and some rubber exercise bands that will tone, shape and repair any frame.

"With the cane and these rubber bands you have a complete gym," says McNeill. "Along with a well known physical therapist, I designed a series of exercises that will work every muscle in your body. 60 percent of these exercises can be done sitting down. So if a person is in a wheel chair or can't stand, they can still do these exercises. And a lot of the exercises can be done by a person who is bedbound. I firmly believe that exercise is the thing that can take a person from being immobile to mobile."

Being disabled and bed-bound is something McNeill knows a lot about. In 1982 he was diagnosed with a disease that attacks the spine and joints.

"There wasn't any cure for the disease and the only treatment was to put me in bed and wait for the spine and joints to fuse together," recalls McNeill. "The doctor's gave me a bleak future and some ineffective exercises. I'd been in the martial arts for over 13 years by now and I thought back to when I was in the 4th grade and had polio. I was in a wheel chair and the Doctor's told me then that I would never walk. Well I didn't buy into that. So I worked really hard, got rid of the crutches and worked around the farm with the aid of braces and special shoes."

Within two years the braces and special shoes were gone and McNeill was in the gum taking boxing lessons. walking around the farm on crutches. He had beaten the odds as a child now as an adult he was forced to do it again.

"So here I was again, facing another Doctor who was telling me that I'd never walk," says McNeill. "This time I grabbed a cane and did the same thing I did as a kid on crutches. I trained very hard but my body couldn't hold up on it's own. I got dizzy and began running a high fever and had to use a cane to get around. Then one of my instructors suggested that I learn how to use the cane as part of my martial arts. And that's how this all got started."

Having been in a wheel chair McNeill knew what would work and what wouldn't and thus he created a program of exercises and self defense techniques ideal for individuals in that situation.

"I have a student, Bob Tackitt, who was a quadriplegic. He was on point in Vietnam when a land mine went off and killed four of his comrades, he too was in critical condition.. Shrapnel went through his throat and spine," says McNeill. "Bob was paralyzed from the chin down, but he never gave up. And about two years ago he started getting feeling back, and now he can walk with the aid of a cane, although he has no sensation from the shoulders down." i

Filled with determination and the will to succeed, the former Marine followed in McNeill's footsteps and over came impossible odds. He is now a second degree black belt in weapons. McNeill is very proud of his student and was quick to do everything he could to help him when they first met.

"When he first came to me I knew

what his needs were because I had been there. I think too often people take a diagnosis and turn it into a sentence rather than a challenge. Bob met that challenge head on and is living proof that the power of the mind is an awesome force."

In addition to teaching cane techniques, McNeill also makes and sells canes. In fact , his company, Cane Masters, is one of the leading makers of custom canes in the world. Each one is hand-made by McNeill himself.

If you are interested in learning more about the Goju-Shorei Weapons System video or want a custom cane designed specifically for you, call 1-775-267-2506 or email sokemcneill@gojushorei.com