Tactical Alley | Suntetsu Defense - Pocket Stick

Suntetsu Pocket Stick — Suntetsu Defense – Open-hand defensive slaps are possible with both the koppo and the suntetsu.

As part of his “Tactical Alley” column for the July 2014 issue of TACTICAL KNIVES, Phil Elmore investigated the modern version of the ancient pocket stick known as the suntetsu. At first glance, the suntetsu appears to be little more than a long rod or dowel fixed with a ring through which it can be attached to the user’s finger. But as Elmore learned, the options for (and the results of) the suntetsu’s use are impressive. “Held in the hand and used to strike in a hammer-fist grip, or held for point control and used for thrusting, such a tool is a remarkably effective weapon at close quarters,” says Elmore. “It does not feel pain; it breaks less easily than the bones of the user’s hands; and it concentrates the force of any blow into a smaller area, increasing that blow’s effectiveness.”

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As he familiarized himself with the modern recreations of the suntetsu, Elmore also explored how it can be worn and manipulated in a self-defense setting. “The suntetsu is worn like a ring, typically on the middle finger, but the practitioner can spin the rod part of the tool in the palm of the hand. This permits reorienting the weapon,” says Elmore. “What makes the suntetsu most useful is that it can be spun to point forward, rotated to hide behind the fingers (if its length permits) and oriented across the palm for more traditional hammer-fist-type striking. A technique common to all hands-free pocket sticks is that they can be used to reinforce an open-hand slap, bringing the length of the weapon against the target.”

For more information on the Suntetsu Pocket Stick, visit: http://www.sakuramartialarts.com/

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