Tape on sticks?

[Darthmaul]

I am new to FMA's. I been noticing in class that some people put tape on their sticks. Some on the grip, some on the part of the stick that you hit with. What is that all about?

Also, now if your using the tape for grips, what type of tape should you use? Is electical tape good? or maybe something like the tape you use on a baseball bat (it has a cloth like feel to it).

Thanks.

[inayan]

Hi there -

Sometimes tape can be used for grip - other times it may be used to mark where they are training to hit their opponent with their stick. Also the same thing for blocking. Of course sometimes it may just be for some kind of decoration.

In addition to this, many use reflective tape at the end of the stick for demonstration purposes. It makes the stick easier to see at the same time makes things look faster as the eye tries to "track" the tape and it becomes a blur.

Regarding what type of tape to use (assuming it is for grip purposes), most of my students that use tape tend to go with a sports type. It absorbs sweat pretty good as compared to slick electrical tape. However, everyone is different so it is up to the individual's own "feel".

[rckstdy]

tape on stick

Sometimes people put white tape to see the end for teaching or videotapes but that's just a small piece if any.

I only put tape on my sticks cause its shattered or breaking. I go through sticks like nothing. that's probably why you see it in class.

For me, all my sticks at some point have tape cause i'm trying to stretch the life out of them.

When i use a stick where the tape is at the grip is cause i dont want to damage it further on the same end. That's it simply.

I use hockey tape but sometimes can get sticky, electrical tape is better. Also if you want to make your stick last longer sometimes i tape length wise first then wrap. Gives it a nice little weight too.

As you start training you will start looking for the rattan bargains soon enough cause you'll go through sticks too.

Reggie
Atienza Kali

[inayan]

I only put tape on my sticks cause its shattered or breaking. I go through sticks like nothing. that's probably why you see it in class.

For me, all my sticks at some point have tape cause i'm trying to stretch the life out of them.

Reggie
Atienza Kali

It was so late last night when i posted i forgot the number one reason as stated above! Anyway, from my experience you cannot beat electrical tape when you first start seeing your stick fray. Bind it as tight as possible (without stretching the tape too much). And, as mentioned already, watch just how much you use as the weight and balance of your weapon will dramatically change. This could be good or bad depending on what part of the stick your applying to etc. etc...

[Stickwithit]

What style do you study Darth Maul?

In a previous "Escrima" style we did a lot of stick-on-stick stuff so as pointed out in a previous post the tape helped add longevity to the stick. We'd use the white tape you use to stick bandages together. The tape was put at both ends of the stick where you would hit. The alternate side made a nice grip when your palms got sweaty and as we were using big mofo sticks they frequently would.

I don't know what my current Filipino master would do if I turned up with a pair of taped up sticks. Probably laugh. I actually thought about it when I went to the first meeting and I'm glad I didn't! (we do a lot of blade work and no stick-on-stick)

oh, and not meaning to pimp my other post but I'm now in the Philippines and sending out sticks to the world. I can send you out a pair of Bahi (Palm Tree wood) or Kamagong (ebony) sticks for 30 US Dollars including postage if you want.

I wish I had them when I was taping up my sticks with my previous style but at the end of the day the stick is not the weapon as we all know....

[danjuandesiga]

Maybe one of these days, someone will come up with a good plastic or something that feels like rattan (it'd be great if it gave off that burning smell when you get going like rattan) but doesn't "fluff out" when you beat on it. Til then, looksl ike athletic tape is the only way to get an extra week or two out of my sticks.

In fact Mike.. someone's already come up with the idea and Ryan Gruhn of Titan Fitness endorses it. Look up durattan.com

[ACP]

Funny thing I used electrical tape to hold mine together when they started to fray and crack at the striking end. Never used it for a grip though, just to stretch out the life of the stick.