[.ca] Zen and the Art of Stickfighting (ISBN 0809225859)

Worthy of Attention {"STICK WITH IT"}:
This book has enough info for one to master the basics and have a good understanding on how to make it work for oneself. The zen tips are all practical and can be put to use immediately. Please do the exercises and drills and follow the advice and I am sure it can help you become competent with a stick enough so it could be of use when you need it. "STICK WITH IT"

Don't bother, it's not worth your time or money.:
This is an extremely superficial book on how to use a stick. It's not even worth the time to read it. If you're really bored, go to \oa bookstore\c, browse through it over a cup of coffee, and then put it back on the shelf. The first 40 pages are completely wasted, except maybe as indicators as to how bad the book is. The next 90 pages on the various attacks, including attacking to the rear and multiple attacks, are just \opoor\c in quality. The techniques are laughable, and the combative distance between the practioner's makes everything pretty much just confusing. The author ends with a "kata" for using the stick, which is pretty much what I'd expect from a karate guy winging it. The movements and stances strongly indicate a lack of expertise in using the stick as a weapon. Overall it just stinks. If you're going to learn stickfighing, learn from a specialist like an escrimador, not some karate guy who figures since he can do one thing he must be an expert on another. I can only figure the previous positive review was from someone without any more experience than the author. If you want a good book on stickfighting technique, try Stickfighting: techniques of self-defense by Hatsumi and Chambers. While no substitute for a qualified teacher, it can provide a great source for study.