Escrima Sticks, Kali Sticks, or Arnis Sticks: Bodyguard™ Sticks by TAK and Grip Tape
These are the last sticks you will ever have to purchase!
During the early stages of Escrima stick development in 2001, every synthetic and non-natural material that was available was tested- rigorously. Everything from fiberglass to nylon to carbon fiber to aluminum to polycarbonate. Hands down, we and everyone else who tried them, kept picking up one particular pair that had the best characteristics that we wanted: weight close to rattan, reduced shock, and absolutely indestructible. These were sticks you could hit against a telephone pole as hard as you like and then carry into the studio for partner training. As luck would have it, the material cost was the highest of all. So, a decision had to be made; carry a less than perfect Escrima stick that the customer might use occasionally or have to be replaced, or carry an expensive stick that lasts forever and covers the entire range of training. The later was chosen. Consider this, the next time you buy an inexpensive stick for half the price, the next one you buy would have paid for your Bodyguard Stick that you will never replace!
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From www.FMAtalk.com:
Well, I received my TAK 26" Bodyguard (Impact) Sticks today and I must say that I am impressed. First off, everyone that knows me knows that I love rattan for partner training and kamagong for individual training. In the past I have owned several varieties of synthetic sticks and really not one of them met up to my standards. The TAK Sticks were simply awesome in feel and similarity in vibrational standards to rattan. The weight felt right and when hitting something the sticks absorbed the right amount of the vibration so that it was comparable to rattan. Here is the real upside, I smacked, banged them against a tire, heavybag, together, rattan, floor and guess what not a dent, ding or scrape. Nothing, these things feel like they are going to last for a long, long, long time. These are great synthetic sticks that really in my opinion are better than any I have tried before.
Brian R. VanCise; www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com
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The finish on the Bodyguard Sticks are smooth and we machine the ends to eliminate sharp edges. The finish will not become slippery when your hands sweat. The material is a polymer which is specifically designed for high impact contact. The sticks do have a slight degree of flexibility and do not transmit shock back to the hands like harder woods will.
Comparative Study of Escrima Stick Weights
Here is a study of actual measured stick weights. This will allow you to pick a Bodyguard Stick that is nearest to your favorite stick- you know, the one you always pick out of your bag even though you have 6 in there. (Tip: Use a postage scale to measure your stick weight)
Recently we introduced 2 new lighter weight sticks, the "Flash" and "Speed". These new additions round out the entire weight spectrum of sticks. It is now very easy to find a stick that matches your favorite weight.
Remember, these sticks are meant for hard use- telephone poles & hard pells will not damage the sticks. Save the life of your rattan sticks and use these when you really want to go 100%.
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Material Type
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Diam.
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Weight (oz.)
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Notes
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Straight grain smooth rattan
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1"
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6.4
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Lightweight stick. Very smooth grain.
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TAK Bodyguard "Flash"
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1"
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6.6
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Lightweight polymer stick- very fast!
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Straight grain plain rattan
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1"
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7.5
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Entry level stick for beginning training or where speed is desired.
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Rattan with nodes, sample #1
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1"
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8
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Traditional classroom stick
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TAK Bodyguard "Speed"
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1"
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8.1
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Polymer stick close in weight to lighter rattan
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Waxwood
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15/16"
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8.6
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Smooth stick, no nodes
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Rattan with nodes, sample #2
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1"
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9
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Traditional classroom stick
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TAK Bodyguard "Impact"
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1"
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9.7
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Polymer stick close in weight to rattan
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Bahi
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7/8"
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11.3
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Heavier stick, very dense wood
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TAK Bodyguard "Max"
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1"
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13
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Polymer stick, approaching weight of kamagong but not as rigid
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Rattan, big grip, sample #1
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1 3/8"
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13
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Very large grip, used for strength training
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Kamagong
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7/8"
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13.2
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Heavy stick, strength training, may be too heavy for partner training.
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Cold Steel Polypropylene
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1"
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13.6
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Heavy stick, manufacturer's specs are 32" at 15 + ounces.
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Kamagong
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15/16"
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14.6
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Heavy stick, strength training, may be too heavy for partner training.
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Rattan, big grip, sample #2
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1 3/8"
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15
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Very large grip, used for strength training
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All sticks have had their weights normalized to 28" for easier comparison. Weight is for single stick. Natural woods & rattan will vary a certain amount; your stick in the same material may be slightly higher or lower in weight.
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Bodyguard "Flash"
3/4" Inside Diameter
1" Outside Diameter
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Bodyguard "Speed"
5/8" Inside Diameter
1" Outside Diameter
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Bodyguard "Impact"
1/2" Inside Diameter
1" Outside Diameter
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Bodyguard "Max"
Solid Core
1" Outside Diameter
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• Price is per stick •
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Important: You have noticed by now that the Bodyguard Max sticks cost less than the other Bodyguard sticks. Please do not let the difference in price sway you to the Bodyguard Max unless you really want a stick approaching the weight of kamagong.
• If you are satisfied with how your rattan or waxwood sticks feel now, stay with the lighter Bodyguard sticks.
• If you already use kamagong or have been wanting a heavier stick for strength or pell training, then by all means, pick up the Bodyguard Max.
• If you are just starting your stick training, in most cases, you will be happier with the lighter Bodyguard sticks. The 3.3 ounce or more weight difference makes a BIG difference in how the stick feels and the impact it delivers when striking. It is more than you would imagine if you have never tried it (or felt it)! This allows for more "mistakes" when partner training.
So, why does the Bodyguard Flash, Speed, and Impact sticks cost more than the Bodyguard Max when there is less material? The process to make a hollow core stick (to get the weight near rattan) costs more than making a solid core version. The polymer material is exactly the same in both versions.
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TAK Escrima Sticks
Left: TAK Bodyguard Impact Escrima Stick
Right: TAK Bodyguard Max Escrima Stick
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While developing the new Vietnam Tomahawk trainer, we went through a process of evaluating every grip material we could get our hands on. While we didn't use this tape on the final design of the Tomahawk, we started trying it on the sticks to see what it felt like. WOW- a small wrap on the punyo (above left picture) made a huge difference in control. The tackiness of the tape allowed you to lighten your grip since the stick wanted to stay in your hand. We tried wrapping just the punyo and the bottom 8 inches. Everyone has a different opinion on what feels best in your hand, so try it and see what works best for you.
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Don't waste your time buying the 16 foot roll of "friction tape" at your local home improvement store; for the same price you can get from us a 60 foot roll that was tested against 4 other brands and picked for its proper level of tackiness and thickness.
You can also use this Grip Tape to wrap your rattan sticks. Use it to fatten up the grips on your training knives, live blades, hand tools, hatchets, sporting goods (hockey sticks, baseball bats) - anything that you would like to have a more secure grip.
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Announcement: We have discontinued offering the Escrima Sticks with the "Loop" option. It was simply too time consuming to continue doing it for the $5 charge. It is a valuable feature for disarm drills in a school so we are going to leave the pictures here and will soon add instructions so that you can add the feature yourself. If you would like the paracord, just add a note in the "special requests" section at checkout and we will put the proper lengths in with your order no charge. If you can drill a hole and tie a knot, you can add the loop!
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"Bodyguard", "Bodyguard Flash", "Bodyguard Speed", "Bodyguard Impact", and "Bodyguard Max" are recognized trademarks of Tactical Advantage Knives, Inc.
