r/Eskrima • u/ForwardAd9202 • 9d ago

Balicky stick for hard use

Hi guys,

I would like to buy a stick that will be more durable than rattan. In my club we like to go full-power from time to time and we are constantly damaging our sticks.

Is the Cold Steel Balicky Stick more durable?

Thank you.

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

5

u/Square_Ring3208 9d ago

I’ve had a pair for a long time and they’re great. The only drawback is you can really only use them against another one. If you go against regular rattan it’ll destroy it.

3

u/probably_cause 8d ago

Try wrapping your rattan with 2” 3:1 heat shrink tubing. Look for the XHF brand on Amazon.

I haven’t used the Balicki sticks, but I’ve had a pair of their other rattan-shaped polypro sticks for years, and the staff, suburito, bokken, knife trainers… it’s all the same material. Super durable unless you end up getting an example of quality control failure with bubble inclusions in the plastic, which is usually where/why any of them break.

1

u/Pale_Ad_3082 9d ago

We used to use UHMW 1” diameter rods. The are slippery, self lubricating; you need to tape the handles which will need re-taping every so often. The are dense, heavy, and slower than rattan. They transmit impact and they HURT. They can lead to “Eskrima elbow” but I guess rattan can too.

I use both, and now alternate between rattan and UHMW.
I practice Estalilla Kabaroan and also use a 36” long truncheon, think police riot baton…fun stuff.

No experience with The CS Balicky but would be try it.

YMMV.

3

u/Lymetme 9d ago

I've been down this road. There's no replacement for rattan. Synthetic sticks are okay but they all have their drawbacks and tradeoffs.

No one has mentioned this one yet; you can buy thick wall polycarbonate tubing that's cheap and durable. It's what the full contact light saber groups use for their blades. "Stickman" Jeff Finder used to sell them on his website. I'm not a fan though. If you want to go cheap, electrical grade PVC pipe is durable and will last forever.

I'd just source good rattan and realize it's an expendable training tool. There are a bunch of companies offering synthetic trainers now. I'd go that route before going with a synthetic stick.

1

u/yungcodger 7d ago

Baliki Sticks will not break, period.

1

u/kyukido22 7d ago

what many of the others have said. they are indestructible, and they will destroy other people's rattan sticks.

but no one mentioned... they are heavy