Most weapon-based martial arts practice with matched weapons as the default to keep things simple. While there are important considerations to make against an opponent using a different kind of weapon, the fundamental principals of distance and time don't change. We have tried sparring with mixed weapons in the past and find the stick consistently better than a short-bladed knife, since the reach advantage allows a decent stick fighter to land multiple hits to the knife-user's arm/hand, knee or sometimes head before the knife-user can get close enough to strike back. Against a knife or short sword with a longer blade and/or with decent hand protection, the stick is at a disadvantage, though it's still quite a bit better than being unarmed. We naturally wouldn't recommend using a stick against an opponent who has a firearm.
Stick fighting seems to presume that your opponent also uses a stick, not a sap,or a knife,or martial arts….
Most weapon-based martial arts practice with matched weapons as the default to keep things simple. While there are important considerations to make against an opponent using a different kind of weapon, the fundamental principals of distance and time don't change.
We have tried sparring with mixed weapons in the past and find the stick consistently better than a short-bladed knife, since the reach advantage allows a decent stick fighter to land multiple hits to the knife-user's arm/hand, knee or sometimes head before the knife-user can get close enough to strike back.
Against a knife or short sword with a longer blade and/or with decent hand protection, the stick is at a disadvantage, though it's still quite a bit better than being unarmed.
We naturally wouldn't recommend using a stick against an opponent who has a firearm.