One of the oldest and most useful weapons in martial arts history is the stick. It came in all sizes, from over six feet long to less than one foot in length. In any length, sticks were powerful extensions of ancient martial artists' hands, and could be wielded by almost anyone.
 In the Korean martial arts, there are three types of stick training - long, medium, and short - all having their roots in Buddhist martial arts. Perhaps the most versatile of the three are the dan bong (short sticks). Historically, short sticks were first used to fend off wild animals and probably preceded the use of other types and lengths of staffs.

 They were weapons that could be easily found and cleverly hidden in garments. Dan bongs were especially effective for in-close fighting where practitioners could suddenly pull out hidden short sticks and disable or kill their attackers with them.

 In ancient times, Korean monks used two regular short sticks and a single stick, in the form of a bamboo flute. They traveled throughout the Korean countryside playing their flutes to earn food for themselves. When thieves would launch an attack upon a seemingly defenseless Buddhist monk carrying a flute, they found out the hard way the monk's flute was actually a very effective self-defense weapon.

 Today, short-stick training is best known within the Korean martial art kuk sool won. Kuk sool won is itself a study of many ancient Korean fighting principles, rather than a single traditional style. Sung Jin Suh, the eldest son of kuk sool founder In Hyuk Suh, has taken it upon himself to learn the practical uses for those many principles and techniques, among them the short sticks.

 Suh, 23, now a third-degree black belt, is the senior instructor at kuk sool's San Francisco headquarters school. He takes his short-stick training seriously and considers them one of the most effective and practical traditional martial art weapons.

 Short sticks can be used singly or as a pair. AU strikes are directed toward the body's sensitive pressure poets. Eighteen of the 36 pressure points used in short-stick strikes are considered lethal or killing points. Of course, they can also be disabling strikes, depending upon the intensity of the practitioner's strike.

 "While the objective is to look for a pressure point to strike, short sticks are practical weapons even when there isn't time to locate one," Suh explained. "The sticks are a hard striking surface that carries more leverage than an empty hand."

 The 18 lethal strikes are called sa hyal. When taught in kuk sool won, the emphasis is not placed on the killing aspect. Instead, the kuk sool practitioner learns a great deal of control in order to be able to use the sa hyal strikes without causing too much damage to the opponent. The 18 sa hyal strikes are:
 
 

1.    -Baek hae (head) - This is a single downward strike to the top of the opponent's head. Since the top of the head is not an easy target to reach, this strike is not often used.
 

2.    -Kaek jao in (temple) - Administered with either one or two sticks, this is a popular striking area for in-close defense. It's a horizontal blow to the temple area with t he side of the stick.
 

3.    -Chun jong (middle of the back, between the shoulder blades) - This is a straight thrust into the center of the opposition's back.
 

4.    - Yong chun (bottom of the foot) - Another short-stick strike that is seldom used due to the obscure location of the pressure point, which is at the bottom of the foot. This is actually one of the more deadly pressure points.
 

5.    -Kumi (solar plexus) - Although technically listed as a lethal blow, the solar plexus strike is more often thought of as a disabling strike made with a straight thrust. I t knocks the breath out of attackers and leaves them defenseless.
 

6.    -Hap kok (top of the foot) - This blow is delivered to the area just behind the opponent's toes on the top portion of the foot. Besides any lethal aspects this strike might have, it also leaves the enemy unable to put weight on the struck foot, and therefore partially defenseless.
 

7.    -Oon moon (side of the groin) - It looks like this strike is made to the sensitive groin area, but actually it is administered to a pressure point slightly to the side of the groin.
 

8.    -Kuk chun (armpit) - Besides being a killing point when used with the right force, this upward blow to the armpit is extremely painful and will instantly stop most attackers.
 

9.    -Ah moon (base of the skull) - This is often seen as a knockout blow using either the side or the end of the sticks.
 

10.    -Tae po (above the ribs) - A straight thrust into the opponent's side just above his ribs describes this fight-ending strike.
 

11.    -In jung (base of nose) - This requires good technique and control to administer correctly. It is a blow angled slightly upwards to the base of the attacker's nose.
 

12.    -Kaen jung (top of the shoulder) - This pressure point on the top of the shoulder can cause pain, temporarily paralyze, or kill, according to Suh.
 

13.    -Dan jung (navel) - This pressure point is located slightly above the navel.
 

14.    -Sim kwul - This pressure point is located at the navel.
 

15.    -Um kwul - This point is located directly below the navel. The navel is considered to be the center of a person's ki (internal energy).
 

16.    -Jang moon (floating rib) - This is often a straight strike to the floating rib on either side of the rib cage.
 

17.    -Pok sang (the ankle bone) - This hard strike is made slightly below and to either side of the opposition's ankle bone. It has an instant crippling effect.
 

18.    -Sam um kyo (inside of shin) - This final strike is made to the tendon that lies on the inside of the shin. It's another painful and crippling blow.

 The next important group of short-stick techniques practiced in kuk sool won are called saeng hyul. They are disabling pressure-point strikes that can cause pain, paralysis or unconsciousness.

 Dan bong striking techniques are quite different from other stick-fighting styles. The sticks are only 16 inches long and held in the center rather than the end. Short-stick practitioners will use their entire body weight to generate power. The wrist becomes the source of an accelerated speed that is produced with a lightning-quick snap as every blow is made.

 All short-stick strikes are actually double attacks. The theory is many people can absorb the first blow delivered. However, after the first strike is made, they are dazed an d vulnerable to another blow administered immediately. Therefore, the first short-stick strike is always a quick glancing blow, designed to sting the enemy and put him off guard.

 The next strike utilizes just one stick and is intended to disable the opponent. Since only one stick is used, it is necessary to be able to turn the stick quickly and easily to make two rapid strikes with it. For that reason, the stick is held loosely against the palm of the hand. The two middle fingers grip it and keep it from flying out of the hand. Control of the stick is achieved with the thumb, forefinger and small finger. With the aid of a flexible wrist and the controlling fingers, den bong stylists can quickly change the direction of the stick and strike in rapid-fire succession with both ends.

 When properly done, short stick techniques are simultaneous blocks and counterattacks. Since most martial arts break fighting down into blocks and counterattacks, this short, simple weapon provides a high level of complex training.
 Once short-stick techniques have been learned, the practitioner will find many other items that can be utilized as makeshift weapons. A rolled magazine, newspaper, or short umbrella can effectively become a self-defense tool. A knowledge of the body's pressure points can save the defender's life in an urgent situation.

 Suh said den bong are excellent weapons for women, helping achieve power equal or greater than their attacker's strength. One stick is enough for effective woman's self-defense, and can be carried in a large purse without being considered a concealed weapon. They are legal to carry as long as nothing connects them together like a nunchaku.

 Short sticks are considered excellent defensive weapons in self-defense situations such as knife attacks. When assailants are struck on the knife hand with a short stick or its equivalent, they will often drop their weapon. If struck hard enough, the knife hand may even break. Pinpoint accuracy isn't important, as long as the knuckles or small bones in the back of the hand are the targets. When the assailants loose their knife, the stick can be used to disable them. Even when an attacker is stronger, the stick can become an equalizer. Just remember, walk softly and carry a short stick.