Traditional Dat Mo Stick - Martial Arts

Master Deng Er Qian

At the age of 75yrs, Master Deng Er Qian won a gold medal at the Shanghai championships, with the Dat Mo Stick. When he passed this form on to Bob Fermor, Master Deng said to him "Even though our two countries are far apart, when you perform the Dat Mo Stick, we will be as one". Bob Fermor being one of the United Kingdom's leading weapon experts, feels honoured to have gained this transmission of the Traditional Dat Mo Stick, as much of the Dat Mo Forms practised today are merely Broad Sword patterns, using a walking stick.

Bob Fermor is very well known within the martial arts world as one of the leading weapons exponents. If you are interested in learning the Traditional Dat Mo Stick, then please do not hesitate to contact Bob Fermor

Brief History of Traditional Dat Mo Stick

It is believed that the Traditional Dat Mo Stick Form comes from the Shaolin Temple and predates the burning of the temple in Henan. The Dat Mo Stick has two lineage branches: 1. Shaolin Si, 2. Tagou School. It is also believed that there are two sections of the Dat Mo Stick, Section 1 - composed of 40 forms and Section 2 - composed of 48 forms. The monks usually performed the two sections together as one set.

It is very important not to forget the origin of the Dat Mo Stick, it was formally named after Damo (Bodidharma) himself. Historical records imply that the martial arts began at the Shaolin monastery when an Indian monk named Bodidharma (Damo) travelled into China in the 6th century A.D. On his arrival at the Shaolin monastery and seeing the weakened state of the monks, through their intensive meditation and lack of exercise, he introduced many martial exercises to improve the physical as well as the mental strength of the Shaolin Monks. From this beginning, this order of priests expanded to encompass 5 temples across China and developed the fighting styles that were the basis of most Asian martial arts.

Striking Points of the Dat Mo Stick

The Dat Mo Stick dimensions would be from the ground to the armpit. In the Western world this type of stick would be better known as a crutch.

"Crutch - 1. a long staff of wood or metal having a rest
for the armpit, for supporting the weight of the body."

As you can see in the 'Target Areas' section below, the Traditional Dat Mo Stick as a martial art weapon has five points for attacking your opponent. It is clear to understand that the hooked Walking Stick which is commonly used in the Western world as a substitute for the Traditional Dat Mo Stick, would not possibly be useful for applying half of the many applications within the Traditional Dat Mo Stick form.

Target Areas and Applications of Stick

1,Skull, collar bone and used for hooking, sweeping & choking techniques.

2,The groin, sternum, solar plexus, and used for thrusting and pushing.

3,Temples and ribs.

4,The shaft is used for blocking and blows to the head, elbows and knees.

5,The tapered tip is used for penetrating the groin, sternum, solar plexus, throat, armpits and heart.

Traditional Dat Mo Stick Terminology

Section 1

1. Dispel Clouds & See the Moon - Bo Yun Wang Yue
2. Mandarin Duck Tucking in the Head - Meng Tou Yuan Yang
3. Step Forward to the Sky - Ying Mian Tong Tian
4. Open Door on the Mountain - Kaimen Jian Shan
5. Beautiful Girl Gathering Mulberry Leaves - Yu Cai Da Sang
6. Pull Back & Cut Abdomen - Hou La Kan Fu

Section 2

7. Cicada Casting Shell - Jin Chan Tuo Qiao
8. Deal a Head on Blow - Dang Tou Yi Bang
9. Block the Way to Chop Flood Dragon - Lan Lu Zhan Wen
10. Seize the Collar & Strike - Ling Yi Zheng Da
11. Mount Pagoda with Horizontal Stick - Heng Zhang Deng Ta
12. Wasp Stinging the Heart - Huang Feng Ci Xin

Section 3

13. Turn Round & See the Moon - Hui Tou Wang Yue
14. Naughty Tiger Touring the Mountains - Wan Hu You Shan
15. Golden Cock Striking a Pose - Jin Ji Shang Jia
16. Yellow Eagle Spreading its Wings - Huang Ying Zhan Chi
17. Hold Beam in Place of Pillar - Tuo Liang Huan Zhu
18. Hit Out - Pi Tou Gai Lan

Section 4

19. Whip a Horse On - Ma Hou Jia Bian
20. White Monkey Hiding itself - Bai Hou Cang Zi
21. Meet Gentlemen Before Horse - Ma Qian Jian Jun
22. Blast Mountain Hua Shan - Dao Pi Hua Shan
23. Golden Dragon Twisting Pillar - Jin Long Pan Zhu
24. Old Tree with Twisted Roots - Gu Shu Pan Gen

Section 5

25. Old Man Fishing - Taigong Diaoyu
26. Magpie Flying Over Branches (left) - Que Que Gou Zhang (Zou shi)
27. Magpie Flying Over Branches (right) - Que Que Gou Zhang (You shi)
28. Whip a Horse On - Yang Bian Cui Ma
29. Cloud Dragon Playing with Water - Yun Long Xi Shui
30. Old Ox Pulling Cart - Lao Niu La Che

Section 6

31. Blast Cliffs to Ask the Way - Kai Shan Wen Lu
32. Left Close Up & Lead to Sky - Zuo Feng Tong Tian
33. Monk Damo Holding a Stick - Damo Bao Zhang
34. Eagle Wheeling in the Sky - Xiong Ying Pan Xuan
35. Woodmen Cutting Down Trees - Jiao Fu Kan Chai
36. Lasso a Horse Back - Tao Ma Hui Tou

Section 7

37. Strike Earth into Spring - Zha Di Cheng Quan
38. White Monkey Offering a Stick - Bai Hou Xian Gun
39. Crouching Dragon Jumping High - Wo Long Teng Kong
40. Blue Dragon Swaying its Tail - Qing Long Bai Wei
41. A Hideous Man Visiting the Sea - Ye Cha Tan Hai
42. Steer by the Wind - Zhao Feng Xuan Duo

Section 8

43. Tease Clothes ( left ) - Xu Zuo Liao Yi
44. Tease Clothes ( right ) - Xu You Liao Yi
45. Close Up Left & Strike Right - Zuo Feng Da You
46. Close Up Right & Strike Left - You Feng Da Zuo
47. Wipe Out All Monsters - Heng Sao Qun Yao
48. A Turn Back & Blow with a Stick - Hui Tou Qian Zi

Traditional Dat Mo Stick Applications

Demonstrated below are just a few of the many martial art techniques from the
Traditional Dat Mo Stick Form.