"How To Use The Yawara Stick" was written as an instructional manual for law enforcement officers.

Originally, Frank Matsuyama wished to teach police officers knife fighting techniques to be used if they lost their service revolver while trying to arrest a suspect. Law enforcement officials soon convinced him that it be more useful to design a replacement for the night stick instead.

The Yawara Stick designed by Frank Matsuyama was easier to use than the night stick issued to police at the time. It was also easily consolable, making it popular with plain clothes officers as well. Most police officers in the late 1940's and early 1950's were ex-service men with at least basic knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, many were experts in jujitsu, judo, or boxing. The Yawara Stick was recognized by these street savvy cops as the officers best friend next to his service weapon.

The Yawara Stick was developed from the Tanto jitsu or knife fighting techniques contained within Yawara jitsu, specifically, the technique of using the knife still sheathed. The Tanto's wooden sheath was prone to swelling when moistened by rain or perspiration, sometimes making it impossible to draw. Also the samurai needed a less lethal weapon to deal with situations which didn't warrant a throat cutting, such as capturing a prisoner. Because of these and other considerations, various methods of combat were devised, usually with the samurai using the same grip and stances shown in the manual.

Frank Matsuyama and my teacher, Frank Goody, toured the western United States during the post war years demonstrating the Yawara Stick and teaching seminars to police departments. Many of the officers attending these seminars had to be shown the hard way that Yawara was painfully superior any method they knew. Interestingly, Frank Goody once told me that Sheriffs Deputies were the most difficult to convince without breaking bones.

The following copy of "How to Use the Yawara Stick" has one page missing, but I'm sure you will find it informative none-the-less. Also notice the forearm development of Frank Matsuyama. His grip must have been unforgettable to anyone unfortunate enough to cross him.

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