By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

People who use canes are often perceived by the public as vulnerable and handicapped, but those prejudices can be misleading.

A prime example is Cane Master Bill Neher of Savage. Neher carries a cane with him, but he is anything but vulnerable. In fact, he is the only registered cane master in Minnesota.

Neher will present a workshop at Club Prior Thursday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. to teach people how the perception of vulnerability for people who use canes may be a misperception.Bill Neher is the only registered
cane master in Minnesota. (Photo
by Shawn Hogendorf)

During the workshop, Neher talks about a variety of uses of a cane -- some of which one may never expect -- such as using the cane for yoga, exercise and self defense. He will also discuss the history of the cane, give examples of various kinds of weapon canes, talk about the psychological power of the cane in public and current legal considerations regarding canes.

“A cane is something you can take anywhere, security or not,” Neher said. “It’s a medical instrument until it is used otherwise. There are advantages to using a cane. One is that people who use a cane are seen as vulnerable and handicapped, but they are not as vulnerable as perceived; they are actually armed.”

Canes can be effective against swords, knives and all sorts of non-fire able weapons, he said. During the one-hour workshop Neher will give tips on using a cane for self defense.

There isn’t a need for a specialized cane to defend from an attacker, Neher said. “If you know what you are doing you can cause damage to an attacker,” he added. “Stomping the cane on the top of a foot can break bones. Poking a cane into the sternum can take an attacker’s breath away. Hitting an attacker in the shins or knee caps can apply uncomfortable pressure or break bones. Swinging a cane at someone’s head can be blocked, but a stomp or a poke is not as easily defendable.”

Neher said there are 64 basic moves with a cane and a ton of combinations.

“Canes use more than blunt force,” Neher said. “It’s about leverage. It’s not about strength, but rather technique.”

Neher will show some simple defense moves and throw in a couple humorous ones along the way, he said. The presentation is geared toward the lay user, not a martial artist.

Safety and personal limits will be at the forefront of the presentation so using the cane as self defense doesn’t compromise balance or get the cane user in trouble, Neher said.

“My goal is to get a bunch of people who either use a cane or will use a cane to recognize they are walking around with an instrument that is more than a medical device, and with that information, I hope to empower them,” Neher said.

Although any cane can be used as an instrument of self defense, it can be used for a lot more than that. Neher will also show people how to exercise with a cane using yoga and resistance bands.

The cane can be used for isometric exercises for back muscles, Neher said.

Neher became choked up sharing a story about a diabetic man who had trouble walking because of his disease. Neher said after showing the man some exercises with the cane and the resistance band, the man was able to walk a few months later.

Neher will make resources available for people who want to buy videos and instruction materials to use canes for exercise and wellness. He’ll also discuss the different types of canes throughout history.

Historically, canes were used as an instrument that had a gun or a sword hidden in them, but those types of weapon canes are only kept by collectors, Neher said. Today, most weapon canes are made from hickory hardwood, he said.

Neher studies under the owner of Cane Masters Inc. -- cane master and instructor Grandmaster Mark Shuey, who is credited for the rise of cane fighting.

Neher, 66, began his martial arts training in 1972. He was a black-belt instructor in shorei-ryu Okinawan karate from 1996 to 2008 and is a past member of the Sidekicks International Competition team in 1998. Neher was also a national and world senior champion in martial arts weapons in 1998. He has been a member of the board of directors of Cane Masters International Association from 2000 to 2008 and a guest instructor in cane for Osaka police in 2002. Neher became a member of the World Head of Family and Masters hall of fames in 2008.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at shogendorf@swpub.com.