The video is for illustrative purposes only. Please seek professional instruction and train safely. If you are not very careful, you may risk injuring your thumb.
Many practitioners use the thumbs-up grip for their stick techniques. This grip is common in certain Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). It is also used in Irish stick styles. If this grip works well for them, that’s great. However, in my class, we often engage in stick grappling during sparring. I learned this from my Dog Brothers friends. As a result, sticks can be seized forcefully.
I believe that the thumbs-up grip puts your thumb at greater risk. The full grip, which my group and I prefer, is safer. Receiving full pressure with your thumb in this position is not optimal.
Additionally, this grip poses challenges in maintaining a strong hold on your stick. I teach that the thumb is essential for securing your grip. Without it, you become vulnerable to being disarmed. This is demonstrated at the end of the video. A route to disarm you is shown at that point.
It’s up to you which grip you use, try each one and roll with what you prefer.
Killick Off Road Arts 