Brian, sorta the other way around.
"Hey, boy! When you've finished cutting the cane and rice come over here. I'm gonna teach you how to fight."
...
"Okay. Pick up that big knife. Now what you do to the cane and rice every day you do to the other guy. Got it? OK, now here's what you do when he try do all same to you"
:wink2:
There is a real difference between stick and blade work. The people who've actually cut lots of stuff with a big knife or sword really cut with it rather than thumping. People who have just used blunt sticks, well, there's a different quality that's obvious when you see it. For one thing cutting makes you keep good alignment and focus. And if you're doing it for a few hours you learn to relax except those few tenths of a second when the blade is actually in contact with something. It helps with targetting and ensures that you hit exactly what you mean to hit. Otherwise you'll be working alone the second or third time your machete becomes an unguided missle.