By Shawn Hogendorf, Staff Writer 

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

A prime example of this is Cane Master Bill Neher of Savage. Neher caries a cane with him, but he is anything but vulnerable. In fact, he is the only registered cane master in Minnesota.Bill Neher of Savage demonstrates
a jab stance. Neher will give a
presentation at Club Prior at 11
a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 about a
variety of cane uses. (Photo by
Shawn Hogendorf)

Neher will present a workshop at Club Prior, within the Prior Lake Library at 16210 Eagle Creek Ave., at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 to teach how the perception of vulnerability for people who use canes may be a misperception.

Neher will speak 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 rich history of the cane, give examples of various constructions of weapon canes, talk about the psychological power of the cane in public and current legal considerations.

“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-firing 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 kneecaps 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 of 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 the 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 troubles 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.

In history, canes could be 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 Incorporated and 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 is 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 fame in 2008.

The workshop is free, and those who plan to attend are encouraged to bring a friend and a cane.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 or shogendorf@swpub.com.