Guru Ron Balicki has had a long association with Cold Steel, and his contributions to our success have been invaluable. Ron is known world-wide for his vast knowledge of Filipino Martial Arts, Thai Boxing, Boxe Française, Silat, Shoot fighting, and Degerberg Mixed Martial Arts, as well as being the founder and chief instructor of MARS (Martial Arts Research Systems), overseeing 2000 MARS instructors and students globally. Our President, Lynn C. Thompson, has been Ron's private student and training partner for 20 years! Ron has learned a thing or two about fighting sticks and we are proud to introduce his favorite, the Balicki Stick. Slimmer, shorter, and substantially lighter than our standard Escrima Stick, it exhibits Ron's preference for speed and agility.