Could well be a male/female thing, with some individuals (like Brea) who are exceptions.
Maori have a whole bunch of stick games, but these aren't about fighting at all - they're shorter sticks that you clap together and throw to each other in complicated rhythms and chants - I expect that this type of game as in a lot of the war-like stick or cane games, was developed to practice coordination and timing and speed - so that people could go and catch food!!
I think that if you're wanting to demonstrate your skill, you can use other things apart from swords, but they look cool (think Kill Bill movie!!) and have a wow! factor that perhaps you initially don't think of with cane. However, as far as being a weapon goes, I think my ineptitude with cane means it would be far more likely to harm than me using a sword!!
I could always threaten to play my zills if anyone really looked like causing trouble!!
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He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)
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