Michael D. Echanis was an American martial artist. He came from a military family, so it was no surprise that he enlisted early in his life to serve in the U.S. Army. After being injured while fighting in Vietnam, Echanis returned home and turned to studying Judo, Karate and Ninjutsu. In Basic Stick Fighting for Combat, his second book, Echanis explores Hwarangdo and its relationship to hand-to-hand combat. Throughout many clear, concise photographs, Echanis demonstrates his dynamic techniques, teaches the baton, the short stick, as well as the snapping short stick. Echanis taught courses to groups of Seals, spent some time traveling the U.S. engaging in fights with other martial artists, and was the editor of Soldier of Fortune magazine for two years. Echanis was killed in an aircraft accident at age twenty-seven.