Blade vs Stick Training or sparring or what have you
Step 1: Pick up a blade. Look at the blade. Understand the balde. The weight and mass and the balance point and how the edge is and the style of blade and if it si a thrusting weapon or a hacking weapon or a slicing weapon or ... , . Do this with multiple blades of different sizes.
If serious, get an old pair of jeans. Get some roast or steaks and wrap them in the jean legs. Then cut and stab into the Jean leg and see the damage to teh jean and to the meat. Works best with fat layer still on beed. (* when you are done you cube up the meet for stew or something like that. Of course wash and do not let set out too long. *)
Step 2: Pick up a stick and study it the same way. Pick up multiple styles of sticks in shapes and mass.
If you truly understand the attributes of the weapon then you can try to absorb it in training. If you have never seen a balde cut or held one you will never understand how it really works.
As to sparring:
Step 1:
Option 1: Take all Safety items away. Use a padded stick no head gear no cup and no hand pads. Define the type of blade. Fencing and thrusting or Sabre with tip cutting or Mechete with Hacking capabilities.
Judge or third person needs to be aware and call stop after first contact is made and review that contact. (* Note stricks should be made with intent to people feel pain. This is a must. *)
You then realize with the intent how hard that "blade" *padded stick* hit you and you begin to imagine the damage to your hand and body. (* hence why people wore gauntlets and body and head armor *)
Option 2: get one a lipstick/paint knife and use it. Once again no pads and no safety equipment. Have judge call stop after initial contact. (* If judge does not call stoppage for contact the blade turns into a paint brush with no real techniques or intent other than to get as much color on your opponent.
*) Review the cut or stab and continue. Change shirts as required.
Option 3: Get real swords and learn how to use them. Most would learn with wood first and then metal. Once you know the motions and then some controlled techniques you then are tested as the other person's skill set is good enough to drive the timing of the test and to control the situation.
Step 2: Use safety gear as you now know and understand the damage done to your body first hand. You now respect the blade and weapon. Repeat techniques of training as listed above but with proper safety equipment.
Now given our culture and not being blade based, and our society for legal problems and people needing to go to work, the next day, most start with a stick and learn some techniques and then go to pads and safety gear and try to apply what they have learned. This is good in today's society for two reasons. 1) You do not get sued. 2) You are more likely to find a blunt obect for weapon of opportunity then a bladed one.
The issue is what do we do with people who have never touched a balde and do not understand the attributes of the weapon. Most can pick it up through a good demo, and a few will want to try it as well. But most, will walk away. Most will stop training. Most will become sick to their stomache and think you are wierder than anything they thought before and call you crazy. (* some people will think this of me for writing this especially about the beef meat in the pant leg *)
So, people need to pay bills and keep students, so they have controlled techniques and solo techniques and safety equipment and replace the blade with a blunt object and then train said blunt object for both blade and blunt. Most people will be lazy and think of it as one way alone eithe stick or blade.
As to the point made about grabbing and how bad that is, I can agree to a point. If you grab my stick you have tied yourself to my stick and if my timing and counter are in place you can be in a world of hurt. But that is a side discussion. So I will say touching instead.
Touching Stick versus hand for Blade.
I will ask some questions and answer them myself.
Do you drive a car? Have you ever driven a truck? It requires a slightly different skill set to back it up. Add in a trailer for both.
Ok, How about cooking? Can you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? yes. Now how about a PB and Jam sandwich. Less Jam is required, one has to adjust. Can you make a batch of chili for four people and one for 20?
If you are at speed on the highway and someone enters you lane do you have to stop your car and then get back up to speed if they are only going a few miles an hour less than you? No, you can slow down and adjust.
If you ar walking in a store and someone steps out in front of you do you keep walking or do you adjust your speed to avoid a collision?
(* Yes there are times when you cannot avoid the car in front of you and the people in front of you. But almost always you try to do something and not just blindly go along and hit them. *)
If you blindly always do something and you can only do it that way do you truly understand it? I say no.
So each and every time I place my hand on a stick I choose to be there. If I want to be on the hand I choose to be there. You can already adjust your stick to deal with a high versus a mid strike with your primary hand, and now you should be able to that with your off hand as well.
Of course mileage will vary and personal testing is required for best results and as always my opinion is mine and I expect no one else to understand it nor to think or expect them to follow or agree with it.
) aside, I think you can see that 'sparring' with a sword is very quickly over 
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