He is described by Watson as an expert at singlestick and twice uses his cane as a weapon.
From the en.wikipedia.org
The singlestick was featured in the 1904 Olympic Games, but it was already declining in popularity.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Singlestick was developed as a method of training in the use of backswords such as the cavalrysabre or cutlass.
From the en.wikipedia.org
The English martial art singlestick is very similar.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Similarly, modern Western martial arts and sports include modern fencing, stick-fighting systems like canne de combat or singlestick, and modern competitive archery.
From the en.wikipedia.org
More examples
A stick used instead of a sword for fencing
Singlestick, also known as cudgels, refers to both a martial art that uses a wooden stick as well as the weapon used in the art. It began as a way of training soldiers in the use of swords such as the sabre. ...
A WMA involving the use of a single cane or wooden sword. In SCA, this term can refer to fighting with a one-handed sword and no shield.