Yes stick training is essentially holding a stick to get him to step up, but from there you can build other handy behaviors. If he will already do that great, if not read on.
Stick training is, among other things, a way to work your way up to the step up command with a new/unfamiliar bird. The step command is an important basic activity (stepping up onto a hand/arm). Odds are he has already done this previously, just not with you so he has no reason to work for you or trust you.
Stick training is a way for each of you to learn to trust the other. Right now if you stick your hand/arm infront of him he may be scared and so might you be. If you arent nervous at first you will be after he takes a chunk of your arm.
For a bird to step up onto anything they have to be able to trust that whatever it is isnt going to drop, shake, or give way. It is for this reason that some people discourage ever using the "earthquake" distractor/punishment which is gently shaking your hand when they are on it to make them loose their balance. I am on the fence on this issue, but it clearly if it is overused your bird will not trust that you are a stable perch.
Back to stick training: Its handy to start with a stick as it can ease the nerves of the person and the bird. You don't have to worry about being bit, your bird doesn't have to worry about what your hand is doing near them. Some trainers advise that you wave the stick around the bird and eventually "pet" them with it as they get comfortable with the stick being around them. I dont have the bird-specific experience to comment on the validity of "petting" them with the stick, but it does strike me as a bit odd. In either case you put the stick in front of them close to their chest; many birds will step up pretty quickly, some yo may GENTLY touch the stick to their belly to get them to step. PRAISE AND REWARD the heck out of this. Repeat often incorporating the command "step" or "step up".
Once he is comfortable with the stick there are many ways of transitioning too getting him onto your hand/arm. But one thing at a time. First earn his trust that you can provide a reliable and stable perch with which you can bring him from one place to another - for example from the cage to the play stand (which I second as a good idea).
Much of stick training is fairly common sense, but do not skimp on praise and rewards. You want everything about stick training to be pleasant to him. You never want him to hesitate to step up or fear the stick or your arm. Its one thing to push their comfort levels little by little so they can learn more, but you should not push it if he really scared - if he is back off and come back to it when he is calm.
