Quarterstaff
Original Poster: theinevitablehour
Forum: Martial Arts Weapons
Posted On: 14-12-2005, 01:53
Orginal Post: theinevitablehour: I would like to learn quarterstaff; however, I currently have no one to learn from and also no one to practice with. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on how to proceed, or rather, how to begin. Also, anyone who has made his own staff, please share the procedure.
Post: Hengest:
Do you mean English quarterstaff mate, or are you talking more generally?>
Post: TKDman:
Quote: I currently have no one to learn from and also no one to practice with. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on how to proceed, or rather, how to begin.
Best suggestion I know is to find someone to learn from. Simple as that.>
Post: theinevitablehour:
[quote=Hengest Do you mean English quarterstaff mate, or are you talking more generally?[/quote
Yes, English>
Post: theinevitablehour:
[quote=TKDman Best suggestion I know is to find someone to learn from. Simple as that.[/quote
Quarterstaff isn't very popular in central Wisconsin. Simple as that. :wink:
I realize that your suggestion is the best way to learn; what I was asking for is what I can do instead, since finding someone to learn from is at the moment not an option.>
Post: TKDman:
Quote: Quarterstaff isn't very popular in central Wisconsin. Simple as that. :wink:
I believe it. Where in Wisconsin do you live? Right now I'm in Whitewater (UWW) but I live in Ashwaubenon (suburb of GB).
Quote: I realize that your suggestion is the best way to learn; what I was asking for is what I can do instead, since finding someone to learn from is at the moment not an option.
Research, I guess. I don't know what else to tell you. I wonder how many people here even have experience with the quarterstaff.
You could always try an Aikido school...they should have some jo work in there :wink:!>
Post: theinevitablehour:
I'm at UW Stevens Point, but I live in Hartland (Oconomowoc, Pewaukee area). I've a couple of Victorian era manuals, but so far that's it.>
Post: buicken:
"actually, it's a buck and a quarter staff">
Post: Hengest:
Well mate, you've probably picked one of the most difficult styles to research and study. The fact that there is no living tradition of English quarterstaff and little written material available means that, even for a WMA, it's tough to get going!
A good place to start with your training would probably be the basics that were taught in the Boy Scout quarterstaff system at the turn of the century.
http://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2002/jmanlyart_scouts_1102.htm
Alternatively, there's McCarthy's quarterstaff manual, which has a bit more detail:
http://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2001/jmanlyart_mccarthy_0901.htm
Now, techincally what you're learning from both of these is not quarterstaff but halfstaff, but I'm guessing this is more in line with what you're looking for. Correct me if I'm wrong. Quarterstaff is called such because the user holds the staff with both hands on the bottom quarter, much like in wing chun staff, and was the style generally practised by the anciant maisters, like Silver and Swetnam.
If you do want "old school" quarterstaff, then there are on-line versions of Silver's and Swetnam's writings, among others, but they can be incredibly hard to follow and lack illustrations. A good alternative would be to buy Terry Brown's book English Martial Arts, which recreates many of the techniques in an easy to follow photo format. The downside to Brown's book is that he doesn't tell you which technique comes from where, but it's still a very valuable book for anyone wanting to study "proper" quarterstaff.
Lastly, because you're bound to run into it Googling "English quarterstaff", there's Terry Glover's English Combat system ( http://www.englishcombat.com/ ). Now, I'm skeptical about this guy. He claims to teach the "Glover family" combat system, passed down from father to son and all that malarkey. I personally think this is all marketing BS. I note he has a FMA background, and the animations on the site look more like Doce Pares than George Silver. That said, who knows, if he's done his research, like Terry Brown, his teachings may have some merit. I'm currently awaiting his English Combat textbook in the mail, so I'll let you know when I get it whether it's worth yourself getting a copy.>
Post: BLACK PANTA:
You can also learn from the unforgetable fight between Little John and Robin Hood in Robin Hood Men In Tights. If you slow it down enough you will see the greatest technique and display of good ole English quarter staff.>
Post: Hengest:
Just to follow up on my last post, I received Terry Glover's English Combat Training Book the other day and it confirmed my fears. The guy's essentially teaching FMA under another name. Much of the book is move-for-move identical to what I was doing in my JKD/kali days.
It's a real shame. Glover's obviously a talented fighter, he's got a good system and the book is beautifully put together. It's just not English. Why a MAist of Glover's level feels he needs to resort to this kind of tactic, I don't know. And why he couldn't actually devote some time to researching and training in real English MAs is even more galling. Obviously time is money...>
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