Staff (gwun) Drills

[David Jamieson]

Extrapolating onto the soft pell, stepping strikes, turn backs and lay ins.

What sort of staff drills do you do with a striking surface that lets you develop full force striking with the weapon?

How do you like to perform the strikes? form a static position or while moving?

Do you practice full force striking with your weapons?

If not, why not? It is a great way to strengthen your weapon retention ability and to increase the skill of your attacks.

also, what is your pell made from and what type of staff do you use?

thanks!

[Brule]

I have a few pieces of 1 1/4" PE pipe. I filled one piece that's 5 1/2' long with sand and capped both ends. I know it's not ideal, but i used what i had. I use it to strengthen the forearms and wrists. Also use it to stengthen my stance and transitions. Hit the bag with it but not full out shots, just short bursts as space is limited.

[SPJ]

1 we use staff like a spear (as in shaolin gun fa/staff method)

so lots of ci or piercing forward

2 beng or suddenly upward is most difficult to practice

3 as far as Pi or axe down.

we may go halfway with half horse stance

we may also go all the way to the floor with half squatting stance.

4 sao or sweep

limited half circle

or all around 360 degree

--

me luv staff/spear.

initially practicing with strong arms and upper body movement

then the whole body

then stepping/walking/running and strike

all in stages of progression

foot note

if you strike something hard, you have to absorb the repercussion or recoiling power in a balance way or transferring it down to your feet then ground.

without losing grips of your staff of course

--

[TenTigers]

staff thrusts (heart pierce) utilizing the shift from horse to bow and arrow, connects the entire body into the strike.
Snapping the staff down develops the short sinking power, which is used in joint locking and bridge sinking skills.
holding a lighter staff and bringing it up into a palm up position in front of yuor chest, then slowly thrusting it forward, then twisting it down develops the wrist, grip, and forward bridge energy.

[SPJ]

yes. if you use a staff as a tool to develop your body strength

then we use a heavy and extra long spear or da gan

we may not move it or wield it without recruiting the waist and the whole body movment.

it is a popular practice across all northern style.

[Mulong]

I typically practice/teach various gun/gwan (棍) skills, based upon northern and southern rat tail stick, double ended stick, and long staff principles:

• Striking a heavy bag or tree
• Two-man drills
• Weights
• Moving and Stationary

[faxiapreta]

Like all things martial, the closer to reality the better. In the case of staffs, that means full contact sparring.

[YouKnowWho]

What sort of staff drills do you do with a striking surface that lets you develop full force striking with the weapon?

The folowing simple 2 men drill can be quite useful.

Both you and your opponent use hands to hole 1/3 of the pole.

- You use right hand side of your pole to hit your opponent's head, he blocks it.
- You use left hand side of your pole to hit his leg, he blocks.
- You use left hand side of your pole to hit his head again, he blocks.
- You release your right hand hold and use your right hand end to hit on top of his head, he lets your pole to slide along his pole.