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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Sept 23, 2016 22:49:17 GMT
Does anyone train in both of these traditions? Could you describe differences or similarities? Striking methods, how the staff is held, guards, etc. I'm just curious.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 23, 2016 23:17:49 GMT
I don't significantly train in either, but:
The modern bo is, on average, shorter, being the rokushakubo = six foot staff. There are older bo traditions with longer staffs. Modern bo usually holds the staff with hands about equal distances in from the ends, maybe about 2 feet apart. Quarterstaff holds the staff near one end, like a spear. Both use thrusts and swinging strikes, but quarterstaff is more thrust-focussed, and bo is more swinging focussed. The pool cue thrust is not as common in bo. The symmetric thumbs-inward grip is more common in bo.
The main guards in quarterstaff are middle guard and hanging guard, followed by low guard. Sometimes high guard and trailing guards are used, but keeping the tip pointed towards the opponent is usual.
Chinese and Indian staff is similar to quarterstaff. IMO, quarterstaff (and Chinese and Indian staff) is better against a single armed opponent. Bo might be better against a group of unarmed people, and might be developed from police technique.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Sept 23, 2016 23:38:19 GMT
I’ve had no experience with a quarter staff and some with a bo. The bo can be held equal distance from the ends, or at an end. In the later position it can strike using what’s called a windmill, or it can be used as a bat. Another move from the end is to strike the ground, deck is a better word because normally the ground is too soft, after which the opponent is struck on the upward bounce. Bos have been known to break with this move so make sure you have a strong one, and some schools don't teach this at all. Some schools teach a bo of natural length, aka eyebrow length. Some bos have an uniform diameter, some a single taper, while others are double tapered.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Sept 23, 2016 23:56:37 GMT
Thanks. That lines up with what little I could gather from YouTube. Growing up, my perception of quarterstaff fighting seems to have come mostly from Kevin Costner's duel with Little John, but the choreography there seems closer to Bo (but in reality looks like a pugil stick bout).
I was a little surprised to find out that the quarterstaff is held more like a spear. Sensible, but a thumbs-in grip to clobber with each end like a kayak paddle is so exciting:)
I was wondering if quarterstaff was held exclusively at one end or if it would be shifted between grips, like the Bo apparently is. Looks like perhaps not.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Sept 24, 2016 0:18:13 GMT
Staff fighting shares a lot with spear fighting. However, "Shaolin [monks] do not understand spear fighting at all, [...] In fact, they employ their staff techniques for the spear.": books.google.com.au/books?id=KiNEB0H6S0EC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64It was shifted between grips. Especially the longer ones. Think about what you can do with a spear when the opponent closes. First, you can shorten the grip to keep the point between you and your opponent. Second, if they get too close for that, you strike with the butt. You can (and should, if necessary) do the same with a staff. |
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Zen_Hydra
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Sept 24, 2016 2:56:18 GMT
The staff work in the couple of CMAs I've trained in did sync pretty well with the quarterstaff exposure I've had. There was also some techniques which seemed similar to spear and rifle/bayonet strikes, but I reckon there is bound to be a lot of crossover between weapons of a kind. I'm not overly fond of the kayak paddle grip, or its applications. I also generally am not a fan of flourishes or spinning.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Sept 24, 2016 4:03:21 GMT
I had formal training with the CMA staff, and HEMA guarterstaff, with both styles the is the starting weapon for all pole weapons. The Chinese staff is about 6', Bo staff can be as short as 4' up to 6' but from what I remember 5' is the norm, HEMA staff length depends on the country and fight master, I have done different styles but my main one is English, and their staves are around 7' to 9'.
Here is a HEMA staff video I'm in back in 2013 with one of the many four hour staff classes.
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