Classical Weapons 3 - Three-Sectional Staff

Lesson One

Memo: this is not wing chun.

Most 3-sectional moves are against a staff. A 3s is a range weapon. It is important to shift hands smoothly from stick to stick across joints. This allows you to get range, and to make use of the whipping joint action. Without using the range of the connected sticks, you would be better off having a pair of escrima sticks.

Designation: A B C: 3 parts of staff, left to right. A and C have bases and tips. Bases are the ends of A and C attached to B. B has A end, B end, and center. A and C are not constants, they may switch.

the spin

The spinning motion is critical. It is the basis for the rest of the motions.

Stance: feet even, hands 1 foot apart and centered on B shaft. Cross R over and downwards to L so C points forward, then turn C on vertical plane parallel to central line almost 1 full turn. As you do so, bring the L hand across to R side of body, then spin vertically to R side, and cross w/R over to L side. Continue.

Footwork: as cross, turn in direction of cross and rear heel raises slightly.

Notes: Keep the bottom hand moving as smoothly and with as much force as the top when spinning. This can and should be practiced with a straight staff. Timing the turning footwork with the crossing hands is critical.

The spin should be done close to your body, but not too closely. Avoid trapping the B shaft under your elbow into your armpit. The vertical handswap should be done forward of your shoulders, not out and back to the side.

Problems: when B is on R side, need to bring L up more. Spin is asymmetrical.

To stop either or both freely swinging sticks:

Slide hands outwards until both A and C are held at base. Much safer than stopping cold. Alternate: let wrap around body with caution.

Basic stance:

L foot leading back stance, A held almost vertical and angled forward, C pointed horizontal and to R. Face your opponent. Do not point both A and C at opponent.

Defense against a #3 horizontal strike from your left:

(L check)

Stance: Basic stance described above. As strike comes, step deeply SE into a L cat stance and check the strike w/ A.

Notes: the check is not a block. Like wc gon sao versus a kick, the evasive footwork is far more important than the blocking motion.

Start facing opponent. When checking, turn to face the weapon.

Or (R check)

step SW w/L into a R cat stance and follow-check (pushing away) w/C.

Against a thrust:

same as 1st (step SE and check w/L).

same as step SW above, follow-check w/C

step SW w/R into L cat facing NE, turn into weapon and check w/A.

#3 check/#9/#3

step SE and check w/L as above, then L steps S as R shifts to B, whipping C #9 in front of you to strike his L arm, then step to N w/R as C loops outwards to R behind head and strikes in #3.

Notes: do not circle step outwards to E, step directions are diagonal-back-forward. Slide R from C to B smoothly and quickly to get range.

Lesson Two

#3: L check/#9/#10 figure 8

This uses a triangular footwork pattern. Step SE into L cat as check w/A, then slide R onto B and #9 as step W w/L, bringing B-C across body. This will strike his L arm. Then step NE w/R into a #10 strike for the R side (somewhere).

Notes: Use a smooth figure 8 motion. Slide R from C to B smoothly and quickly to get range.

#3: Block

Hold A and C at bases in reverse (icepick) grip. Step N w/R to face W (facing the oncoming attack). Stretch the staff vertically between you and the attack, R hand (C) high. This is a straight staff defense move.

#3: Double block

Holding A and C normally, step inwards and double block the flat swing. Aim forward stick at his hand closest to you.

#3: Tan sao/#2/#1/spin and chase

Step in and tan sao w/A, jab w/C. Then: slide A down his weapon to strike his nearest hand, and release A, turn L hand palm down as grasp B (thumb towards center). A will continue crossing down and to R as you #1 his head w/C, releasing C and turning R hand palm down, grasping B (thumb towards center). From there, go into a spin and chase him with the flails.

Exercises:

X: the X, holding A and C 6 in. from end. Helps if poles vertical and as close as possible for rigidity from tension of A-B-C links. Works abds, triceps, and grip.

Twirl: Hold B near 1 end, and top of either A or C in other hand. Twirl free endshaft vertically (parallel to central line) as close to body as possible. Reverse direction, then switch hands and repeat.

Also: twirl held in front of body, perpendicular to central line.

Lesson Three

My 3s arrived. Alright.

#3: U block

Hold in normal grip. Turn to face attack, point A and C perpendicular to attack and block w/B (held vertically).

Notes: Turn to face attack. Hold high elbow above line of high stick so B does not lash up and strike your own forearm,

Thrust: L check/throw #1/#3 lawnmower

Step SE and check w/L (remember to turn to face attack). Slide L to A's tip as throw C in #1/#3 strike across body as step N w/R, turning L. Continue and finish 360° spin into deep L fwd stance as use full length of 3s in #3 shin-level strike.

Notes: move forward, take up room. If do properly and with speed, 3s will not touch ground. When you go low, stay there, do not bob down/up/down (knee wants to straighten).

Thrust: L check to R/entangle/#2 entangle

Step SW w/R offline into L fwd, facing weapon, as check w/A. Then throw C in #9 strike so C end of B hits his shaft and wraps over, entangling. As you do so, face him and move N into him (step w/R). Catch C w/R and trap his weapon as you move up, then #2 w/A.

Notes: get offline. Do not overcheck or will be too far away for entangle. Throw C diagonally up and forward, or your own step forward will step you into C's wrap. The C throw can be a strike to his head, but if it isn't, it's an entangle. Roy's favorite move.

Lesson Four

No new moves. Practiced Lcheck/#9/#3, Lcheck/figure 8, entangle. Practiced L or R check, followed by either #1/#2 or #2/#1 as going into spinning and chase.

Twirl both directions, both sides, then twirl in front of body. Would be much harder w/the heavier hardwood.

Exercise: use 3s as a jump rope.

Lesson Five

Reverse spin (start w/ a straight [bo] staff). Need to work on cross-striking earlier, I'm crossing arms fully on sides and then turning.

L chk/#2 or #1/other/spin and chase - strike 2 and 1 w/held grips before switching hands into spin grip.

tan/#2 or #1/other/spin and chase

Garrotte

R check, then step N w/ L as check shaft w/A, and let R slide from C base towards tip (not all the way 6 inches to a foot). Step in w/R as thrust past his L side of his head to loop B-C joint around neck, apply like nutcracker and whack (#2) w/A.

Notes: If R hand does not slide towards tip, much harder to loop around. Go for neck, not face. This can cause serious injury, apply contact-only force on garrote. Also, hand slide allows looping better, results in B and C more on central line (like a car's tow bar, with his neck as the trailer hitch), rather than out to his R side. Also: if not in training, can use A as lever wrapped over C end to apply mechanical force to the neck clamp.

Twirl, reverse twirl, 30 seconds 3s X.

3/29

No lesson last Thursday or today. Spent a while spinning at school. Have learned how to keep the spin going as walk through it and reverse facing and striking angle (up>down and vice versa). Forcing myself to transition means I keep the confident feeling and motion of the forward spin (striking #1 and #2 downwards) into the reverse spin (#8 and #9 upwards). Did continuous laps up and down the school floor. Still not as smooth or fast reverse as forward, but will improve. Also, transition is better when I initiate from a R crossing motion (into vert. spin on L becoming R) rather than a L hand lead-in.

Transition: as lead hand crosses body (arms crossed) to vertical spin on one side, turn body 180° in crossing direction and face behind, now doing reverse direction spin.