The Art and Science of Staff Fighting: A Complete Instructional Guide

Description

ForeWord Reviews Indie Award FINALIST - 2016 USA Best Book Award FINALIST - 2016 This book stands apart from other staff training manuals. While most titles focus on forms and twirling, The Art and Science of Staff Fighting emphasizes the dynamics of combat. The author draws on thirty years of martial experience, presenting the best of both Eastern and Western traditions. Joe Varady lays out a comprehensive course of study in nine levels, from beginner to expert. He guides readers through such fundamentals as stances, striking, blocking, and footwork. In advanced lessons, readers learn disarming techniques, groundwork, and facing multiple opponents. But this book is not just for staff enthusiasts. Even those unfamiliar with martial arts can adapt these techniques, increasing their skill and confidence in defending themselves. "Our environment is usually full of improvised weapons,” Varady writes. “Staff fighting techniques can be effectively applied in a self-defense situation using a walking stick, coatrack, curtain rod, floor lamp, hockey stick, fallen tree branch, broom, mop, shovel, or rake.” Equipped with this knowledge, readers will begin to realize that, in one way or another, they are nearly always armed—and capable of defending themselves. This book features • Nine levels of instruction, progressing from easy to expert • Over 600 photos with motion arrows • A “nondenominational” approach to staff, utilizing the best of Eastern and Western arts • A comprehensive, methodical approach to building staff skills If you are already a student of the staff, these lessons will not conflict with your katas or current style. Instead, they will augment your techniques, broadening your options. Whether you are an experienced staff fighter or a layman seeking practical techniques for self-defense, The Art and Science of Staff Fighting will help you develop the skills you need. Front Cover Back Cover Advance Praise for The Art and Science of Staff Fighting Title Page Copyright Information Acknowledgments Table of Contents Foreword Preface Introduction What Is Staff Fighting? A Brief History of the Staff Why Art and Science? Kitchen Kobudo Know Your Staff Intensity The Levels Level 1: The Foundation Fundamentals Stances Basic Striking Understanding the Lines Basic Blocking Evading, Blocking, and Parrying Footwork Figure Eights (Downward/Upward) Level-1 Workout Level 2: Basic Middle Grip The Fighting Stance Combat Striking Range, Distancing, and the Circle of Death Targeting Training Equipment: Target Sticks Combinations Feinting Strategy and Tactics Training Equipment: The Pell Defense: The Wall Level-2 Workout Level 3: Advanced Middle Grip The Double Strike Training Equipment: Target Sticks Hooking Disarms The Push-Pull Energy Drill Training Equipment: The Striking Ball Disarming Blocks Sliding Disarms Shushi’s Wall Level-3 Workout Level 4: Basic Extended Grip Introduction to Extended Grip Extended-Grip Basic Strikes Extended-Grip Figure Eights Extended-Grip Thrusting Training Equipment: The Target Ball Training Equipment: The Thrust Board Snap Strikes Training Equipment: The Horizontal Makiwara Extended-Grip Blocking Disarms Level-4 Workout Level 5: Advanced Extended Grip Fencing with the Staff The Change of Engagement The Double Change The Cutover The Beat Extended-Grip Hooking Disarms The Disarm Drill Training Equipment: Spinners Parrying Part the Grass to Find the Snake Level-5 Workout Level 6: Combat with the Staff The Moment of Truth Full-Contact Fighting Training Equipment: The Padded Staff Understanding Timing The Three-Step Rule Programming Continuation of Attack Blitz Attacks Leaping Flèche The Grand Overall Strategy The Seven Principal Rules Level-6 Workout Level 7: Expert Staff Training Hot Stuff Switching Grips Alternate Ready Positions Fool’s Guard Tail Guard High Guard Rear Guard Additional Techniques Upward Heel Strike Overhand Heel Thrust Jabbing Thrusts Poisonous Snake Coming Out from the Cave Fiore’s Block Disarming Beat Trapping and Pinning Flying Front Kick Flicking Throwing Level 8: Master Staff Training Close Combat with the Staff Groundwork Facing Multiple Opponents with the Staff Unarmed Defense against the Staff Level 9: The Way of the Spear Intro to the Spear Basic Spear Fighting Strategy Training Equipment: The Rings Unarmed Defense against a Spear Throwing the Spear Catching the Spear Tub Tilting Appendix I: Fighting Physics: The Mechanics of the Staff The Big Three Striking Kinetic Energy Dynamics Angle of Impact Striking Surface: Smaller Is Better Blocking and Parrying The Wall The Wet Blanket (and Subsequent Counterattack) Parrying Levers Uprooting Lever (Second-Class Lever) Pushing Lever (Third-Class Lever) The Kinetic Chain Conclusions About Chris Hall Appendix II: Additional Skills and Drills Recommended Reading About the Author Books from YMAA DVDs from YMAA