Staff Question

[Leon]

How good would this staff be as a combat weapon?

http://www.wle.com/products/W004.html

[mark]

White Oak is very hard and heavy but not as flexable as ritan. I think it would be good as any in combat.

[NJM]

That model is little long for my taste, but my Oak staff is certainly good for live use.

[Uchi_deshi]

to me any of them can be... just matters how you use it....plus on what staff fits you for personnel use

[Leon]

I prefer a staff with a little length to it to keep some distance between me and my opponent when sparring with weapons. I saw what it said about splintering if you strike the ground. What does that mean?

[J.M.Mroz]

It means the fibers tend to separate on impact, this is just the wood's nature. I wouldn't limit it to just the ends either, any impacted spot would have that tendacy. Ever peel off String Mozzarella Cheese?

This doesn't mean the staff is no good, it is just something that happens.

I usually round off the edges of my staffs then seal them.

I like unfinished pieces better too, better feel for me. I removed the finish on my White Wax Wood, so much better for sliding techniques. The other thing that happens, after years of use the oils from hands stain the places you hold the most. And you can actually, 'see' how the staff is used.

I also trimmed it for my height, I kinda regret that. I measured it while barefoot and most times I have shoes on when using it. So, now it is an inch shorter than I would like, live and learn.

Jon

[Leon]

Thanks for the info. It looks like a really good staff and a worthwhile purchase, I'll just have to be careful not to miss my opponent and hit the ground.

[NJM]

Thanks for the info. It looks like a really good staff and a worthwhile purchase, I'll just have to be careful not to miss my opponent and hit the ground.

What style of martial art will this staff be used for?

[J.M.Mroz]

Yeah, If your really worried about it you can wrap the tip with some athletic tape. Don't use so much it looks like a q-tip, but a few layers will keep it from damage. As the tape wears, just replace it. The other thing it will help with is give you a better idea where the end of the staff is in your hand, until you gain the experience of knowing.

NJM- How did your Maple Staff project work out?


Jon

[NJM]

Yeah, If your really worried about it you can wrap the tip with some athletic tape. Don't use so much it looks like a q-tip, but a few layers will keep it from damage. As the tape wears, just replace it. The other thing it will help with is give you a better idea where the end of the staff is in your hand, until you gain the experience of knowing.

NJM- How did your Maple Staff project work out?


Jon

It was a spear, actually. Everything's done but I never got around to actually ordering the spearhead. I finished my Dadao scabbard, however. I can post pictures if you'd like.

[J.M.Mroz]

Right... That would be cool.

I made my own as well. Not knowing how they were made, I couldn't figure out how to do it. The ones I have seen were flawless, you'd swear they were one piece of wood. I cheated when I made mine. Then I found out how to do it, so easy....

Tried making my own sword, blade ended up more of a Katana shape, and I burned it. It was my first try, never put any more energy into it. What I got too was its not like you see in movies...In reality there was the Master Builder, and he had apprentices to help stoke the fire, heat the blade, hammer the blade.

One book I read, the Blacksmith said "Oh, how grand it would be if the blade would glow red from the pit to the anvil. Letting me strike it more than once, to form it into my creation."

After trying it, I could really appreciate that statement. By the time you take it from the fire, and strike it once it already has cooled too much, so watching someone smash a piece of cold metal with a hammer is useless...

But, I did have illusions of greatness when attempting it. The thoughts of taking a $2.35 piece of steel from Home Depot and forming it into a priceless cutting tool, had me going for awhile. Hehehehehe.

Anyway....

Jon

[J.M.Mroz]

Right... That would be cool.

I made my own as well. Not knowing how they were made, I couldn't figure out how to do it. The ones I have seen were flawless, you'd swear they were one piece of wood. I cheated when I made mine. Then I found out how to do it, so easy....

Tried making my own sword, blade ended up more of a Katana shape, and I burned it. It was my first try, never put any more energy into it. What I got too was its not like you see in movies...In reality there was the Master Builder, and he had apprentices to help stoke the fire, heat the blade, hammer the blade.

One book I read, the Blacksmith said "Oh, how grand it would be if the blade would glow red from the pit to the anvil. Letting me strike it more than once, to form it into my creation."

After trying it, I could really appreciate that statement. By the time you take it from the fire, and strike it once it already has cooled too much, so watching someone smash a piece of cold metal with a hammer is useless...

But, I did have illusions of greatness when attempting it. The thoughts of taking a $2.35 piece of steel from Home Depot and forming it into a priceless cutting tool, had me going for awhile. Hehehehehe.

Anyway....

Jon

[Leon]

The staff would be used for Hung Gar.

[NJM]

Hmm, I was under the impression that Hung Gar, excluding the pole sets, used eyebrow hight staffs too.

[Leon]

Me too. But I asked my sifu and he said it would be fine if I had a longer staff, and it just depends on personal preference.