[Puncha]

I recently bought an oak japanese jo staff to use as a walking stick and non-threatening anti-mugging weapon for when I go walking in the evenings. It's about 4.5' long and looks extremely sturdy.

Any advice on internet sites that provide pictoral illustriations on defence techniques? What strikes or moves work best with a short staff?

I've done bayonet fighting before, will the strategies adopted for a rifle & pigsticker work with a short staff?

[JShirley]

Look for Kukishin staff techniques.

John

[tellner]

I recently bought an oak japanese jo staff to use as a walking stick and non-threatening anti-mugging weapon for when I go walking in the evenings. It's about 4.5' long and looks extremely sturdy.

Any advice on internet sites that provide pictoral illustriations on defence techniques? What strikes or moves work best with a short staff?

I've done bayonet fighting before, will the strategies adopted for a rifle & pigsticker work with a short staff?

Forget about the internet sites and pictures. Real instruction is infinitely better. The cateran and western martial arts yahoo mailing lists provide a place for afficionados of this sort of thing to meet. You might be able to find practitioners in your area.

Some other styles which might be useful:


Savate - The traditional French martial art includes walking stick technique in a subsystem called "Le Canne"
Hapkido - The hooked cane is a signature weapon of the system
Filipino martial arts - Sticks of all sorts are bread and butter to these systems
More obscure - Japanese Jo Jutsu (e.g. Shinden Muso Ryu), Thai Krabi Krabong
Aikido - Jo is one of the traditional weapons. A warning though, Aikido stylists don't tend to have very good weapons skills
Kendo - Sword, not stick, but the training overlaps

[ocelot777]

I've been to a few jodo seminars organized by the British Kendo Association, with some excellent instruction by Japanese sensei and I expect kendo guys in the US also run similar courses.

Having said that, jodo (as opposed to any jitsu version) is highly formalised -- basically, ten or so kata with jo versus bokken. There are some very effective techniques within the kata and practising these undoubtedly increases familiarity and dexterity with your stick, but I suspect that FMA/WMA would offer more rough and tumble practical techniques.

Btw, aren't you worried about LEOs giving you grief about your 4.5' "walking stick"? (or do you live in the sticks? (sorry about that:) ))

[El Tejon]

ocel, depends on the state in which he lives. E.g., if it's Texas, a club is illegal, if he lives where I live, no problems wherever he goes (heck, here carrying shotguns, rifles and carbines about is legal).

Nothing wrong with smashing and poking. They work real well.:D

I would advise getting formal instruction or even seeing if a buddy knows something. Next best thing, carry it about with you continually handling the weapon. You may be able to pick up some staff drills from different styles DVDs. I'll see if I can find some for you.

Here's a pic of El Tejon getting schooled on Fifth Son Staff in Praying Mantis a while ago. (El Tejon is the handsome dude in the far right [of course] corner in the highly unmartial crossed arms stance:D): http://www.kung-fu.addr.com/Photos/mantis-action-photo-8.html

[El Tejon]

Here's some stuff on Western (China) staff which may help:http://www.plumpub.com/sales/vcd-title.htm (have not seen these vcds, some of this company's stuff is excellent, e.g. the mantis instructor from RoC, some less than optimal) (just scroll down to the "Western staff" heading).

Here's a DVD on staff usage from J. Funk in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ng Long Gwun/Fifth Son Staff, (the first DVD):http://www.mantiskungfu.com/HowtoLearn.htm (first half is an empty hand form and other half is just form so maybe not what you seek).

Here's a DVD on staff usage combining White Crane and Taijiquan from Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming:http://store.yahoo.com/ymaa/taijshaolsta.html (mostly drills for handling and familiarization)

I also suggest FMA styles. Some divisions of FMA study a longer stick than what is "normally" used (26" to 32" range).

Find an FMA instructor and see what he recommends.

*I posted these links because I am most familiar with CMA (and student of Funk and Yang); there's a lot of good stuff out there. The secret to any weapon skill, "and again":)

[James T Thomas]

Jo, the Japanese Short Staff.Zier and Lang. Unique Publications. 1985, is a good reference. However, the techniques mostly involve defense against the Katana-sword; for which the Jo was intended.

Stick Fighting.Hatsumi and Chambers. Kodansha America. 1981 describes and illustrates the self defense techniques you had inquired about, but with a "han bo," or three foot stick. I'm going to presume most of the techniques could be viable with the 54 inch staff you have.

I walk my little dog while carrying a jo, and several times I have used it to ward of a larger and threatening animal that persisted in aggression.
I never had to use it in self defense against man or beast, which I am glad of.

Also, I believe the old Kill or Be Killed.Rex Applegate. has offensive; defensive illustrations with a stick.

[EllisWyatt]

Aikido - Jo is one of the traditional weapons. A warning though, Aikido stylists don't tend to have very good weapons skills

It is not that weapons skills are lacking, rather the intent is different from that of other martial arts.

The goal of Aikido is getting out of the way. As such, weapons are not primarily used for poking or beating (though you can certainly use them in these ways), but rather as a way to gain leverage over your attacker, and redirect his momentum away from you. The jo in particular is used this way, as it is long enough to give additional leverage, but short enough to not be clumsy.

Understand that the focus is not on the weapon; it is on balance and momentum. In fact it will probably be several months before you touch a Jo in class. But by that time, you won't just know a couple of Jo techniques, you'll have started learning to control balance (yours and your attacker's) regardless of whatever contact weapons either party has.

If you want to learn how to shatter someone's skull with a Jo, Aikido is probably the wrong thing to study. If you want to learn to get out of the way in order to buy yourself time and options, Aikido is a great choice.

Getting out of the way buys you time to line up a good puch, whack the guy with your staff, give him a dose of pepper spray, draw your concealed pistol, whatever. It gets you off the line of force. It is also a skill that anyone can learn. Not everyone has the strength or flexibility to be great at TKD. Anybody can roll.

[VacuumJockey]

Puncha, if you need to learn a martial art there is really no substitute for hands-on experience. You should be able to find a week-end seminar that will teach you the basics. If not, you can study the classics by Applegate and Fairbanks here (http://www.gutterfighting.org/Stickfighting.html) -- but if at all possible, you should get proper instruction.