HOW WOULD YOU DEFEND AGAINST A VERSATILE THREE-SECTIONAL STAFF?
The application of a flowing sword against a versatile three-sectional staff
The three-sectional staff is probably the most versatile of all weapons. It can be used as a short weapon, a long weapon, a light weapon, a heavy weapon, a single weapon or a double weapon!
It can also be very tricky. You think you have moved back to avoid the range of your opponent's attack, then suddenly he extends his reach by extending another section of his weapon and catches you by surprise. You engage his weapon held in one hand, then suddenly he may attack you with another part of his weapon with the other hand. You take care of both of his hands, then suddenly another part of his weapon may attack you as if from nowhere!
Also, you cannot block or deflect a “soft” weapon like a three-sectional staff or a soft whip like you do to other “solid” weapons, because being “soft” it just warps round your weapon. When you opponent sweeps at you with a three-sectional staff, for example, if you block at the first or second section of the weapon, the third section would wrap round to hit you. If you block at the third section, the second section would bounce in to hit you.
So, how would you defend against the versatile three-sectional staff?
Please click the pictures or the captions below to view the videos
Downward Hit with Two Sections
The three-sectional staff is a very versatile weapon. A skillful exponent may use just one section, or two or all the three without the opponent knowing what to expect. Here Sifu Michael Chow uses a typical three-sectional staff attack, downward hit, but he uses only two of the three sections of his weapon.
Controlling Opponent's Weapon
If you move back to avoid a downward hit, a skillful opponent may change his attack from two sections of his weapon to three sections, thus still reaching you. But if you are skillful with your sword, you can control your opponent's weapon irrespective of how he uses it.
Compassionate Counters against Various Attacks
Sifu Michael Chow uses a variety of techniques with his three-sectional staff to attack the swordsman, who counters each attack compassionately, merely slicing the opponent's arm or body, thus not causing serious injury.
Slicing open the throat or the kidney, however, can be fatal. Thrusting the sword into an opponent's body, which actually is a main attacking technique of the sword, is deadly.
Dragon Fly Dots Water
Agility is the hallmark of a swordsman. What happens if an opponent attacks the root of your agility, i.e. your legs. If he is very skillful with his three-sectional staff, he can reach you wherever you try to move to.
Also it is futile to block his attack, because being versatile the weapon can bounce off your block and still hit you. Here is an ingenious counter using the pattern poetically called “Dagon Fly Dots Water”.
Counters against Continuous Smashing Attacks
Here Sifu Michael Chow uses the three-sectional staff like double rods. A long, “soft” weapon has now become a pair of short, heavy weapons. The downward smashing attacks of double rods applied continuously one after the other are very formidable.
If you block the attack with your sword, it will be smashed into pieces, while the other rod would smash onto you. How would you counter such attacks?
Frustrating Versatile Attacks
The three-sectional staff is a very versatile weapon capable of different and varied attacks, and Sifu Michael Chow is very skillful at using it.
But he swordsman frustrates his every attack, illustrating the amazing techniques of the Traveling Dragon Sword. Of course, great skills are needed besides the techniques.
The Versatility of the Three-Sectional Staff
The great skill of Sifu Michael Chow in using the three-sectional staff is evident in his applying the weapon in a great variety of ways according to the combat situation in question as well as to confuse the opponent.
Do you notice that Sifu Michael Chow has used his weapon in one section, in two sections as well as in three sections within a short space of a sequence? This feat is the more admirable when all these movements are impromptu.
How to Control a Heavy Weapon with a Light Weapon
Now Sifu Michael Chow holds the three sections of the staff together and use them as one heavy weapon. It is illuminating to see how the swordsman uses a light weapon to control a heavy weapon.
Notice that the same combat principles can also be used against a powerful Samurai sword. As usual, laughter is frequent in any Shaolin Wahnam training sessions.
You can view all the videos above by clicking the picture or the caption below
How would You Defend against a Three Sectiona Staff with a Dainty Sword from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.
You can also view all the videos here
We wish to thank Sifu Emiko Hsuen and Sifu Michael Chow for providing these video clips
The Amazing Combat Application of the Traveling Dragon Sword
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