The medium staff (Jo in Japanese) is basically a 120-140-cm long wooden stick. It is an ancient weapon of the common people and was widely used in all cultures.
A shepherd’s staff, a walking cane, or an actual weapon — the uses of a simple stick are numerous, be it to ward off animals or an assailant. This effective tool is extremely versatile yet simple to use in combat both for attack and defense. Its length and flexibility may vary from culture to culture but always there are similarities in its martial application be it Kalaripayattu (India) or Filipino Tapado or a Jogo Do Pau fighting stick (Portuguese).
This weapon though almost intuitive in use, once properly studied can deliver a wide range of attacks. It can be swung two-handed as well as single-handed, generating great speed and force, and causing massive damage on impact.
It’s capable of powerful thrusts and can be applied in both close and long ranges alike. Since it is an impact weapon the main targets are the head, joints, thin bones, and vital targets such as the solar plexus, groin, and throat.
A major influence on our medium staff curriculum is Jogo Do Pau, a Portuguese stick fighting system. It is a sophisticated yet easy-to-learn “no nonsense” fighting method that is battle tested against a single opponent, as well as against multiple attackers.
We are also incorporating techniques from Jodo (Japanese martial art that uses the Jo – a medium staff 128 cm long).
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