Polearms

Staff (Halben Stangen)

The staff is a classical weapon of antiquity and has been shown in competitive contexts as far back as ancient Egypt. The staff of Meyer covers a broad syllabus for fighting with a staff of around 6 feet in length. Use of the staff naturally leads to other pole weapons, and provides valuable training in balance and control that more dangerous polearms require.

In terms of effectiveness, it is worth noting that there were more civilian deaths from fights involving the staff than any other weapon in Medieval England (for example), and so the efficacy of the staff should not be taken lightly.

Guards

• Oberhut (High/over guard)
• Mittelhut (Middle guard/straight parrying/field)
• Unterhut (Low/under guard)
• Steurhut (Tiller/Rudder guard)
• Nebenhut (Near guard)

Staff Strikes (with applications)

• True edge strike from above
• True edge strike from below
• Alternating high/low strike
• Alternating low/high strike
• Continuous diagonals from above
• Continuous diagonals from below

Thrusts

• Crest strike
• Sweeping strike