Shaolin Staff | 少林棍术课程

Chief of weapons: Shaolin Staff

The Shaolin Staff boasts a wide range of techniques and distinctive features. The staff is a weapon that moves in all directions, while a spear goes in a straight line.

The Shaolin staff involves the practitioner’s movement from head to toe, allowing the practitioner to dominate a wider range and make stronger blows. It can be used for attack, defense, training, and body conditioning, and play a crucial role for Shaolin monks in defending against enemies. Unlike sharp swords or pointy spears, the Shaolin staff is a kind of blunt weapon that allows the practitioner to defeat the opponent without mortality. This feature also echoes the Buddhist tenet of mercy.

Shaolin monks usually begin with practicing Shaolin staff when learning to use weapons. There are a variety of moves, and the practitioner can hack, strike the ground, block, strike upward, or sweep; it consists of more than 80 forms, such as Six Harmony Staff, Stove Staff, Mountain-shaking Staff, Two-section Staff and Yin Hand Staff. Six Harmony Staff, made up of six unique skills, representing the essence of Shaolin Kung Fu: fighting at close quarters, requiring concise techniques and a single movement can claim victory.