Two Noble Sports

S

Screwdriver

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I don't much like this "Weight Training" title, other than one specifically for Running, there's no where to really chat about varied physical activities.

Anyway - today's post is brought to you by two of the oldest and, as is unfortunately common in today's world of weightless workout machines and electric treadmills, forgotten sports.

Staff fighting and the Rope Climb.

I've been to a grand total of four different gyms in the area, so I can't call my experience comprehensive - but none of them had facilities for rope climbing - thinking back to the days of yore, the old school didn't have a rope either.

The only time I have ever climbed a rope was at an indoor rock-climbing.
A shame too, because it was one of the hardest physical things I've ever had to do.

Does anyone regularly climb the rope? Anyone have any real-world ideas on how to set up a good rope climb (I have wandered many a park and bush track, there are as yet no trees with sturdy branches high enough for an effective climb - and even if there were, do I really want to leave my nice rope just hanging about for people to pinch or tear to pieces?)

Discuss!



The next topic of interest is staff fighting. Not this imported Japanese/Asian ninja fooey, good old fashioned English "Little John" staff fighting. (I imagine, at the end of the day, the techniques are probably pretty similar, but that's not the point)

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with staff fighting as either a sport, or a training tool for balance and speed? (that is - within and of itself, not as part of some other discipline that requires you to wear goofy pajamas)
 
If you want to climb a rope, just throw a rope over a tree. gyms wont have one cos its far too risky.

when you train, you should train to 'near failure'. So it would be bloody stupid to climb a rope when you could do much more sensible training in the gym.


stick fighting.
The reason you dont see much 'little john' staff fighting is because us brits are pretty bad at getting organised. The small groups of people that fight in this way never got their style out in the open.
Ive been training with a short staff (5foot) for about 6 years and acctually sparing is also pretty dangerous.

you can practise techniques and run drill training but to spar is crazy.
you'd have to wear too much protective clothing.

The "goofy pajamas" you mentioned are called 'Gi', and you would do well to remember that if you ever find yourself standing in a room with lots of people wearing them.
 
I believe the Dog Brothers spar with staffs; I know they do escrima sticks. I'm not quite sure where you'd even search it down but a lot of cities will have historical reinactment groups that will do some staff fighting...but prob. not what you're thinking where it's actual sparring.
 
The whole rope climb has probably been banned from clubs by insurance companies not wanting to take the liability for stupid people hurting themselves, or wussy people not wanting to be embarassed by the ones who can do it.

In the Marines we used to do pugil stick fighting, to simulate bayonet fighting. Pugil sticks were 5 foot staffs with some padding on each end to prevent doing major damage to your opponent. Other than that I think all we wore was a football type helmet to prevent head injuries.
 
R.Lewis said:
The "goofy pajamas" you mentioned are called 'Gi', and you would do well to remember that if you ever find yourself standing in a room with lots of people wearing them.
Click to expand...
I know, I'm being jocular.
R.Lewis said:
you can practise techniques and run drill training but to spar is crazy.
you'd have to wear too much protective clothing.
Click to expand...
Bah. Some of that nifty Marine Foam on the staves, a cup and a helm for the vitals - it'll be sweet.

Red man suit - $3000
Competition staff - $28
Cracking your best mate in the nuts with a broomhandle - Priceless.


Y'know, I don't think I've seen a "priceless" in about 9 months. The fad must be over.
 
You can pad a staff out only for film style stick fighting. in reality when using a staff 90% of attacks are done with stabbing and hooking techniques. The 'slap strike' or flat strike is only effective for movies and form.
 
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