Weapons Exercise Manual

By Bostaff

((This page & part are for a Role Playing Game. The content though, is based on real life training. The link at the bottom is for any interested in more detailed content & descriptions, to my IRL site's section on this tipic)).

Chapter 1; Introduction & Overview

For us warrior types, constant training be part of our lives. Staff be my focus, yet the same aspects apply similarly to most weapons. Training one's actions to react, repeating combinations till they are like the turning of a door-knob. Training strength to have power in their blows & to have support in effective blocking. Speed is trained last, hast being not speed. True speed only from long training. Apart from combat basics & techniques, limbering with stretches to improve agility. IF one doesn't wish to stand still like a tree during combat. The weapon it's self, to be familiar with it, is usually the training tool of preference. Such as with staff, a long weapon may serve in at least 3 ways; balance, weight & leverage resistance. One may use their weapon with end that is not held, touching the ground or even horizontal to a wall, to assist with balance training. Arguably perhaps a different use, still of balance though, is the use of the weapon as a blanancing object, to balance weapon. Most, some time during their training, will play with balancing the weapon vertically in the palm of their hand & maybe even the top of their foot while the foot is raised, horizontally in the center of the weapon or vertically from the end (hancle if a shapened weapon), on hand, foot, arm, even on the top of their head. Another aspect of balance being to use one's weapon as a extension or balancing pole. Even a sword may be held out horizontally in one arm, though compensating with balance being a bit more difficult with the other arm just extended out with no counter-balance; for crossing any balance-required path, from logs, quake-shaken bridges without hand-rails, even ropes (for those skilled enough to walk ropes). The 2nd, as "Weight" is the use of a weapon, or could be a broom even, as any imaginable weight training. Extending horizontally while gripping from only one end, is the key to such weight. The shorter the weapon, the less this is possible. The longer, such as a 5' or longer staff, holding at 1' from the end with 1 hand, or at the very end for those of great strength & endurance, the potential becomes apparent. Which end is extended, if palm up or down, held directly in front or to side or even behind, standing but also sitting if ceiling is low for like an extended 1 hand tomahawk-chop kinda or raising forearm or even bringing down with full arm, as if an axe chop. The axe thing is better done from laying flat straight out, thus when lifted, the weapon or umm broom even, being extended out horizontally in line with your body, head & extended arm = (if standing up, would be pointing vertically up like a torch held high. Torches also useful for this). Then lifting, different versions, 1 with elbow 99% locked & straight through whole lifting up __ to L, the top of the L being the lifting arm & extended weapon or whatever. Others may start with elbow bent & lift to straight vertical , to work more exclusively on tricepts. The weight (mass) of the weapon, just in wielding or any motion that gives resistance, is also good. One is "Stirring the Kettle/Cauldron". The starting of it is holding weapon or such out vertically, then turning in circles about as big as a barrel or a bit smaller. One will notice that it is difficult at first to maintain vertical straight aligned, not tilting as turn. Once stability is improved, other variations are available; rotating horizontal, also held to the side not just in front, of course rotating or "stirring" both clockwise & counter-clockwise, even attempting to maintain stability of a diagonal path, to rotate diagonally. Speed is not of prime importance & may not add to the actual training benefit. The true focus is on training one's nervous system, become more stable, sure & thus improve in other things requiring co-ordination, such as combat. Once all this is done with good stability from a center balance, perhaps the most advanced is then to try with extended weapon (held near or at 1 end, rather than at center, IF a long weapon like a staff), again both with palm up & down & trying with both ends extended (as room allows). Stirring the Kettle or Cauldron helps one to be truly aware of the differences between Mass and Weight (simple downward pull). Any such movements though that provide resistance safely, are good for training. Basics, combinations & such techniques are them-selves good for this. The 3rd use being as leverage. It is the hardest to see outwardly. Such as holding the weapon at both ends (careful if bladed, of course in it's sheath if sword) and as if trying to snap a twig, try to bend it out, then in. Only if your strength is truly phenomenal, would you actually risk breaking it. Everyone have probably done the bending over the shoulders while holding the weapon or un-lit torch or whatever horizontally across shoulders like an ox yoke. Many other exercises are possible with this theme though; such as "stringing the bow", one arm high and other down behind back to try to bend, trying to push the center together, pushing the grips together as if trying to force a difficult to sheath weapon, into it's sheath, and reverse, pulling apart as if trying to pull a stuck weapon from it's sheath. Variations besides also horizontal & in front, any path you choose, even with arms twisted/wrapped. From the across sholders like an ox yoke, there are several variations of twisting & rowing to stretch, strengthen & limber the shoulders. There are literally hundreds of exercises with a simple staff or weapon, that warriors need not clutter their hut or castle with boulders, pulleys with buckets of rocks or other usually expensive & in the way equipment. Others thrown around the term of "hundereds of something" but I do not. There are only 14 variations of getting out of a 2-handed choke, 24 such grapplings type self-defnese with a staff (all others being just variations of those), but there are truly 100s of exercises, at least a full 100.

Don't have a weapon or even staff, almost everyone has a broom. No broom, head off into the woods and cut a stick. It does NOT have to be heavy. Some of the above training would work with even just a switch, though the leverage ones would tend to break it, hehe. Anyway, thus herein are the secrets to the fitness of the great staff warrior, Bostaff, shared for the health of those good of heart to live longer and with more vitality, to further bless us with their noble & honorable deeds.

((Consider the link to my actual martial arts web site as the further chapters, if you wish to read further. They are done form the point of view of pure staff though, in that section. As of yet, there is no character benefit but please feel welcome to role play the doing of any such exercises and even do them your-self in real life. If any IRL health concerns of course, please consult a doctor first. Such as any recent injuries, surgery, etc. Go slow, gradually, progressively, NOT too much or too fast in 1 day. Thank you for reading my book and have fun. I hope that you enjoyed it and wish you the best of luck)).

((Copyright 2003, limited use to RPGs for role playing as a book but not for IRL = real currency of course)).

Links:

Omen (will eventually be the shop
Continuing chapters ((Go to IRL listings & descriptions))