Shao Lin Staff 18 Methods

The staff fighting methods from Shao Lin 少林temple started at Northern Wei 北 魏 Dynasty (over 1400 years ago). There were 13 famous Shao Lin staff fighters rescued a king at Tang 唐 Dynasty. The staff methods were further developed during Song 宋 Dynasty. They were propagated by travelling monks and made popular in northern and north western China throughout Yuan 元 and Ming 明Dynasties. As guns were introduced, the fighting methods started to decline in Qing 清 Dynasty. There are many spear methods in Shao Lin staff methods. They are all very practical and straightforward. During 1980s, over 50 Shao Lin staff routines were recovered and compiled. From these routines, the author abstracted 18 common methods in this book. The long spears were the main long weapons for infantry in China since Warring periods. It is said that the long spear is the king of all weapons. The staff is the general of all weapons. If we may learn the staff methods well, it will be easy for us to learn all the other weapons. In the 21st century, the staff may be practiced for health. If the reader may study and practice the basic staff methods well, it will be easier for you to learn staff routines later. If you are interested in Shao Lin Kung Fu, it will be necessary to learn the staff, too. No matter for what reasons that you are interested in staff fighting methods, the information in this book is essential for you. The basics of holding the staff, the stepping and the body methods are discussed in the Introduction. The 18 staff methods are divided into 4 Parts. How to use the front end of the staff is discussed in Part I. How to use the staff to defend our self is discussed in Part II. How to use the rear end of the staff is introduced in Part III. How to use the staff in a circular way is introduced in Part IV. There are many more staff methods. However, the most common and important 18 methods are introduced in this book.