WESTERN STAFF

The Western region of China is often associated with Taoism and the interchange of religious ideas from India. This style has a HUGE amount of stick work. Single stick, double jointed staff (Big Sweeper), double short sticks (Nunchaku): all are here with an unusual number of high quality sets. Not every one is a winner so read our comments. If you are interested in staff work, here it is in earnest. There are so many sets in this style that we have multiple pages listed. These FIRST THREE VCDs are NOT SPECIAL ORDER. They are offered so you can decide if you want to order more. These three are included in the DISCOUNTS offered below.         

Click on pictures to see larger versions. This video clip from #525 below...

Cai Zhi Zhong performs Ku Zi Gun.
This is a three VCD set with no forms on it. Instead there are many exercises. This is a great series for people who want to really practice stick arts. Each section contains a few moves done symmetrically with a refrain, something like the staff version of a short Tan Tui set. Each section is named, performed, repeated and then broken down. Great for instructors and students who want practice patterns. This rare art was once the property of the Gao family, Gansu, and has only recently come forward. Excellent routines.
This is a triple VCD.

Zhou Jian-Rui performs Bian-Gan Wu-Yin, Qi-Shou, Shi-San Fa
This VCD shows the staff as a weapon. Using a shorter, thinner stick - similar to a Jo - the teacher shows a series of exercises in short linking forms where each strike is quite direct and apparent.At its simplest level the work here resembles Aikido stick play. The whipping of the title is clearly demonstrated with a series of slashes and back slashes that could also be converted easily to cane defense. A more hands-on approach than a set for performance. Though applications are not shown they are pretty obvious.

Shuang Lian Jia Gun.
We really enjoy this series because it delivers just as it is supposed to: these guys know a lot of stick sets. Remember when the double nunchaku was the tournament favorite? Right after Enter the Dragon was released. Too bad they didn't know this one its pretty nice. Definitely long arm with wide sweeping actions some of which weave never seen. As all of the WS sets this one takes up about half a basketball court. A good, variable and medium difficulty set.

Special Order Section Western Staff Style
Here we have a variety of performers all giving renditions of staff skills. This style has a HUGE repertoire of staff work including single short, single long, double short, big sweeper and more. There are not only a lot of sets but the typical eye brown length staff is used in a variety of ways including reverse grip. Along with Shaolin, which for a time was probably the greatest staff style in the world—boasting 200 sets— the Western Staff is a truly masterful selection of forms. All of those below are SPECIAL ORDER but, given our turn-around time, we generally have these in almost as fast as our normal stock. So, here's the deal: Order any three and we give you a 10% discount. Order 5 or more and it's 15%. Order the entire set of 29 VCDs and the discount is 20%. If you love staff you can save fifty dollars and create one of the great libraries of information on this weapon.

Most about an Hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only
Click on pictures for larger versions.

VCD#358


White Eyebrow Staff
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only

Bai Mei Gun. This branch of Kung Fu is said to have many staff sets. Having practiced the White Eyebrow ourselves we see similarities with the one presented here. Li Sen LinShihfu is very familiar with the staff and we believe this to be one of the more interesting, complex and fluid of the sets represented in our VCDs. Nicely performed, seeming - at times - a little "contemporary" yet definitely good work and a beautiful set.

VCD#510

Enter Mountain Staff
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only

Zhao Min performs Jin Shan Gun.
Despite its acrobatic movements and high kicks, basically not a difficult set. Almost a contemporary WuShu version of stick. The performer is young and good. Some surprises in the turns. Not a great deal of content but a very pretty set and quite fast.

Zhou Jian Rui performs Mo Chi Gun.
There are sets that truly look "folksy" and this is one of them. Not the most beautiful but to the practiced eye a form with a lot of information about the staff in it. It starts with the famous White Eyebrow upward spinning stick. The performer moves slowly and methodically. The performance gives the impression of movements learned from one's uncle. To our mind a nice stick set with a very traditional construction.

Zhang Fei Peng performs Tian Qi Gun.
A wide ranging set with more of a Contemporary WuShu feel to it. Demonstrated at tournaments but a number of champions. This set has probably more ground scraping in it than any we've ever seen. Neat little scrapes punctuate the set which otherwise is fast, fluid and large-boned. A good "light" stick set for a fast stick.

Gao Yan-Jie performs Luan-Jiu-Gong Chuan-Zi Gun.
A good basic to intermediate set with the stick used as a striking instrument front and back. That is to say many back shots with the butt end. Elegantly performed and clearly shown. Heavy on folding actions and twist arm positions. Not excessive amounts of whipping and whirling movements.

Xi Bei Quan Xie Xin Shang
Three VCDs that show a lot of the different sets in the Western Staff style. Among them are the Black Tiger, White Eyebrow, Winding Sea, Fanzi Fist, Fanzi Spear, and many more. No breakdowns, just sets with different sections on the background of the instructors and the sets.
This is a Triple VCD

Da Lian Jia Gun.
Most martial artists are familiar with the twin stick called Nunchaku. But this set of sticks is uneven, one long and one short. They go by a number of names such as the Yin/Yang staff, the flail or the Big Sweeper. This is a good, traditional set with all the correct movements for the Big Sweeper. There are also some more difficult actions such as the back flower where the stick is spun behind the performer while he leans over.

Tian Shui Pai Zi Gun.
This VCD opens with a demonstration of fist art before picking up the staff. This stick work is a longish set with strong moves, often symmetrical. In some ways this is one of the more sophisticated forms with many angle changes, cross strikes, and strong cutting actions. Each road is capped with a turn that acts as a refrain and divides the form into parts. For those interested, this is generally the sign of a fairly easily learned form.

Li Rui Lin performs Chuan-Tong Ba-Ji Chuan.
Now this is interesting. A traditional BaJi set (Da BaJi) performed in this style. Very similar to a Heaven Mountain version (Tian Shan Pai) we learned many years ago. It's interesting to see an essentially accurate but somewhat stiff version of the style. Not a bad interpretation but, to our eyes, more a version for the BaJi completist.

Guo Wang-Wang performs Xiao-Yao Bu-Yue Jiu-Gong Gun. This VCD shows an elegant and long set with the normal length staff. Performed almost casually this relatively slow moving set has a wide range of teachnique. It also lives up to its name with some of the most complicated footwork we've seen in the Western Staff style as of yet. The set seems divided into nicely overlapped sections where particular themes are explored. For instance, here we grip the stick in the middle, here use it spear style, here we twirl. Free and flexible footwork.

Qiao Liang Jiu Zhu Bian.
This form is for the short stick, with a length about two thirds of the body height. It is also known as a Bian, as in Tan Bian (Single Whip) but also means "whip like." It is also a Yin Yin stick played with both palms facing downward. This is a special usage here with the majority of strokes using the back hook and rear butt end strikes. Some really sweet hand changes and a lot of transfering from grip to grip.

Mo Shou Pai Zi Quan.
This is a Fist set with some power and grace. Mo Shou or rub hand, which is also represented as a staff set in this collection, is a Northern Long Fist form. The moves are wide and loose with some explosions of power. The actions look somewhat like PiGua or Jiao Men (Muslim Style). A nice, traditional set by a practitioner whose been practicing for a little while. Well known for being taught by Sun YanHu a military instructor.

Tang Zhong Bao performs Jiang Wei Huang Lung Dai Ba Qing.
This is a rare weapon, the double headed spear. Even rarer, this is a long spear. Most doubled headed sets are half length spears but this is a full length, tassel-less weapon with some neat antique spear heads, one at each end. The practitioner is an older gentleman with some real skill who elegantly walks through this form. At one point they substitute a staff for the weapon to show his exceptional ability with rattan-energy generation. Not for amateurs.

Tang Zhong Bao performs Jiu Huan Bian.
Another short stick set with the entire weapon about 3/4's body length. This is a long set with wide stepping footwork, jumps and running stances (where you hold your foot up behind your back, sole heavenward). This usage is more definitely one-handed where the Bian ("whip") is used like a club. An older player with loose and effortless performance.

Guo Shi-Ju performs Qi-Lang Gun.
If the short stick form above is a long stepping version this is the same weapon interpreted much smaller. Perhaps its the teacher's black outfit but the actions more resemble what we might assume to be a Praying Mantis version of the weapon. Many pokes, tight hand exchanges, off-angle strikes. The peformer is getting a bit grey but the set itself is clear, quick and interesting.

Guo Wang Wang performs Fu Hu Gun.
Even though this is a full body length weapon it is utilized in an unusual way. The name "Fu Hu" implies southern style and the actions somewhat resemble this look. The staff, though long, is almost used as though two seperate sticks that happened to be joined in the middle. Almost no whipping or single handed actions. Some tight trong work with hand changes. A long set with some intersting step-overs.

Wang Jun Zhao performs Huang Long Tiao Zi.
This full length staff is thin and fast. Though longish, this set is actually fairly basic though the length of it might be off-putting. A great deal of striking the ground, jumps with spins, wide open twirling all emphasize this is a set best performed with a light weight, thinnish stick.

Zhao Lian Zi performs Yao Zi Sou Lin Gun
A famous set done well. This is one of the most sophisticated of the forms in the Western Staff style. The pole is a long weapon but the usage shown here is varied and well-constructed. Many types of movements. This set shows its complexity but not relying on just wide swings but an interesting and variable compendium of moves.

Zhao Lian-Zi performs Tie-Men Niu-Si Bian Gun
As we have said before a good set, that is a well-constructed set, is a convergence of at least two impulses. The first is to categorize the moves. In this case there are a lot of club techniques in this middle length set. The other is to establish - at least with a middle level or higher form - a certain flavor or feeling that shows some sense of specialty. In this case the club is used with a tremendous number of techniques known as "folding". The stick is folded over itself again and again in different ways. A good performance.

Zhan Zhuang Fan
This fist form is well known because it was taught by Ma Feng Tu.It is of medium length with many changes. A true Northern set it is powerful and varied. The techniques are done with authority. Many stance changes and cross arm strikes. Somewhat similar to BaJi mixed with PiGua or the stronger aspects of Mei Hua Chuan. Good, strong performance.

Called: Cui Ba Fan.
Another powerful set famous in part by being taught by Ma Feng-Tu. This one reminds us of Chuo Jiao with a special emphasis on driving straight punches in linked sequence. The movements ae fluid but exceedingly powerful. Cross cutting actions, sudden drops, a very distinctive rear arching kick and some head high crescents all distinguish this form.

VCD#536

Five Tiger Knife
About 1 Hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only

Li Sen Lin performs Wu Hu Dao.
An unusual form with the wide bladed saber. This two-handed weapon is shown in many phases in this well constructed and thorough set. In fact there is even a substantial section on the "reverse grip" use of the weapon. Also single handed use and double handed spine backed tight cutting. A very good exposition of this art.

Fan Ba Qiang.
A nice, solid spear set with good basics and many hand changes. Occasional left lead hand use. Also some unusual cross wrist pokes. We see a lot of spear set that are merely the same three basic moves clothed in different colors. But this set has content and variety. A traditional, strong version of this weapon.