Basic Figure Eights

While at first twirling may seem like just a flashy exercise, becoming familiar with and learning how to manipulate the staff is an important part of staff fighting. A quick twirl, called a flurry, can be used to confuse an opponent while disguising your intentions, setting you up for unexpected angles of attack. A figure eight can be used to parry an opponent’s weapon before quickly striking with the other end. It can also be used in performing a hooking disarm (see Level 3). Defensively, a twirl can be used to escape from a tie-up or evade a disarm attempt.