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Quarterstaff

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	Quarterstaff
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	Topics Quarterstaff Topic Home Etymology The etymologyEtymology Etymology is the study of the origins of words.... of the weapon's name is uncertain. Any connection to a unit of length called a staff is almost certainly spuriousSpurious Spurious can refer to:Statistics... . One popular theory is that it comes from the way the staff is held: one hand at the center of the staff, and one hand halfway between the center and one end. However, this is probably a folk etymologyFolk etymology Folk etymology or popular etymology is a linguistic term for a category of false etymology which has grown up in popul... , as this grip is not actually prescribed in early sources. Another theory links the term to the manner in which the wood is split from the tree. Because it can be employed as a less-than-lethal weapon, the name may also refer to the act of giving quarter (showing mercy, pity, or pardon to a defeated enemy). Description The quarterstaff may be made from many kinds of wood, commonly ash, oakOak The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Que... , hazelHazel The hazels are a genus of about ten species of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere.... , or hawthornCommon Hawthorn The Common Hawthorn *Crataegus monogyna* is a species of hawthorn native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asi... . It may have metal spikes or caps at one or both ends; these are depicted or referred to in some Elizabethan and JacobeanJacobean era The Jacobean era refers to a period in English history that coincides with the reign of James I.... sources. The length of the staff varies, typically ranging from 1.8 m to 2.7 m (6 to 9 feet); in addition, long staves of 3.6 to as much as 5.4 metres (12 to as much as 18 feet) were employed in Early Modern times. The weapon seems to have become shorter and lighter later in its history, though 3-meter staves (made of bambooBamboo Bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, trib... or ashAsh tree An ash can be any of four different tree genera from four very distinct families , but originally and most commonly refers t... ) wood were still sometimes employed in VictorianVictorian era The Victorian era of Great Britain marked the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the British Empire... EnglandEngland England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom.... . The quarterstaff is effectively a long two-handed clubClub (weapon) Overview A club, cudgel, truncheon, night stick, or bludgeon is perhaps the simplest of all mle weapons.... , although its weight distribution is generally even throughout its entire length (some forms did have weighted tips, however). It was used both to deliver crushing blows, and to thrust like a spearSpear Overview A spear is an ancient weapon used for hunting and war, consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a sharpened head.... . The art of using the staff was closely related to that of other polearmsPole weapon A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon with the main fighting part of the weapon placed on the end of a lon... , and it was often employed as a training weapon for the latter. Moves include many different forms of blocks, thrusts, strikes, and sweeps. History The staff being a very simple weapon to manufacture, it has a long history of use, and a wide cultural dispersion. The staff is a traditional weapon of many AsiaAsia Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition.... n martial artsMartial arts Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat.... . The quarterstaff proper was historically a common weapon in EnglandEngland Summary England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom.... , where it is featured in the Robin HoodFacts About Robin Hood Robin Hood is the archetypal English folk hero; a courteous, pious and swashbuckling outlaw of the medieval era who, in moder... legend as the favorite weapon of Little JohnLittle John Little John is a presumably fictional character in the legend of Robin Hood.... . There are also many tools that can easily be used as or quickly converted to a staff. During the 1500s quarterstaves were favoured as weapons by the London Masters of Defence and by the 1700s the weapon became popularly associated with gladiatorial prize-fighting. A modified version of quarterstaff fencing, employing bamboo or ash staves and protective equipment adapted from fencingFencing In the broadest possible sense, fencing is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or bludgeoning w... , boxingBoxing Boxing, also called Western Boxing, prizefighting or the sweet science , is a sport and martial art in wh... and cricketCricket Cricket is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each.... was revived as a sport in some LondonLondon London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom.... fencing schools and at the AldershotAldershot Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland approximately 55 km southwest of London.... Military Training School during the later 1800s. A simplified form of quarterstaff fencing and training was practiced by members of the international Boy ScoutsScouting Scouting, or the Scout movement, is a worldwide youth movement of multiple organizations for both boys and girls whose... movement during the early decades of the 20th century. Contemporary practice The use of the quarterstaff is among the variety of traditional European weapon styles that have been revived within the historical European martial artsHistorical European martial arts Historical European Martial Arts are martial arts of European origin which were formerly practiced, but have since died out... movement. In popular culture See also Bo in popular cultureBo (weapon) A bo is a long stick, usually made of wood or bamboo, but sometimes it is made of metal or plated with metal for extra stren... . The Merry MenMerry Men The Merry Men are the group of outlaws who follow Robin Hood, according to English folklore.... of Robin HoodRobin Hood Robin Hood is the archetypal English folk hero; a courteous, pious and swashbuckling outlaw of the medieval era who, in moder... would frequently use a quarterstaff, with Little JohnLittle John Little John is a presumably fictional character in the legend of Robin Hood.... being most known for it. This has of course led to many other usages of a quarterstaff in popular culture by others who have also copied elements of the Robin Hood Fairy TaleFairy tale Overview A fairy tale is a story featuring folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others.... . One such occurrence was in the Mel Brooks spoof , where Robin Hood and Little John fight with quarterstaffs, which continue to snap in half until each man has only a small stick remaining. In Sierra OnlineSierra Online Sierra Online is a newly formed corporate division of Sierra Entertainment that will focus on the growing internet gaming in... 's computer game Conquests of the LongbowConquests of the Longbow *Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood* is a graphic adventure game designed by Christy Marx and published by... , the quarterstaff is used in an arcade sequence, where Robin Hood fights a Fens monk with the aid of Little John's quarterstaff. In the TV show , the quarterstaff was for a period of time the preferred weapon of the character GabrielleGabrielle (Xena) Gabrielle is a fictional character in Xena: Warrior Princess, played by Renee O'Connor.... (portrayed by Renee O'ConnorReneé O'Connor Rene O'Connor is an American actress, best known for playing the role of Gabrielle on the television series Xena: Warrior ... ). In the cartoon Robin Hood DaffyRobin Hood Daffy *Robin Hood Daffy* is a 1958 Warner Brothers theatrical cartoon short, part of the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Chu... , Daffy DuckDaffy Duck Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros.... wields a "buck-and-a-quarter quarterstaff." In the cartoon Rocket Robin HoodFacts About Rocket Robin Hood *Rocket Robin Hood* was a popular animated television series that was originally made from 1966 to 1969.... , the eponymous lead character and others used an "electro-quarterstaff". A quarterstaff is one of the weapons on . The semi-villainous RaijinList of Final Fantasy VIII characters Square Co., Ltd.'s computer role-playing game Final Fantasy VIII dealt with the activities of an elite group of mercenaries ca... in Final Fantasy VIIIFinal Fantasy VIII *Final Fantasy VIII* is a console and computer role-playing game created by Square Co.... uses a quarterstaff as his weapon. In the fantasy story The Fifth Ring by Mitchell Graham, one of the sidekicks uses a quarterstaff. In Robert JordanRobert Jordan Robert Jordan is the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he is best known as the author of the bestsell... 's Wheel of TimeWheel of time The wheel of time or wheel of history is a concept in several religions and philosophies, notably dharmic religions su... books, one of the heroes, Mat CauthonMat Cauthon Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.... , is an expert quarterstaff fighter, once defeating a pair of highly-trained apprentice WarderWarder The word warder can mean:-A prison officer.... s while recovering from illness. Several other characters, such as Juilin Sandar, are also acquainted to the quarterstaff. In NetHackNetHack NetHack* is a single-player roguelike computer game originally released in 1987.... , quarterstaff is a starting Wizard weapon. The Quarterstaff is one of KilikKilik Kilik is a fictional Chinese character designed for the Soul Series of fighting games.... 's extra weapons in Soul Calibur IISoul Calibur II *Soul Calibur II* is the sequel to Soul Calibur and the third game in the Soul fighting game series.... . In RuneScapeRuneScape image = \|developer = Jagex Ltd.\|publisher = Jagex Ltd.... , Ahrim the Blighted fights using this weapon. In L.E. Modesitt'sL. E. Modesitt, Jr. L. E. Modesitt, Jr was born in 1943 in Denver, Colorado.... Saga of Recluce the quarterstaff is a popular choice of weapon among Order mages. See also BoBo Bo or BO may be:* Bo: a cartoon character featured in Muse... ClubClub (weapon) A club, cudgel, truncheon, night stick, or bludgeon is perhaps the simplest of all mle weapons.... GùnGun (staff) The Chinese word Gun refers to a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts.... HanboHanbo The hanbo is a quarterstaff used in martial arts.... Stick fightingFacts About Stick fighting Stick fighting is a generic term for martial arts which utilize simple long slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden 'sti... Jogo do PauJogo do Pau Jogo do Pau is a Portuguese martial art which developed in the Northern regions of Portugal, focusing on the use of a staff ... Bâton françaisBâton français The Bton franais*, French for 'French staff', also known as French stick fighting, is a European historical fencing disci... TaiahaTaiaha A Taiaha* is a weapon of the Maori of New Zealand.... Juego del PaloJuego del Palo Juego del Palo or "the Game of the Stick" is a traditional martial art/folk sport of stick fighting practiced in the Canary Is... External links