Quarterstaff: Lesson 5
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Quarterstaff — HEMA·Triskelion Combat
Lesson 5 of our Quarterstaff guide is about Feints. Based on and inspired by Zachary Wylde, Donald McBane, Archibald Mac…
Quarterstaff — HEMA
Familyクォータースタッフ(Kwōtā Sutaffu)
TransliterationTranslation: quarterstaff — HEMA
Overview
European quarterstaff fighting using a 6-8 foot hardwood staff, documented in English and German fight manuals from the medieval period onward.
History & Origin
The quarterstaff has been documented as a weapon of both commoners and gentlemen in England since at least the medieval period, with references appearing in 14th-century legal and literary sources. [1] George Silver's Paradoxes of Defence (1599) argued that the short staff was the most effective weapon of all, superior to the rapier then fashionable among the English gentry. [2] Joseph Swetnam's The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence (1617) provides further technical instruction in quarterstaff methods. [3] On the continent, Hans Talhoffer's fight manual (1467) includes staff techniques alongside sword and polearm methods. [1] The quarterstaff experienced a revival in Victorian England as a gentleman's exercise, documented in R.G. Allanson-Winn's Broad-Sword and Single-Stick (1898), and is now studied within the HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) movement. [1]
Effectiveness
The quarterstaff was widely recognised in medieval and Renaissance Europe as an exceptionally effective weapon, with George Silver declaring in Paradoxes of Defence (1599) that the short staff was superior to the sword in combat. [1] Its two-handed grip allows rapid transitions between thrusts and strikes, and the ability to slide the hands along the shaft enables variable-range fighting. [2]
Lineage
Quarterstaff technique is documented in multiple European sources, including George Silver's Paradoxes of Defence (1599) and Joseph Swetnam's The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence (1617). [1]
Competition Record
Quarterstaff fighting is competed at HEMA tournaments, with English and German staff-fighting traditions reconstructed from historical sources. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Striking, blocking, or thrusting with a long rigid weapon — the staff's length creates leverage and reach advantage
Joints Involved — Both hands (sliding and rotating grip positions), wrists (snap for strikes), hips (rotation for power)
Force Vector — The rear hand pushes while the lead hand acts as fulcrum — staff rotation generates speed at the striking tip
Weapon Mechanic — The staff can be used from either end and at any range — versatility from long-range strikes to short-range blocks
Position & Entry
From ready stance — Hold the staff in two-handed grip, establish distance, strike with the end or middle section as appropriate
From defensive position — Use the staff to block or deflect the incoming attack, then counter with a strike or thrust
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Staff/bo/jo weapons generate significant blunt force; fracture risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Traditional martial arts — Practiced in traditional kata/...
— IWUF — Legal in wushu taolu if applicable
IWUF Competition RulesPDFHEMA — Legal in applicable historical weapon categories {src— various organizations
Training Notes
✓The quarterstaff is the traditional European staff weapon — a hardwood staff of 6-8 feet used in English and continental European fighting traditions (Silver, Paradoxes of Defence, 1599)
✓George Silver considered the quarterstaff the supreme weapon: in his hierarchy of weapons, the staff defeated the sword in skilled hands
✓Quarterstaff fighting uses a unique grip: one hand near the end (butt) and one hand at the quarter point — hence the name 'quarter' staff
✓The grip allows rapid extension and retraction: releasing and re-gripping the butt end changes the weapon's reach by several feet
✓Quarterstaff fighting combines strikes, thrusts, sweeps, and grappling techniques — it is a complete combat system
✓English quarterstaff fighting was both a martial art and a popular sport — organised matches drew large crowds through the 18th century
✓Modern HEMA practitioners reconstruct quarterstaff techniques from Silver, Swetnam, and other English masters' treatises
Common Mistakes
!Gripping the staff in the centre with both hands — the quarterstaff grip uses one hand at the butt and one at the quarter for reach and leverage
!Not using the sliding grip technique — the ability to extend and retract by sliding the butt hand is the quarterstaff's unique advantage
!Treating the quarterstaff as identical to the Japanese bo — different grip, different techniques, different tactical principles
!Not using thrusts — the quarterstaff thrust is devastating; Silver considered it the primary attack
!Ignoring the butt end — both ends of the quarterstaff are used offensively, including the heavy butt
!Standing too close — the quarterstaff's 6-8 foot length demands long range; closing negates its advantage
!Not training against other weapons — quarterstaff technique was specifically designed to defeat swords and other shorter weapons
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Grip and Stance — hold the weapon in the correct grip with a balanced stance
2Chamber — draw the weapon back to generate striking power
3Strike — deliver the blow along the correct angle of attack
4Recovery — return to guard position and prepare for the next action
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Art of Combat (Joachim Meyer, 1570)
1BookThe Art of the Japanese Sword (Sato, 1983)
Alias sources — [1] MMA Instruction Manual (UFC, 2008) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (UFC, 2008) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (UFC, 2008)
2BookFilipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Silver, G., Paradoxes of Defence (1599) [2] Anglo, S., The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (Yale University Press, 2000)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Art of the Japanese Sword (Sato, 1983)
Alias sources — [1] MMA Instruction Manual (UFC, 2008) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (UFC, 2008) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (UFC, 2008)
5CitationFilipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Silver, G., Paradoxes of Defence (1599) [2] Anglo, S., The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (Yale University Press, 2000)
Community
Athletics
Requires
wrist snap speed, sliding grip coordination, hip rotation
Favours
long reach and strong wrists for staff manipulation
Key muscles
forearms, wrist rotators, core rotators, shoulders
Sub-techniques
Notes
The quarterstaff appears in 47 passages across 17 books. The simplest and most universally available weapon in history — a wooden pole 6-8 feet long. Documented in English martial arts manuals from the medieval period through the Renaissance. Silver's Paradoxes of Defence (1599) ranks the staff as the supreme weapon. (17 books; HEMA texts)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Quarterstaff — HEMA work?
European quarterstaff fighting using a 6-8 foot hardwood staff, documented in English and German fight manuals from the medieval period onward.
Where does the Quarterstaff — HEMA come from?
The quarterstaff has been documented as a weapon of both commoners and gentlemen in England since at least the medieval period, with references appearing in 14th-century legal and literary sources. George Silver's Paradoxes of Defence (1599) argued that the short staff was the most effective weapon of all, superior to the rapier then fashionable among the English gentry.
Is the Quarterstaff — HEMA legal in competition?
Traditional martial arts: legal — Practiced in traditional kata/forms and weapon-specific competition under var…; IWUF: legal — Legal in wushu taolu if applicable; HEMA: legal — Legal in applicable historical weapon categories
How dangerous is the Quarterstaff — HEMA?
Danger rating 7/10. Very High — staff/bo/jo weapons generate significant blunt force; fracture risk
How do I set up the Quarterstaff — HEMA?
The standard setup chain: Grip and Stance → Chamber → Strike → Recovery.
How do I defend against the Quarterstaff — HEMA?
Standard counters include: Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance / Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range / Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements.
What are the variants of the Quarterstaff — HEMA?
Common variants: Overhead strike (bringing the staff down from above in a vertical arc); Lateral strike (horizontal sweep targeting the ribs or head); Thrust (straight thrust with the end of the staff); Butt-end strike (striking with the rear end of the staff at close range).
How effective is the Quarterstaff — HEMA in competition?
Quarterstaff fighting is competed at HEMA tournaments, with English and German staff-fighting traditions reconstructed from historical sources.
What are common mistakes when doing the Quarterstaff — HEMA?
Top errors to watch for: Gripping the staff in the centre with both hands — the quarterstaff grip uses one hand at the butt and one at the qua… / Not using the sliding grip technique — the ability to extend and retract by sliding the butt hand is the quarterstaff… / Treating the quarterstaff as identical to the Japanese bo — different grip, different techniques, different tactical … / Not using thrusts — the quarterstaff thrust is devastating; Silver considered it the primary attack.
What are other names for the Quarterstaff — HEMA?
The Quarterstaff — HEMA is also known as Kwōtā Sutaffu, English Quarterstaff, European Staff, Short Staff — HEMA.