BLACK EAGLE STAFF BASICS 

Middle grip right palm down left palm up

Power Generation

   Stepping

   Sinking

   Pivoting about centre line (twisting)

1.  Rear heel flat foot pointed to side lead hip pivots toward centre line

2.  Rear heel raised foot pointed straight ahead lead hip pivots away from centre line

Linear stepping is preceded by turning lead toe outwards (heel remains in place) as the (previously) rear foot sets down in front the heel of the previously front foot pivots forward about the toes until the foot is pointed to the side in position 1 above. The weight is sunk by bending the knees as the step is completed.

Arcs (all forehands)

Parallel to the ground at any height (usually a series of three)

      Down down down

      Down down up

      Down up  up

      Down up down (pole remains in the same plane)

      Reverse each of the above

High low left right.

 Lead is reversed compared to arcs. Step (as above) pull pole to the rear on sameside as the (new) rear foot. Tip of pole points ahead directly at target. As the (new) lead leg is about to set down thrust  the lead tip forward with both hands.

After a thrust the lead tip may rake back and the rear tip may  smash in an arc as the step is taken and the pole chambered to prepare for the next thrust.

Similarly any arching smash above may be followed by a thrust.

All of the above stroking patterns are combined in random order with the linear foot work and body mechanics described above. This is a core solo drill.

At any point in the previous drill one can turn to face an opponent attacking from either side (or indead any direction) by stepping directly into them with the nearest foot (accompamied by a thrust or smash) or by pivoting away from them and pulling the nearest foot directly to the rear.

The pole may be anchored under one shoulder and any point in a full 360 degree circle struck by pivoting about the center line and exchanging the pole smoothly from one arm to the other using the momentum generated.

At close range clapslide. (slide both hands out) to give a wider middle section to the pole. Holding the pole horizontally many angles (about the vertical plane) will be blocked by moving the pole up or down parallel to the ground.

Holding the pole vertically (left tip up) move pole from side to side. Pivot slightly around your center line. Do not over extend beyond your defensive perimeters. This permits a rapid transition against left and right horizontal blows.

As a drill the feeder gives any angle in rapid succession which is met by rapid transition from one of these for blocking positions to the other.by the defender.Adapt suitable everyday objects. Ideally the defender breaks this attacking flow by rolling their pole around the opponents (at the point of contact), maintaining a perpendicular position at all times to reach an outside line. This must be executed with great speed. The opponents weapon and arms are pinned against their body as they are pushed away and off balanced. Follow with multiple strikes. At slightly longer range the following defensive pattern is used.

1.  Opponent steps in with right foot and strikes forhand high with right tip of pole.

Defender steps back with left foot and meets strike on the opponents right hand with right high forehand.also (the opposing poles should be near perpendicular when they meet). This pattern is adapted similarly to meet high left swing with high left swing, low right swing with low right (this time both tips point toward the ground) or low left  meets low left.

2.  Should the hand be missed slide immeadiatly along the opponents pole to smash their hand.

3.  Extend this directly into a thrust to a suitable target with the lead tip.

4.  Follow this by a swing (usually vertically up or vertically down) with the rear tip to any suitable target.

Add to either 3 or 4 above a disarm using either tip to any of the four gates on either of the opponents hands.

There are 4 gates by which the tip of your pole may enter between the opponets hand and their weapon. These are;from above the weapon and outside the hand, from above the weapon and inside the hand, from below and outside and, from below and inside.

From any of these positions with eiter tip of your pole and either of the opponents hands a disarm is effected by rolling the end of your pole in a clockwise  or conterclockwise circle. This may be anywhere from the opponents wrist to their elbow. It may be more or less tight. You may pull, sink, step or pivot about your centerline. These core principals are explored in the context of the 1 to 12 drill to teach the student how to discover their own numerous applications.