Staff & Cane
Medium Staff and cane Fighting in Armed Combat & Tactics
The medium staff (typically between 120 and 140 cm in length), often referred to as ‘Jo staff’, is one of the oldest and most accessible tools in human history. Whether used as a shepherd’s staff, a walking cane, or a dedicated weapon, it has appeared in nearly every culture as a practical means of defense and control.
In ACT, we train with the staff as a striking and thrusting weapon capable of both long-range engagement and close-quarters pressure. Its simplicity is part of its strength: a straight stick with no edges, no moving parts, and no deception about what it is. But in the hands of a trained practitioner, it can deliver overwhelming force, target vulnerable anatomy, and create space against multiple threats.
Training includes both two-handed and single-handed use. The staff can generate heavy rotational power for wide swings, or concentrated impact through direct thrusts. Its main targets include the head, joints, and structural weak points, as well as high-value zones such as the solar plexus, throat, or groin.
As with all ACT weapons, the staff is pressure-tested through full-contact sparring and structured combat scenarios. Students learn to manage range, line, and timing while transitioning between attack and defense. The length of the staff provides tactical options, both in keeping an opponent at bay and in collapsing distance when needed.
The cane, while shorter and often curved, is trained with the same methodology. It may be carried in everyday settings and used in a similar fashion when required. Whether wooden or synthetic, straight or slightly curved, the principles remain constant: precision, structure, and control through force.
Staff and cane training in ACT is not about tradition. It is about finding what works and refining it through contact.