Staff Fighting Class - Jogo do Pau Basics

[Frederico Martins]

Hi!

Here are some videos from a basic jogo do pau lesson, the execution is not great, since they are all starting, but I think it shows allot of techniques in a clear way, so it might be interesting to you (specially the ones in the Lusitan fencing program)

I did a quick translated resume of the contents since it is still a large video and has titles in Portuguese.

Jogo do pau formação de professores - Parte 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN6nHRYfqE

0:17 Ritual Saudação || Saluting Ritual
0:59 Posição / Guarda de Espera || Waiting Guard
1:13 Posição / Guarda de Espera / Esquerda || Waiting Guard / Left
1:20 Posição / Guarda de Espera / Direita || Waiting Guard / Right
1:39 Deslocamentos / Crescer || Steping Action / 2 Half Steps Forward
1:47 Deslocamentos / Recuar || Steping Action / 2 Half Steps back
2:14 Deslocamentos / entrar || Steping Action / Step Forward
2:19 Deslocamentos / Sair || Steping Action / Step Back
2:47 Tirar a distância || Measure Distance
3:04 Pancada / Estocada ou Pontuada || Thrust
4:36 Pancada Enviesada / Direita Alta / dirigida ao ombro esquerdo || Oblique Descending Strike / High on the Dominant Side / To the shoulder
6:12 Pancada Enviesada / Direita Baixa / dirigida ao tornozelo esquerdo || Oblique Descending Strike / Low on the Dominant Side / To the ankle
8:06 Sequência Pancada Enviesada / direita alta / Direita Baixa || Sequence of Oblique Descending Strike / High on the dominant Side / Low on the dominant Side

I tryed to use the names Luis Preto is using in the program, some stuff im not used in English might not be the most correct.

there are more 2 videos, I will be posting them later if you are interested. Hope you like it!

[Roger N]

Great video! I was especially interesting to see the footwork, where you take one extra step, compared to what we normally do with the longsword. We prefer to strike from the right, when our right foot leads and vice versa. I knew that JdP doesn't do this, but looking at your videos, I realize that at least in this excercise, you keep a slightly larger distance and therefore make two, what we call "passing steps".

Thanks for providing all this great material.

Oh, and I think I prefer the Portuguese terms, rather than the english. We normally use the German or Italian terms for our regular fencing...

[Frederico Martins]

Hi Roger, the 2 halfsteps and full steps are indeed to keep safe distance and a more comfortable pose for beginners.

if you continue practicing you will get to the more advanced combat footwork, that deals with shorter stepping and much more advanced weight transfer. That will left you at a more dangerous distance(for the body and hands), and will be harder to execute, requires much more dynamic practice but enables counter attacks much faster than the basic steps. Im sure Luis will provide you guys with great and natural exercises to acquire that skill.

We prefer to strike from the right, when our right foot leads and vice versa.

I don't know if I understand 100% what you are saying. In jdp you will have to be able to block and attack with any foot moving forward or backward, even if that leads to a less comfortable position, the extra speed you get is the difference between getting hit or not, or hitting or not. You will understand how that works later, with weight transfer.

you can see attacking here with any foot for the same strike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDSsereOdg

It would be great that if we get together and practice in the future, I could use the Portuguese names, and if you use them and get used to them in the class thats fantastic, but for posting in the forums I think it is easier to use it in english, so everyone understands, I know I don't understand when your guys use german or other language, but I see how much more practical it is for the people that know it.