Of course the two guards in [Fig. 5] may be so used as to meet all requirements, but it is, to my thinking, far preferable to thoroughly master the four as represented in [Fig. 9]. So doing will give increased command over the staff, and will not in any way detract from speed or general efficiency.
Fig. 5
It will be observed that in the sketches of guard 1 and guard 2, Figs. [6] and [7], the staff is, in each case, too perpendicular for cut 7 to 0; they represent the positions of the combatants when using guards a´b´ and c´d´ in [Fig. 8].
I would therefore advise attention to the following diagram, which includes the guards, four in number, which are really sufficient for all hits which can be made with the quarter-staff.
The lines intersecting the circumference of the circle show the inclinations of the staff for guarding all the cuts which can be made.
We now turn to the question of position. In quarter-staff play it is usual for a right-handed man to stand with his left foot in advance of the right, as in boxing or bayonet exercise, and with his toe pointing straight in the direction of his adversary, as in [Fig. 2]. It is, however, often very advisable to advance the right foot suddenly to the front when bringing the butt of the staff to play on the left side of the enemy’s head or body. As regards “points” it is well to lunge out, as one does when making a left-handed lead-off in boxing, so as to gain somewhat in the reach.
| Fig. 6.—First guard. | Fig. 7.—Second guard. |