Beginning Wǔ Láng Staff 七星螳螂拳五郎棍

I’m reviewing a style I learned 13-14 years ago. Back then, Shifu Randy Brown taught me this fundamental staff fighting form. It’s 五郎棍 WǔLáng Gùn from 七星螳螂拳 Sevenstar Praying Mantis boxing of Shandong Province. It uses a matched grip, sliding hands and a twisting waist for powerful strikes. I’ll introduce this in three parts: (1) how to begin, (2) the form itself, and then finally (3) the essential techniques. This is part 1. I’m going to teach you guys the stuff I did to get reacquainted with this style. To begin, you’ll need a staff. You’ll want a solid stave, the diameter should be substantial enough that when you curl your fingers around and grip it, your fingernails just about touch the first joint on your thumb. It should be eyebrow height, which should be nearly your armspan. Uniform diameter if possible. Smooth surface. As you see the sliding hands is essential for the bulk of the movements. You’ll need a strong core, good shoulder rotation, and solid legs. I walk you through some preparatory exerci