Slightly off topic but does anyone know the history of it? I would guess it came from some kind of rice flail (like nunchucks).
One of the stories is the 3 sectional staff came about in Ancient China, by a man (whose name I'm not even going to try and type or speak) who happened to be a caravan guard. Well as it turns out, his caravan was attacked, and as he leaped to defend his charge, he basically smashed his stick over a bandits noggin. So he took it to a blacksmith to get the broken sections mended. So begins the story of the two sectional staff. Well later on as the story goes, the same thing happened, but due to the weakened condition of the weapon, he apparently busted it over somebody else's head. Same thing.. took it to get it fixed, and *gasp* ... the worlds first 3 sectional skull cracker. Personally I'd rather use this weapon to crack skulls than thresh rice with it.
From what I understand, the Three Section Staff was primarily used by bodyguards in Ye Olde China. Though it is hard to control, it's not as hard as you probably think. I've used the three section staff in a weapon sparring at a karate tournament and taken gold with it. The different grips on the staff allow you to control the distance very well, and easily control the range of the fight. For example, when fighting an opponent with a sword, I held the end and the middle section and used the staff like a flail to keep my opponent away. When fighting an opponent with a staff, I held the two end sections like escrima batons, and closed in to where he had a hard time wielding the staff. It's an extremely versatile weapon, as well as being very cool looking and flashy .
Good question. Can't find a definate answer.....looks old though. The 3 sectional staff or the Sansetsukon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_sectional_staff It is composed of three sticks, each 70 cm long, joined by rope or chain. The sansetsukon is considered the "elder brother" of the nunchaku. According to legend, the inventor of this weapon was General Jin Hong Yan, the first emperor of Song dynasty (960-1279). A smaller Sansetsukon, created to be easily transported and hidden also was developed in China . http://users.volja.net/dgruden/
Google? And something I found in 4 seconds of searching.. A HISTORY! AND SOME TECHNIQUES! ZING!!! HISTORY Before Chao Hong-Yin became the first Emperor of the Sung Dynasty (960 A.D.) he was a Shaolin trained Martial Artist known throughout Northern China for his expertise as a bodyguard and escort. Once while guarding a lady of the Royal family and her entourage on a journey to Beijing they were attacked by five bandits. Chao quickly turned and struck the first attacker in the head with his "gwun" (staff). Such was the force of the blow that it broke Chao's favorite weapon into two pieces - one long and one short. The bandits were awestruck by Chao's skill and power and fled into the forest. Naturally, Chao was displeased with the condition of his precious staff but in the next town he had the local Blacksmith reconnect the two pieces with iron rings and created the first "Dai-Si-Jo" or "Two-Section Big Stick". Unfortunately, the long section of the staff had been weakened during the attack and it soon broke in twain. Once again Chao had the broken sections rejoined and consequently created the world's first "Sam-Jit-Gwun" or "Three-Section Staff". Chao realized the devastating potential of his new weapon -- it was small and easily carried and conceiled, it could be used for poking or striking like a broadsword, it could be used as a whip and it was very useful for joint-locking techniques. Chao's fame with this weapon spread and soon other escorts and bodyguards were using the "Three-Section Staff" also. It soon became the signture weapon of escorts who would carry a banner with a picture of the weapon as a warning to potential thieves that the person or persons being guarded were well-protected by a highly-trained Martial Artist. TECHNIQUES There are 10 primary techniques that characterize the "Three-Section Staff". Wu-Lung-Bai-Mei - "Black Dragon Swings His Tail" is a powerful technique in which one end of the Staff is held and the other sections are swung furiously from front to back or from back to front and slammed against the ground. Bat-Wong-Tit-Jang - "Iron Elbow" is a technique in which the two end sections are held and the iron-ringed joints are used to strike the opponent. Dak-Seh-Gun-Mei - "Poison Snake Coils His Tail" is a powerful technique in which one end of the Staff is held in one hand and the middle section in the other hand then the free end is spun in front of the body. Wu-Dip-Seung-Fei - "Double Flying Butterfly" is a vertical figure-eight flower in front of the body. Suet-Fa-Koi-Ding - "Snowflakes Covering the Top" is a circular strike in which one end is held and the Staff is swung over the head. Moi-Fa-Hoi-Fong - "Plum Blossom Open Blocking" is an "over the head" flower similar to Tau-Ding Fa in which the staff is held in the middle section and spun over the chest and back while alternating leaning back and then forward.. Jor-Yao-Lao-Sing - "Left and Right Falling Star" is a powerful technique similar to the Long Staff technique Wang-Sow-Gwun. The "Three-Section Staff is held with both hands by the middle section then by turning the waist the weapon is whipped from side to side destroying anything in its path. Poon-Lung-Gwun - "Coiling Dragon" is a technique in which the Staff is swung and allowed to coil around the body. Lung-Fu-Wui - "Dragon-Tiger Grab" is a versatile technique in which the two end sections are held one in each hand. While one is used for blocking the other is used for striking. The middle section may also be used to block or strike in harmony with the two end sections. Lo-Shu-Poon-Gwun - "Coiling Around the Tree Roots" is a low sweeping attack used to take an opponent off of his feet. The "Three-Section Staff" is perilous weapon which requires years of training to master. It is said that the "Staff" is difficult to master but the "Three-Section Staff" is three times more difficult.
I'm not Chinese, but I *do* have a lifetime of traditional martial arts behind me and a lifetime to continue... The three-section staff is one of the more difficult weapons, but it is hardly impractical. What is impractical are razor-sharp throwing stars made to appear pretty or fancy. Only thing that should be razor sharp on a shuriken is a needle point. As a weapon, the staff can whip out at three different lengths with the power and speed of a brutally large nunchuck, and unlike a bo-staff, immediately assume a close quarter position, holding the two end staves in either hand and have a cross bar inbetween. This makes it very difficult to avoiding a block to your attack while having a free bar coming straight at you. The flexible nature of the staff also makes for wickedly good trap and disarm techniques. You can catch other weapons in the chain links, like a sword, and use the other free swing end to do some damage. The long and flexible part of the staff also makes it very nice for getting around blocks, corners, shields, etc. and still hit with full impact. The sheer difficulty of a vast majority of martial arts weapons becomes only impractical in the hands of a dilietante, false-student, or people who just want to look cool while fighting. Don't worry, you'll look cool, but you won't last very long in a fair, and real fight. You have to train yourself regardless of a weapon, and find that you can count on yourself more than any object you find. A well trained, experienced, and well-adjusted person won't jam or mal-function. When that happens, you'll need something harder to increase your next level. That's what the harder weapons are for, increasing your skill and challenge when time comes. And besides, your choice of weapon is a sign of your personality-at least as a martial artist. Besides, for a real martial artist, fighting is easy. It's being the artist of grace, speed, honor, power, spirit, etc. and always pushing to get to the next level and the one infinately after that is hard. Good times, -Savage Insight
