Padded Staff for Sparring?

[arnisador]

Can anyone recommend a good padded staff for sparring? All the ones I know of are either sword style, with a handle at one end, or Darth Maul style, with handholds in the middle that limit how you may hold the staff. Is there a safe sparring staff that would allow me to hold it as I wish and switch grips on the fly?

[blindside]

How much contact is this for?

I've had good success building padded staves using a thin bamboo core and pipe foam insulation (and the obligatory duct tape). So far I've used cpvc and copper tubing as cores, cpvc is too whippy and copper tubing bends when you hit someone too hard. :)

The next step up is just bamboo wrapped in tape, hard enough to sting, but without the mass to make it really dangerous.

Lamont

[arnisador]

I would like to get a pair to use with my son, who is a beginner, so I am definitely looking for something safe. While we would not be going all-out, there would likely be nontrivial contact.

[Brian R. VanCise]

I might try talking to the owner's of Smak-Stiks and Action-Flex and
tell them what you want and what you would be willing to pay for it.
Maybe they could help you out. I have also used pvc plus foam
padding duct taped and then wrapped with cloth tape and at 5 feet
they have lasted perfectly. However once you go over 5 feet they
tend to break regularly. My advice would be to buy some WEKAF
gear and just use some thin 5 or 6 foot sticks. Also use hard shelled
plastic elbow, knee, forearm and shin guards for protection plus cup. Provided of course that your son is old enough (16 plus) to work with real rattan when sparring. Just a couple of ideas.

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com (http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com)

[WT_ATL]

We've developed a 36 inch fully padded riot baton for our Law Enforcement clients. We have been considering developing a padded staff, but we haven't seen much of a demand for it.

Our most recent endeavor is a 40 inch padded sword. We’ve sent a few of these out for testing. So far the feedback has been very positive. I will definitely let you know if we decide to develop a padded staff.

--Winston

[Ron B]

this is what I have made for a 6 foot padded staff.they are thick and bulky but they work.I got 1 inch pvc pipe that is not flexible.than I got 1 inch insulation.I taped the ends of the pvc pipe and then padded the ends.I then put the insulation over the pvc pipe.after that I wrapped the insulation with hockey tape.they work perfectly but they are bulky.I tried using thinner pipe but because it was flexible pipe and too long it did not work I was forced to use the thicker pipe.i have made smaller sticks for sparring using 1/2 inch pvc pipe which is flexible.covered them with foam insulation and wrapped them up with hockey tape.they work really well.the insulation wears out after awhile and the tape wears out at the ends as well and the sticks have to be remade.no big deal as insulation and hockey tape is not expensive.

[arnisador]

I will definitely let you know if we decide to develop a padded staff.

I would be interested to hear about such a product! I'm not handy enough with tools to use a screwdriver, so making my own out of PVC would be a last resort. I'd probably take out one of my eyes in the process. :D