the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

Although rattan and bamboo can look similar, they are very different. Bamboo is hollow and difficult to bend (thus susceptible to shattering from pole shaking), but rattan is solid, durable and can be flexed. Rattan should hold up well for pole shaking.

Yes, rattan can be used, but don't get the skinned type, too soft! And if you train with longer poles, there is only waxwood, quite a different quality, as it give much stronger feedback than rattan!

Interesting.. Would you say that a short rattan pole of around two metres in length would give me enough weight and feedback compared to waxwood?

It seems like the rattan pole on Kungfu Direct is skinned, though? Does that matter at this short length?

Of course, the waxwood is sturdier, heavier, gives a better work-out and feedback, and basically you can't ruin them (if healthy & worm-free), friends back in EU even bought waxwoods to make bokken, lol!

Here in Taiwan we put them into Tong oil (we get plastic pipes, seal them both ends and put in 3, 4 waxwoods, fill with oil and let them soak for 6 months) to make them even heavier.

Surely, both rattan and waxwood in 2m length are affordable, so I would get both, and as you plan to teach, you always will have to start beginners with lighter staffs. I have many poles, short, middle and very long, can't have enough, lol!

Dale here.

I have Kung Fu Direct and their long pole is decent for pole shaking but its a tad on the thinner side of what you are looking for.

Bruce Bao at Everything Wu Shu in China is a great contact for weapons. http://www.everythingwushu.com/h-col-113.html

I have more hardwood long poles. Southern Nut I am....

Thanks for your input, guys. I will measure my Master's staff that I've been using and possibly weigh it if I can find a way and make a decision.