Polearms
The staff, spear, and poleaxe of medieval warriors
Polearms—from the humble quarterstaff to the devastating poleaxe—were the weapons of infantry, guards, and knights in armored combat. Their reach and leverage made them formidable on the battlefield, and their techniques form a crucial part of any complete martial education.
Weapon Types
Long weapons of war and training
Quarterstaff
A wooden staff typically 6-9 feet in length. The quarterstaff is the foundation of all polearm training, teaching leverage, distance, and the use of both ends of the weapon.
- Both ends can strike and defend
- Exceptional reach advantage
- Foundation for all polearm arts
Spear
The spear extends the staff concept with a pointed head. One of humanity's oldest weapons, the spear teaches precision thrusting and defensive techniques.
- Focused on the thrust
- Maximum reach of any weapon
- Effective against mounted opponents
Poleaxe
The knight's weapon for armored combat. Combining an axe head, hammer face, and spike, the poleaxe was designed to defeat plate armor.
- Multiple striking surfaces
- Designed for armored combat
- Integrates with wrestling
Nature of the Art
Reach, leverage, and flowing technique
Polearm combat emphasizes reach and leverage. The extended weapon allows control of distance while the two-handed grip provides power for strikes and the ability to use both ends offensively and defensively.
Reach
Polearms control distance, keeping opponents at bay while delivering powerful attacks from safety.
Two Ends
The staff teaches using both ends—a flowing style where one end defends as the other attacks.
Close Combat
When distance closes, polearm techniques transition seamlessly into wrestling and disarms.
The quarterstaff serves as our primary training tool. Its techniques translate directly to spear, poleaxe, and other long weapons. Mastery of the staff provides the foundation for all polearm combat.
History
From common tool to knightly weapon
Pole weapons have been used since prehistory. The spear was humanity's first weapon, and the staff—as a walking stick, tool, and weapon—has accompanied humans throughout history. Medieval and Renaissance masters recognized the staff as fundamental to martial training.
Fiore dei Liberi included extensive polearm material in his treatise, showing the connection between staff, spear, and the techniques of armored combat. The poleaxe, in particular, was the preferred weapon for judicial duels between armored knights.
At Academie Duello, we begin polearm training with the quarterstaff, using techniques from both Italian and English traditions. Advanced students explore spear and poleaxe, including armored combat applications.
Our Primary Sources
Fiore dei Liberi
Fior di Battaglia (1409)
Comprehensive sections on spear, pollaxe, and their integration with other weapons.
English Staff Traditions
Silver, Swetnam, and others
English masters documented the quarterstaff as a primary weapon of self-defense.
Train in Polearms
Polearm training is part of our Mastery program. Start with a free trial class to explore our martial arts.