Contact Staff
PropA straight staff (120-150cm) manipulated by rolling, balancing, and sliding it across the body — arms, neck, shoulders, back, legs — without gripping it. The emphasis is on continuous contact rather than hand-held spinning.
History
Derived from the Chinese Fei Cha, with influence from bo staff and baton twirling. Contact staff became popular in the flow arts community in the 1990s. Michael Caden Pike (MCP) is widely credited with developing much of the modern contact staff vocabulary.
Getting started
You need a perfectly straight, well-balanced staff
Start with arm rolls — let the staff roll from hand to elbow and back
The neck roll (shoulder to shoulder across the back of the neck) is the first milestone move
Wear fitted clothing — loose fabric catches and stops the roll
Silicone grip on the staff helps with body contact
Key moves
Arm roll — staff rolls from hand to shoulder
Neck roll — across the back of the neck from arm to arm
Fishtail — balancing and tipping the staff on the palm
Pinch — gripping the staff lightly between two body parts
Full body roll — continuous roll across arms, neck, and back
DIY — Make your own contact staff
Practice contact staff (15 min, ~12 EUR)
Materials: aluminium tube (130-150cm, 25mm diameter), silicone tape or grip tape, rubber end caps, weight (bolts or lead shot)
Cut tube to desired length (shoulder height is standard)
Add weight to both ends equally — the staff must balance at the exact center
Wrap the ends (15cm each side) with silicone tape for grip on skin
Leave the center bare or add a thin grip zone for handle catches
Add rubber end caps to protect floors and the staff
The balance point is critical. Test by placing on one finger — it should sit perfectly level at the midpoint.
Where to buy
Gora — Practice Contact Staff — Hungary, manufacturer
Gora — Spiked Contact Staff — Hungary
JAC Juggling — Contact Fire Staffs — UK manufacturer
Filzi — GERYON Contact Fire Staff — Austria