Canarian Stick Game: Guards and Footwork with Pool Noodles

A warm-up based on the Canarian stick game (juego del palo): footwork, guards and stance changes with a pool noodle as the stick. It warms up legs and trunk and introduces a combat tradition where the goal is to control the strike, not to hurt.

How to play

1. Quick intro: the juego del palo is a traditional practice from the Canary Islands where players attack and parry without seeking impact; today we use pool noodles (2 min).
2. Solo footwork: step forward, back and out on a diagonal, holding the noodle in front with both hands (2 min).
3. Mirror in pairs: one leads moves and guard changes (high, middle, low) and the other copies from two meters away; switch halfway (3 min).
4. Slow strike and parry: in slow motion, one fakes a shoulder-height strike and the other crosses their noodle to stop it; five each, then switch (3 min).

Rules

• Strikes are always slow and stop on the partner's noodle, never on the body.
• No strikes to the head or face.
• Keep one noodle plus one arm of distance from other pairs.
• The attacker signals with eye contact before each strike.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: pair works face to face and the game focuses on trunk and arm guards and parries.
• Hearing impairment: replace the explanation with a demo and use a visual signal (raised hand) to start and stop.
• Student uneasy with contact: starts with the teacher or a trusted partner and speeds up only when they ask.

Learning goals

• Warm up legs and trunk with varied footwork.
• Coordinate the parry with movement.
• Understand the spirit of the stick game: control and respect for the partner.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pool noodles: 30

Teacher tip

Cut long noodles in half: around 80 cm works well. The typical mistake is speeding up as soon as they get into it; stop the group and repeat in slow motion.

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