(01-09-2015, 08:53 AM)Knight Kat Wrote: However, most of the demo videos I find when it comes to pole-arms are the Wushu demonstrations (which doesn't give me an idea of how to use any of all that dancing and twirling in actual combat), or amateurs with sticks trying to jab at each other.Wushu is a collection of different Chinese Martial Arts, and most of them have a point of being acrobatic, aesthetic styles.
[youtube]F9sRJmHQX4E[/youtube]
Almost /all/ of the moves in this form have a purpose in combat, despite looking dancy.
Easiest way to analyse it for use in combat, is to look at where the strikes are going, you have strikes to the head, to the gut, overhead swings to use concusive force rather than stabbing, sweeps to take out the oponents feet, blocks, etc. When she spins it in a small circle and is moving around, that is usually attemping to wrap an opponents weapon, though it can also be used for misdirection. you'll notice as well during a lot of strikes the spear spins a little, that is to get the spear around the opponents weapon.
Aduu Avagnar, The Wanderer: Wiki