History Main / BroomstickQuarterstaff

* In KodomoNoJikan, a few unnamed students use them in class before being told to clean up.

* The fight between Setsuna and Asuna at the TournamentArc of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' featured Setsuna wielding a push-broom against Asuna's PaperFanOfDoom, due to bladed weapons being verboten. Earlier in the arc, a minor character wielded a traditional broom as a magic weapon; unfortunately, she was up against Kotaro. Also, Setsuna and Asuna were in [[{{Meido}} maid outfits]] for no adequately explored reason.
** Actually the point was that they weren't as interesting, so Chao ordered them made cute.

* ''Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}'': Matt Murdock and his sensei Stick would use anything at hand as staff or club, whole or broken.
* The weapon of choice for Maid Man in ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}''.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutron'' uses this in a fight between Jimmy's mother and a robot duplicate of her: after pulling out the broom, mop, and rake, and having each one snapped in half by the robot, she reveals that she keeps a [[{{BFG}} plasma rifle]] in her broom closet [[CrazyPrepared "for those tough, ground-in stains"]]. (Considering her son's experiments, a wise precaution...)

* In ''Manga/KodomoNoJikan'', a few unnamed students use them in class before being told to clean up.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* The [[NerfArm Cardboard Tube]] Samurai in ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' - except it's not an ImprovisedWeapon, it's his WeaponOfChoice.
* Nana, resident CoolOldLady of ''{{Webcomic/Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2012-09-09 scares off a couple of demonic bullies with her broom,]] then goes back to using it to tidy up the coffee shop.

** Ditto for students of {{UsefulNotes/Kendo}} and [[UsefulNotes/HistoricalEuropeanMartialArts HEMA]]; though your average broom handle lacks the weight of a sword, it's about the right length for practicing the basic stances. Particularly in HEMA, the longsword and the quarterstaff are actually wielded in a similar manner, so the same piece of wood can be used to practice both.

** Ditto for students of {{UsefulNotes/Kendo}} and [[UsefulNotes/HistoricalEuropeanMartialArts HEMA]]; though your average broom handle lacks the weight of a sword, it's about the right length for practicing the basic stances. Particularly in HEMA, the longsword and the quarterstaff are actually wielded in a similar manner.

* Ditto for students of {{UsefulNotes/Kendo}} and [[UsefulNotes/HistoricalEuropeanMartialArts HEMA]]; though your average broom handle lacks the weight of a sword, it's about the right length for practicing the basic stances. Particularly in HEMA, the longsword and the quarterstaff are actually wielded in a similar manner.

* The default weapon for some party members in ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' is a mop. It's the only weapon that can be equipped by all characters. Justified, because they're all school students who got caught up in the apocalypse and have to contend with whatever the school can provide.

* The default weapon for some party members in ''VideoGame/Persona'' is a mop. It's the only weapon that can be equipped by all characters. Justified, because they're all school students who got caught up in the apocalypse and have to contend with whatever the school can provide.

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/broomquarterstaff.png]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Spring Cleaning"]]

* In the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' [[TheMovie movie]], Spike infiltrates a chemical company [[JanitorImpersonationInfiltration disguised as a Janitor]] (in another homage to Bruce Lee) and has to defend himself with a push-broom when detected by ActionGirl Electra.

Note that the title need not be taken literally. Anything vaguely cylindrical and tall as the character wielded as an ImprovisedWeapon (for which this is a SubTrope) falls under this; broomsticks and mop handles are simply the most iconic. Witches and warlocks, being intimately familiar with the FlyingBroomstick, should not be, ahem, brushed off, either. Theoretically, this can be TruthInTelevision.

* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': In TheMovie, Utena uses a broom with the head removed as a sword against Saionji.

So our hero's weaponless and about to face a horde of {{mooks}}. He looks around for anything that he can use in a pinch. He grabs the only thing available — a mop from the supply closet — and goes to town, using it as one would a SimpleStaff (or a ''bo).''

Note that the title need not be taken literally. Anything vaguely cylindrical and tall as the character wielded as an ImprovisedWeapon falls under this; broomsticks (especially one used for {{flying|broomstick}}) and mop handles are simply the most iconic. Theoretically, this can be TruthInTelevision.

SubTrope of ImprovisedWeapon. Removing the head, or simply attacking with the handle whenever it's a better weapon than the other end of the object, is optional based on the SlidingScaleOfSeriousnessVersusSilliness.

* In ''[[Literature/MatthewHawkwood Rapscallion]]'', Hawkwood defends himself with a besom broom. Played far more seriously than most examples, as Hawkwood shoves the twig end of the broom in his foe's face; causing dozens of sharp twigs to snap off and embed themselves in his face. Ouch!

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', one of the melee weapons is a Wooden Mop, found either around the villages and stables or being wielded by Bokoblins. Strangely, when swung around it always makes a wet sloshing sound as if it had just been dipped in a bucket for a cleaning job, even the ones the Bokoblins use.
* One of the Mages' weapons in ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'' is a broom. They can even ''cast spells with it''.
* A NerfArm in ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternityIIDeadfire'' is a broom whose enchantments are allegedly only to make sweeping easier, but counts as a superb unique weapon and can cause dazing, possibly even confusion on a hit.
* One of the weapons in ''VideoGame/MrShifty''.

* Roy considers it an option in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0234.html This episode]] of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''.
* The [[NerfArm Cardboard Tube]] Samurai in ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' - except it's not an ImprovisedWeapon, it's his WeaponOfChoice.

* Nana, resident CoolOldLady of ''{{Webcomic/Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2012-09-09 scares off a couple of demonic bullies with her broom,]] then goes back to using it to tidy up the coffee shop.
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': When Agatha and Tarvek [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061020 get cornered]] by Vrin the sword-wielding Geisterdamen warrior-priestess, Tarvek tries without success to use a broom as a weapon; Agatha has better luck because commands issued in her voice trigger just enough of an involuntary reaction in Vrin to slow her down.

* Done in ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'', when the turtles are held captive on an alien prison asteroid. They find a broom closet and get replacements for ''all'' of their weapons from inside.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', Huey snaps the head of a broom off with a kick and uses the handle to subdue the theater security, but he doesn't fare as well against Uncle Ruckus's unforeseen [[FightingWithChucks nunchaku expertise]].
* SubvertedTrope in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' when Superman faces off with Parasite, who is able to [[PowerCopying copy powers by stealing them from their owners]]. He stole most of Superman's powers, as well as those of [[ShockAndAwe Livewire's]]. Superman bravely waves a mop in his face, and Parasite answers by using electricity to set it alight. Superman, unimpressed, raises the burning mop... [[OutGambitted next to a fire detector]], causing the sprinklers to activate, as being immersed in water [[WeaksauceWeakness causes Livewire's powers to act up]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "Stan Knows Best", the stripper in the FrenchMaidOutfit uses a broom with a retractable blade in the handle.

* The fight between Setsuna and Asuna at the TournamentArc of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' featured Setsuna wielding a push-broom against Asuna's PaperFanOfDoom, due to bladed weapons being verboten. Earlier in the arc, a minor character wielded a traditional broom as a magic weapon; unfortunately, she was up against Kotaro. Also, Setsuna and Asuna were in [[{{Meido}} maid outfits]] for no adequately explored reason.
** Actually the point was that they weren't as interesting, so Chao ordered them made cute.
* Jennifer in ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'' uses a broom in place of a fencing foil in the second season.

* In the movie, [[Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena Utena]] uses a broom with the head removed as a sword against Saionji.
* In ''Kodomo no Jikan'', a few unnamed students use them in class before being told to clean up.
* In ''Manga/MaidenRose'', a bunch of Luckenwalde students show up armed with brooms and buckets to haze Taki on his first day. By the time we see any action, it's Taki holding the broom and [[CurbStompBattle mopping the floor with his attackers]].

* [[Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} Matt Murdock]] and his sensei Stick would use anything at hand as staff or club, whole or broken.
* In ''Detective Comics'' #59, Franchise/{{Batman}} confronts the Penguin on board a riverboat. When the Penguin pulls [[SwordCane a sword from his umbrella]], Batman grabs a mop to defend himself. The Penguin cuts through the mop handle, and Batman slaps him in the face with the mop end.
* ''ComicBook/HexWives'': In 2005, Isadora killed the Head Architect by stabbing him with a broomstick.

* In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'', Neo rips a metal post out of the ground (which is almost a case of TelephonePolearm) to use against the army of Smith clones in the Burly Brawl. The first shot has him using the block of concrete at the end as a hammer, but once that breaks he uses it as a quarterstaff.

* Sarah Connor uses a mop handle during her asylum escape attempt in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', until she gets a nightstick to replace it.
* In ''Film/{{Machete}}'', Machete uses a mop to fight his way past Booth's goons following the faked assassination attempt on the senator.
* Film/{{UHF}}'s Stanley Spadowski is a simple man. All he wants to do is clean the floors, dig the prize out of the cereal box, and occasionally host an insanely popular kids variety show. But [[BerserkButton get between him and his mop]], and you are asking for problems.

* The miner is momentarily fought off with a mop in the ''Film/MyBloodyValentine3D''.
* A janitor is found with a mop handle impaled through his head in ''Film/AmericanPsycho2AllAmericanGirl''.

* ''Film/PromNight1980'': Wendy knocks the killer down with a broom (and lays on a couple of additional blows while he's done) when she escapes from the auto shop.

** In ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', [[OneManArmy Zack]] fights a bunch of armed soldiers on the beach...wearing only a bathing suit and armed with an umbrella. [[ImprobableWeaponUser He wins.]]

* ''VideoGame/DeadRising'', king of the ImprovisedWeapon trope in video games, includes a broom. After a few hits, the end breaks off and Frank uses it as a spear.
* Variant: In ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', a Mop is Crono's JokeWeapon, but he uses it like a katana.
* The obscure arcade and UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 fighting game ''Mace: the Dark Age'' had a HiddenCharacter named Ned the Janitor. He was a reskin of Xiao Long and used a pushbroom in place of Xiao's quarterstaff.
* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'', there is an achievement for killing someone using a broom. It is used the same way as a hammer. Brooms were first weaponisable back in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII''. Taken to absurd levels when you find out that it's possible to slit someone's throat using the broom, with the same sound effects of a regular bladed weapon.

* ''VideoGame/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' for the UsefulNotes/XBox. Stuck without a weapon? Look for a broom or a mop (or just kick a chair in half).
* The ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' series features a broom as Seong Mi-na's unlockable [[JokeItem joke weapon]].
* The first ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege'' starts with the hero having to do this with a pitchfork until he gets a real weapon from his enemies.
* Lisa from ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'' uses her father's broomstick as her weapon of choice. Partly justified in that she uses it as a staff, which mostly have magic-related specials. That doesn't stop her from cracking skulls with that thing.

* One of the weapon appearances for the [[SimpleStaff Staff Fighting]] powerset in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' is a broom, leading to people making characters with names "[[TheMafia Maid Man]]".
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'', push brooms are available as (very weak) weapons. There's also nondescript wooden poles and crutches available.

Note that the title need not be taken literally. Anything vaguely cylindrical and tall as the character wielded as an ImprovisedWeapon falls under this; broomsticks (especially one used for {{flying|broomstick}} and mop handles are simply the most iconic. Theoretically, this can be TruthInTelevision.

Note that the title need not be taken literally. Anything vaguely cylindrical and tall as the character wielded as an ImprovisedWeapon falls under this; broomsticks and mop handles are simply the most iconic. Theoretically, this can be TruthInTelevision.

* Lizzie's primary weapon in ''Webcomic/DeadWinter''.

* An eighty-two year old woman, Willie Murphy, used a broom as a weapon against an intruder, in November 2019, in Rochester, New York. Murphy, a regular weightlifter who can deadlift 225 pounds, started her defense with a table and a full bottle of shampoo before going at him with the broom.

So our hero's weaponless and about to face a horde of {{mooks}}. He looks around for anything that he can use in a pinch. He grabs the only thing available -- a mop from the supply closet--and goes to town, using it as one would a SimpleStaff (or a ''bo).''

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

[[folder:Film]]

* Often performed by Creator/JackieChan in his movies.

* In one of the ''[[Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar Tarma and Kethry]]'' short stories, Tarma defends herself against an armed drunk with a broomstick because she wanted to avoid doing permanent damage if possible. Unfortunately, the drunk ends up cracking his head against the fireplace and dying. Fortunately for them, the drunk in question was well known and highly unpopular. ''[[ButtMonkey Unfortunately]]'' for them he also ran the town and was the only one the thugs he used for 'law enforcement' would heed, so his not-so-bereaved widow paid Tarma and Kethry off to lead them out of town.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Vampires of Venice", Rory attempts to take on a swordsman armed only with a broom.
* Ryotaro in ''Series/KamenRiderDenO'' uses a nearby broom on a MonsterOfTheWeek when he's fighting for his life. The broom is quickly broken. Despite its short-lived appearance, the so-named "Rider Broom" remained in the fandom's memory throughout the year.

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder:Truth In Television]]

* During one of Wrestling/{{TNA}}'s [[GirlsNightOutEpisode all knockout shows]], Wrestling/{{Jacqueline}} pulled out a broom on ODB, leading to the crowd singing "[[Wrestling/{{Tazz}} Sweep her up Jackie, sweep her up!]]"

So our hero's weaponless and about to face a horde of {{mooks}}. He looks around for anything that he can use in a pinch. He grabs the only thing available--a mop from the supply closet--and goes to town, using it as one would a SimpleStaff.

* ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies'' and Thor. Once this alternate universe god started killing, he couldn't wield his hammer {{Mjolnir}}. He made do with a lump of cement on a metal pole.