"Hold it diagonally..." Diarmuid mutters the words to himself as he gets the bow into the requested position. Once it is there, he nods to let Donatello know he's ready. Almost as soon as his friend launches his attack, Diarmuid has an idea where it is going and steps back to avoid letting the blade get too close. While he can see why it would be tempting to swing the staff around in an overhead swing, almost as soon as Donatello mentions it, the boy knows it's the wrong answer. He's been training with two weapons long enough to realize how much moving the staff from where it is leaves the wielder open to attack from their opponent's other weapon.

"That's right! An overhead swing is what your opponent would want you to do because it leaves you open to an attack from their other weapon. Just like your brother did! It would be better to get more distance again or to use the staff in a way that would keep it close to you!" Instead of doing an overhead swing, Diarmuid tilts out the end of the staff at Donatello's legs while keeping the top near his body for protection. "Like that! Is it anything like what you learned for a counter?"