No real martial arts or melee weapons except very basic collapsible baton and self defense... Started with sabers when I got my collection.
Though I did play around with a hiking staff about twenty-five, thirty years ago. Far too much for my mom's peace of mind, since I tended to do it indoors... but not really a lot. Since I was doing it cold, no google, no you-tube, no friends with martial arts experience, etc., the most complicated I got was a fairly slow figure eight and a clumsy behind-the-back pass...
Guess enough of that stuck enough to be picked back up very quickly. As I said, Masters Venturous' and Cephalus' tutorials were invaluable for technique pointers as well as just basic "what you can do" info.
Though I will say that given part of my job is very boring and static and I often had a broom available, practice time was easy to come by.
For me it was a garden rake handle. I at least had Youtube, but that was heavily supplemented with just going out and figuring things out. I've found it is not only good to just get out and get moving, but it can also be a way to relax in a way.