BO Staff

Does anyone have a tips for the staff. I have not started it. My instructor has not started it with me yet, but I know that is the weapon I want to work with. I am going to by one just to start getting familar with it..

From what I'm told a lot of bo practitioners have two or three bos. One really heavy one (some people even use thick metal rods) for using slowly in katas, one that gets a beating when practicing against other weapons (sometimes one for edged, which will splinter it, and one for blunt), and then maybe a really nice pristine one for use in competitions.

 

Only other advice I can think to give you is not to use PVC pipe or something like that to practice with. You need the weight in your hands. Straight ones are heavier than tapered ones of course.

On the contrary, a lighter one is used for kata.

 

In my style it is generally accepted that you should use a tapered staff for balance/nuki-bo.

 

Elephant with stiletto.

Black I:

 

First of all, if you are gonna get a bo, try to get one to size. In order to measure one for size, just stand up and hold one arm straight up above your head. I usally use my dominant arm/hand. Bend your hand at the wrist, and that should be your mark for sizing a bo. Most ready made bo's come in 4',5', and 6' lengths. Try to get one closest to your measurement if you choose to go this route.

 

To familiarize yourself with the bo, hold it with both hands equally spaced at the center. Try rotating it from one side to the other. Make sure that when you hold it, one of your hands should be fimgers up and the other fingers down. After a few rotations, switch the positions of the hand, and rotate again.

 

Another excercise would be to hold the bo in a "port arms" manner, or diagonally across your body, hands equally spaced, the upper hand fingers facing you and the lower fingers facing away. Step out with the leg that matches the upper hand and bring the of the bo in an out and downward striking fashion. The idea is that when you step out, you raise the entire bo over your head and shouldrs striking downward. Set you striking focus point to your head level. Do this several times and then switch sides.

 

Hope this helps you get started with understanding some of the basics of bo work.

We start off with a long staff (6' for me) to learn the basic spinning techniques. Then, we move to a middle staff for forms and sparring.

 

Don't get anything too heavy to start. You need to work on technique first. Besides, if it gets too easy, just spin faster and more reps.

 

You can find them in most MA magazines. If you want to invest in a long lasting staff, go for bamboo, it's damn strong. I wouldn't use metal or PVC, they're too slippery for your grip.

I can't believe I wrote that. You don't want bamboo, you want rattan.

 

Bamboo is hollow, much like my head when I suggested bamboo.