bassaiguy

My first exposure to weapons training was in a Moo Duk Kwan school in the late 80s. Our long staff training consisted of one very basic form and some partner drills. I remember that we always maintained a two handed grip on the staff with both palms facing the same direction (palm to floor). I've spent the past several years in Japanese MA and our bo (staff) training emphasizes holding the weapon with opposed grips (one palm up, one down). My question for the Korean-style practitioners on the board is this: How do you hold your bo? Why? And, was the method I was originally taught common to the Korean arts?

I'm currently working on the Shotokan form Bassai Sho (relearning it really after have been introduced to it a long time ago and then putting it on the shelf for a number of years). I'm wondering what other styles practice this form? Since it is an Itosu kata there must be some Shorin ryu lineages that have it, I think? I think I remember seeing a Moo Duk Kwan version of it, too, but that was more than 20 years ago. All links, thoughts, and opinions on Bassai Sho are appreciated.

This thread made me take a good look through my personal library. There are definitely some books mentioned here that are going on my wish list. I'll add a few more for the bibliophiles: Martial Musing by Robert Smith. Sadly, Mr. Smith passed not too long ago, but his martial arts autobiography is fascinating. Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na by Yang, Jwing-Ming. For me it unlocked a lot of karate kata bunkai. Legacies of the Sword by Karl Friday. If anyone wants to read a real academic history of a traditional ryu this is it. The Martial Spirit and A Path to Liberation by Herman Kauz. These are interesting short books by a Western martial arts pioneer. They only seem basic because their style has been copied so many times. I'm surprised that Dave Lowry's many books haven't been mentioned more prominently. For the fellow looking for MA fiction - I recommend John Donohue's Connor Burker series. Finally, someone mentioned The Bodhidsatva Warriors by Shifu Nagaboshi Tomio. Maybe it's entertaining, I don't know, but it sure isn't true and the author has made a lot of money from gullible people buying his pipe-dreams.

I have t-shirts printed up for the club I instruct at my local high school. Like other sports team shirts they are printed in the school colors. They have the school logo (a ram) on the front breast and our club logo in a big graphic on the back. For my private class, however, I haven't done shirts. If I could figure out how to post images, I'd put a pic of our t-shirt here.[/img]

My Shotokan lineage is on my site at seisui.weebly.com. Basically, Funakoshi-Okazaki-Al Gardner-Jerry Joles and his affiliated students-me. However, I also hold rank in Moo Duk Kwan and my MDK teacher also studied Chinese Martial Arts. I've trained in Judo, as well. So, like many people I suspect my direct lineage ignores many of my budo influences.