Tournament Bo's

[RavenX]

Well, here is my situation. I have a really complicated bo form that I do in tournaments and I want people's opinions of whether I should get a lighter graphite bo, or a heavier one because of the momentum value...There are a lot of spins and thows in my form to let everyone know...so which one would be better? Light, or heavy?

[Sauzin]

Well it depends on a couple of things. I like how you stated right off that you're goal is to do well at a tournament. So we need to know a couple of things. What kind of tournament? What styles will attend and are the judges more traditional or less so? Also I think it would help to see a video of the kata you will perform. This will tell us whether it is focused it is on practical application or looking good.

 

Really though you might make these judgments for yourself. Do you care or do you think the judges will care more as to whether it looks fast and flashy or works. Do you think the judges would care if you strapped on a couple of pom-poms? If not then go for the toothpick bo. But if you think they might be looking for the "martial" in your art, then go for a real bo.

 

There is something else I would take into account and that’s the honor of wielding a real weapon. To me, even if I lost, it would be worth it as long as I paid respect to my art.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

As has already been stated, a lot depends on what sort of tournament you're going to be participating in. If it's a "flashier the better" tournament (ugh!), then go with the lightweight bo. If it's more of a traditional oriented tournament, from my experience as a weapons judge for the past 24 years or so...use a heavy bo. I'd mark you down before you did anything if you came before me with a light weight weapon.

[harleyt26]

In Atlanta,Ga. in 2001 at the Okinawa Rengokai World Championships the bos were supplied by Shureido and were all prewayed by the officials I do not remember what the appropriate weight was but I am sure if you get a Shureido bo you can not go wrong.I like mine.

[searcher]

Forget the graphite bo and find a canadian ash bo, they tend to be the best for open style forms. If you have someone you know who has some light bos that you can hold and see if you like the feel it would be better. For the type of competition you are competing in it is often the best to get as light of a bo as possible. You might try sportmartialarts.com . they have some Joey Greenlaugh bos that are vrey light.