Seated bo techniques

[SaiFightsMS]

There is a small, but growing, number of martial arts students who are full time wheelchair users. And they are interested in kobudo training. So - for those who practice bo techniques - how would you handle your weapon from a seated position?

 

What changes would you make to your technique?

 

 

[SBN Doug]

First, I'd modify the weapon to fit the situation. They should train with a middle length staff so they can spin on each side without hitting the ground.

 

I've had to practice my mid staff spinning from a kneeling upright position, which would be closer to the ground that sitting in a chair. Everyone in that situation should be able to perform all but possibly one or two of the 15 basic spinning techniques we learn.

 

I would also suggest learning to use their situation to an advantage when possible. They have a strong defensive weapon they should take advantage of.

[ZR440]

What about a cane? It would be legal to carry in the streets and wouldn't be as obvious to an attacker.

[SBN Doug]

Cane would be difficult for someone in a chair to use. It's not used as much to strike as it is to trap.

 

A detachable staff, that they could use either as double short staff or middle length staff (for the extra reach) would probably be the better choice.

[YODA]

I've taught weapons to quite a few chair bound people, both adult & younger, with a range of mobility levels. A Jo type staff works much better than a longer Bo - but would it be available to them in a time of need? Are we talking about teaching them on an "art for art's sake" basis or give them real self protection capabilities?

 

A weapon can be a great equalizer for a chair bound person. Consider the chair itself as a weapon - removeable arm rests can be weilded very well & have very good striking and locking capabilities. For real life & death self protection from a chair nothing quite beats the capability to grab, entangle & then use a knife! Range is their enemy - as is the likelyhood of being tipped out of the chair - they MUST learn to fight from the floor out of the chair - not a pleasant area for most chair bound people but a reality that is just stupid to ignore.

 

Are you thinking of teaching this area? If so I can give you some very usefull stuff.

 

 

 

_________________

 

YODA

 

2nd Degree Black Belt : Doce Pares Eskrima

 

Instructor : JKD Concepts

 

http://www.jkdc.co.uk / http://www.docepares.co.uk

 

[ This Message was edited by: YODA on 2002-03-12 13:27 ]

[SaiFightsMS]

Good question Yoda. Primarily we are talking abouj bo as an art. Working with it for the fun and pleasure it gives back.

 

Doug it seems to me too that using the shorter jo staff would work much better too.

 

Of the main people I am corresponding with are 2 paraplegics. One is in Kenpo and one in Isshinryu. The big issue seems to be when performing a kata and moving forward or turning one hand is tied up somewhere other than the bo. So some of the blocks and strikes would need to be modified for use with one hand.

 

I have always practiced bo standing. This is really making me think.

 

Actually I would love to find a way to work with disabled people who want to give martial arts a try.

 

 

[YODA]

....... in that case the Jo is a better & more mobile weapon from a chair. The ability to move the chair with one hand & maintain the flow of the weapon in the other is vital.

 

 

[Joecooke007]

I would mount a bo gun on my chair so that no one sees it coming!

 

 

[SaiFightsMS]

:???:OKay Joe would you mind describing what you think a "BO Gun" looks like? I don't think I have ever seen one.

 

 

[YODA]

Maybe he means a BLOW gun?

 

More seriously - do make sure they don't modify the parts of the chair in any way to specofocally increase it's effectiveness as a weapon - that will bget them into deep legal do-do's. There are enough weapons there without modification - especially if there are bits that pull off like arm rests.