| Besides rocks, one of the most basic of all | | | | have reflective finishes giving a more flashy visual |
| weapons throughout mankind's history across | | | | appearance when the user is performing a bo |
| most cultures has been the long wooden stick. | | | | form. Unlike traditional bo forms, contemporary |
| This makes sense since sticks were always | | | | creative open forms with the bo involve more |
| readily available in the forests or could be easily | | | | complex spins and even tosses. Some martial |
| made. The Asian martial arts took the long | | | | artists do not consider some of the modern bo |
| wooden staff into an art form as many martial | | | | forms observed in the competition circuits to be |
| art styles include the long staff in their systems. | | | | true weapons forms as some competitors |
| Some styles even have traditional weapons forms | | | | emphasize too much baton-like twirling action |
| or katas featuring the long staff. Some systems | | | | rather than actual combative techniques. It could |
| of martial arts train with weapons such as the | | | | very well be a matter of personal taste. This is |
| staff through practical techniques only without the | | | | why in most of the large open martial arts |
| use of set forms. | | | | tournaments, weapons divisions are split into |
| Unlike many martial art weapons such as swords, | | | | traditional and creative. |
| knives, kamas and sais which are short range, | | | | Chinese kung fu styles also utilize the long staff |
| staffs are long range weapons with superior | | | | although there are some differences in techniques |
| reach. This enables the user to attack and defend | | | | when compared to Japanese karate styles. |
| from a distance which can be frustrating from the | | | | Instead of holding the weapon in the middle most |
| point of view of an opponent who has a short | | | | of the time like a bo is held, Chinese staffs are |
| range weapon. Long range weapons are also | | | | usually held near one end which has the effect of |
| useful in keeping multiple opponents out of reach | | | | elongating the weapon even more. Taditionally, the |
| too. Of course, long weapons such as the staff | | | | lead hand is the left hand with the right holding the |
| cannot be easily concealed like short range | | | | bottom end of the staff. However, there are |
| weapons so they can be cumbersome to carry | | | | techniques which involve switching sides as well as |
| around. | | | | using the bottom end to strike too. In addition to |
| One of the most popular martial arts weapons | | | | strikes executed while holding the weapon with |
| from the Japanese karate styles is the bo. Even | | | | both hands, there are more single handed |
| today, the bo is usually the first weapon taught at | | | | techniques with Chinese staffs than with Japanese |
| karate schools and is the most common weapon | | | | bo staffs. Like their empty hand kung fu forms, |
| seen at tournaments. The bo staff comes in | | | | Chinese staff forms have more circular, swinging |
| different variations. There are heavy bo staffs | | | | techniques than in Japanese karate styles. |
| which resemble thick poles which are considered | | | | Contemporary wushu forms use a much lighter |
| more traditional and there are lighter versions | | | | weapon than in traditional kung fu staff forms. |
| which are tapered at both ends. There are also | | | | Wushu stylists also use staffs or cudgels that are |
| multi-sided bo staffs such as octagonal but these | | | | made of a unique white wax wood from trees |
| are much less common than the usual round, | | | | that are grown only in China. Staffs made of this |
| circular versions. | | | | type of wood are not made with precision like |
| Although there are one handed swings, most bo | | | | Japanese bo's. The wushu staffs are naturally |
| techniques involve both hands holding the weapon. | | | | tapered with a thicker bottom and thinner top. |
| Various strikes and blocks can be performed with | | | | The white wax wood is extremely resilient as |
| either end of the bo as well as the sides and | | | | users of this type of Chinese staff perform |
| middle. Bo users take advantage of the entire | | | | techniques which involve smashing the entire |
| weapon as techniques can be executed with any | | | | weapon on the floor at full force. |
| part of the bo. For the majority of techniques | | | | Korean kuk sul won also has the long staff in their |
| involving the bo, the user holds the staff near the | | | | system and the techniques used are like a blend |
| middle with both ends protruding out equally. | | | | of Chinese and Japanese moves. Although all |
| Traditionally, the lead hand (furthest away from | | | | martial arts styles that utilize weaponry have |
| the body) has been the right hand. | | | | more complex and possibly more impressive |
| Contemporary weapons forms competitions have | | | | looking weapons, the long staff has remained to |
| caused the bo to evolve where competitors now | | | | be a favorite for many martial artists. |
| use extremely lightweight bo's and some even | | | | |