| Besides rocks, one of the most basic of all weapons | | | | and even tosses. Some martial artists do not consider |
| throughout mankind's history across most cultures | | | | some of the modern bo forms observed in the |
| has been the long wooden stick. This makes sense | | | | competition circuits to be true weapons forms as |
| since sticks were always readily available in the | | | | some competitors emphasize too much baton-like |
| forests or could be easily made. The Asian martial | | | | twirling action rather than actual combative |
| arts took the long wooden staff into an art form as | | | | techniques. It could very well be a matter of personal |
| many martial art styles include the long staff in their | | | | taste. This is why in most of the large open martial |
| systems. Some styles even have traditional weapons | | | | arts tournaments, weapons divisions are split into |
| forms or katas featuring the long staff. Some | | | | traditional and creative.Chinese kung fu styles also |
| systems of martial arts train with weapons such as | | | | utilize the long staff although there are some |
| the staff through practical techniques only without | | | | differences in techniques when compared to |
| the use of set forms.Unlike many martial art | | | | Japanese karate styles. Instead of holding the |
| weapons such as swords, knives, kamas and sais | | | | weapon in the middle most of the time like a bo is |
| which are short range, staffs are long range | | | | held, Chinese staffs are usually held near one end |
| weapons with superior reach. This enables the user | | | | which has the effect of elongating the weapon even |
| to attack and defend from a distance which can be | | | | more. Taditionally, the lead hand is the left hand with |
| frustrating from the point of view of an opponent | | | | the right holding the bottom end of the staff. |
| who has a short range weapon. Long range weapons | | | | However, there are techniques which involve |
| are also useful in keeping multiple opponents out of | | | | switching sides as well as using the bottom end to |
| reach too. Of course, long weapons such as the | | | | strike too. In addition to strikes executed while |
| staff cannot be easily concealed like short range | | | | holding the weapon with both hands, there are more |
| weapons so they can be cumbersome to carry | | | | single handed techniques with Chinese staffs than |
| around.One of the most popular martial arts weapons | | | | with Japanese bo staffs. Like their empty hand kung |
| from the Japanese karate styles is the bo. Even | | | | fu forms, Chinese staff forms have more circular, |
| today, the bo is usually the first weapon taught at | | | | swinging techniques than in Japanese karate |
| karate schools and is the most common weapon | | | | styles.Contemporary wushu forms use a much lighter |
| seen at tournaments. The bo staff comes in | | | | weapon than in traditional kung fu staff forms. |
| different variations. There are heavy bo staffs which | | | | Wushu stylists also use staffs or cudgels that are |
| resemble thick poles which are considered more | | | | made of a unique white wax wood from trees that |
| traditional and there are lighter versions which are | | | | are grown only in China. Staffs made of this type of |
| tapered at both ends. There are also multi-sided bo | | | | wood are not made with precision like Japanese bo's. |
| staffs such as octagonal but these are much less | | | | The wushu staffs are naturally tapered with a thicker |
| common than the usual round, circular | | | | bottom and thinner top. The white wax wood is |
| versions.Although there are one handed swings, most | | | | extremely resilient as users of this type of Chinese |
| bo techniques involve both hands holding the weapon. | | | | staff perform techniques which involve smashing the |
| Various strikes and blocks can be performed with | | | | entire weapon on the floor at full force.Korean kuk |
| either end of the bo as well as the sides and middle. | | | | sul won also has the long staff in their system and |
| Bo users take advantage of the entire weapon as | | | | the techniques used are like a blend of Chinese and |
| techniques can be executed with any part of the bo. | | | | Japanese moves. Although all martial arts styles that |
| For the majority of techniques involving the bo, the | | | | utilize weaponry have more complex and possibly |
| user holds the staff near the middle with both ends | | | | more impressive looking weapons, the long staff has |
| protruding out equally. Traditionally, the lead hand | | | | remained to be a favorite for many martial |
| (furthest away from the body) has been the right | | | | artists.Clint Leung is a lifelong martial artist with over |
| hand.Contemporary weapons forms competitions | | | | 32 years of training experience in kung fu, tae kwon |
| have caused the bo to evolve where competitors | | | | do, karate, kickboxing and martial arts weaponry. He |
| now use extremely lightweight bo's and some even | | | | has won Canadian and world championship titles |
| have reflective finishes giving a more flashy visual | | | | (NASKA, NBL and WSKF). He is also owner of Free |
| appearance when the user is performing a bo form. | | | | Spirit Activewear ( an online retailer and designer of |
| Unlike traditional bo forms, contemporary creative | | | | premium martial arts activewear. |
| open forms with the bo involve more complex spins | | | | |