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