Between tradition and modernity, get a perspective on the world of staff weapons.

Info 1: Patron saint of farmers and monks - the long history of the Bo staff.

The origin of the bo staff as a defensive weapon goes back a long, long time into the past. When occupiers outlawed the civilian population of Okinawa from carrying weapons, they found new ways to protect themselves against attack. In addition to the martial art of the empty hand (karate), everyday objects were also used. According to tradition, the Bo staff was used as a carrying stick for field work or long hikes. The Bo-Staff, also known as the six-foot cane with a length of 182 cm, accompanied monks in their everyday life. Together with the rehearsed, artistic movement sequences “katas,” the man-high walking stick became an effective punching and thrusting weapon. In the past, Bo sticks were made of wood, bamboo, or rattan, but today there are also models made of plastic or with a plastic coating for sports use.

Info 2: Little brother with a big impact: the Hanbo.

Shrunk to almost half its length, the Hanbo is the little brother of the bo staff with a length of 80 to 100 cm. Its origin goes back to an accident, namely a two-part Bo staff. Like this, the Hanbo is a typical striking and thrusting weapon. In Hanbo-Jutsu, stick fighting techniques are taught, which are used in numerous martial arts such as Jujutsu, Ninjutsu, Karate, or Aikido. Due to its smaller size, it is easier to hide and is, therefore, less conspicuous than its more prominent role model, the Bo staff. Attacks with the Hanbo are mainly designed for speed. The short stick can be twirled quickly in the hands. However, its strength lies more in close combat, where it plays out its advantages as a lever.

Info 3: Many names for a star among stick weapons - the Jo staff.

Many names for a star among staff weapons. Referred to as Gùn in China, known as Con in Vietnam, and famous as Bo in Japan. With an approximate length of 127 cm, the Jo staff was often used in the past, disguised as a walking stick. His strength did not lie in attack but rather in defense, such as disarming attackers with a sword (katana). Due to its much shorter shape, the jo staff was more accessible to hide under long robes than the bo staff. Today you can still learn the art of using a wooden stick in the Jodo (Way of the Stick). Even in modern times, the defense with the jo-staff stands before the attack.

Info 4: Short poles like Escrimas are handy all-rounders.

Use your Escrima sticks with a length of 60 to 70 cm as an extension of your hand or as a replacement for a bladed weapon. Used in close combat, the sticks already require good martial art knowledge. If you let your opponent get that close to safety, you must know what you're doing. While Escrimas for the FMA “Filipino Martial Arts” are traditionally made of rattan, there are also models made of other woods. Due to the closeness to the body, a risk of injury when training with wooden sticks cannot be ruled out. Therefore, for increased safety at the beginning of your Escrima training, you can use training sticks made of hard plastic with a foam coating. As soon as you have become familiar with the movement sequences, you are free to use the Escrimas made of hardwood or rattan.

The most significant difference in the staff weapon is, therefore, primarily its length, which also differentiates its area of application. You will quickly discover whether a ranged weapon suits you better than a melee weapon during training. Of course, the choice of material is also crucial. While wood does not tolerate significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity, the plastic models are easy to care for but far removed from centuries-old traditions.