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