This is a reasonably-close interpretation of a basic bo kata, Tokumine no Kun, which I practice. I feel it is a good, realistic, use of the weapon. You see in the kata the basic moves. Jabbing (pool cue and thrusts), striking (hands and feet of opponent), blocking in a variety of ways, and so on. The stances and transitions are absolutely applicable to empty-hand practice, as is the manner in which power is generated.
I was not a huge fan of weapons forms when I reached the level in my training where they were introduced. I thought that they were archaic and didn't translate well into modern times. Although yes, I could theoretically pick up a stick and use it in somewhat the same manner as a bo, I thought the chances of that happening were rather remote.
I still think that the weapons forms I train in have limited application as weapons forms, that is, directly. However, now that I have spent some time getting familiar with the weapons, learning how to handle them, move them correctly, and perhaps more importantly, to avoid having them taken from me, and the time spent practicing (as I said) the stances and transitions, I feel that I have gained a lot by working with the weapons. It's not my most favorite thing to do, but it is absolutely worthwhile to me.
I am not a fan of weapons tricking. I'm sorry, it is just baton-twirling to me and it is meaningless. It is not only useless for self-defense (go ahead, throw your bo in the air and catch it behind your back while fighting someone, I dare you), but it avoids teaching anything applicable to empty-hand training with the possible exception of good hand-eye coordination. I'm just not interested in it. I try not to make fun of the folks doing it, but to me, yeah, it's baton-twirling.
