staff type question

[mantis]

Hello
i am about to buy a staff for my kung fu class and now i found 2 types of staffs Bo's and Jo's. does anybody know the difference?
and maybe where to get one?
the ones im looking at are on amazon.com!

thanks

 

[arnisador]

Usually a jo is about 4' long and is often used more like a sword. Usually a bo is nearer to 6' long and is used as a staff. But a bo especially can vary in length.

Both of these are Japanese--you might need something a little different for a Chinese martial art. Some of them use very long or very flexible staves.

 

[Henderson]

The Bo and Jo are two entirely different weapons with different applications. What is the context of the training for which they are intended? Physical difference....a Jo is approx 4 ft long, a Bo is typically about 6 ft.

 

[Henderson]

Gotta work onmy typing speed...Arnisador beat me to it.

 

[Jade Tigress]

As has already been mentioned, what you plan on using it for will determine if you should go with a Bo Staff or a Jo Staff. For our Kung Fu staff forms I use this Bo Staff. http://www.martialartsmart.net/30-60t.html

 

[Ceicei]

Ask your instructor whether you need to buy a jo or a bo stick (or both?). Since you are training in your kung fu class, it would be well to ask which.

- Ceicei

 

[mantis]

yes, this is exactly what im looking at
what i need is a 72" (6 ft) staff, with some flexibility too, although wooden!
imma be using it to learn staff forms (maybe beat up my brother at some points, but im buying him one too to be fair) i expect me to have to hit it against the ground at some points so im hoping it wouldnt break
thanks

 

[Andrew Green]

Ask your instructor what to get, there are also different things a staff can be made of, and they handle really different. If you order a solid oak one and you are being taught a form that should use a fairly flexible rattan one you'll end up ordering again.

 

[Flying Crane]

Bo and Jo are typically Japanese style staffs. Bo is typically 6 feet long, and Jo is typically 4 feet long. These are usually made of a hardwood like oak.

For kung fu, you probably want a waxwood staff. See this other thread for more info. http://martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2811

 

[jdinca]

Find out if he wants a bo staff, or a tapered staff. Each have different applications and shouldn't be substituted for each other.

 

[clfsean]

Ask your instructor... he should be able to provide what you need for what you're learning.

 

[Michael Billings]

Chinese Arts typically prefer a white waxwood staff, tapered slightly, but only at ONE end.

Japanese Arts use Bo's or Jo's. There are 2 types of Bo's, they are either tapered at BOTH ends, or they are symetrical, more like a dowel.

-Michael

 

[Grenadier]

Another thing is that a jo staff is typically a good bit thinner than its corresponding bo staff counterpart. This reduces the weight to even more of an extend, and allows it to be used one-handed with relative ease.

If you get a jo or bo, I strongly recommend against most types of oak, unless you can get a tight-grained cut. Most red and white oak woods are porous, with the red oak ones being even moreso.

What are you going to be using this staff for? Just forms? Contact drills?

 

[clfsean]

Chinese Arts typically prefer a white waxwood staff, tapered slightly, but only at ONE end.

Japanese Arts use Bo's or Jo's. There are 2 types of Bo's, they are either tapered at BOTH ends, or they are symetrical, more like a dowel.

-Michael

Depends if the material being presented is a single or double ended stick. If single ended, sure the rat tail staff is used/preferred. But if double ended, you don't want to use a single for it. It doesn't feel right in the hands or work correctly.

 

[clfsean]

Another thing is that a jo staff is typically a good bit thinner than its corresponding bo staff counterpart. This reduces the weight to even more of an extend, and allows it to be used one-handed with relative ease.

If you get a jo or bo, I strongly recommend against most types of oak, unless you can get a tight-grained cut. Most red and white oak woods are porous, with the red oak ones being even moreso.

What are you going to be using this staff for? Just forms? Contact drills?

I have a hickory rokushakubo that's about 14 years in my posession & is magnificent. When I was active in JMA it was great, but with the CMA I do now there's only certain times I can use it & not worry about snapping it on the ground. But it's a champ!!

 

[Eric Daniel]

Hello
i am about to buy a staff for my kung fu class and now i found 2 types of staffs Bo's and Jo's. does anybody know the difference?
and maybe where to get one?
the ones im looking at are on amazon.com!

thanks

The difference between a Bo and a Jo is that a bo is usually 6'tall and a jo is about 4' tall. You can purcahse online at centuryfitness.com Hope that helps

 

[mantis]

yep
that all helps
thanks to all...
i think what im looking for was actually the waxwood white staff that's made of some tree root or something like that.
thanks

 

[mantis]

just wanted to document this for future reference (if any)
i ended up buying 2 waxwood staffs 84" long and tappered at only one end..
it was bummed that they are too skinny i think! like an inch at the thickest end..
i think school is gonna force me to buy one from them, which could be a bit pricy! oh well...
thanks to all

 

[Jade Tigress]

just wanted to document this for future reference (if any)
i ended up buying 2 waxwood staffs 84" long and tappered at only one end..
it was bummed that they are too skinny i think! like an inch at the thickest end..
i think school is gonna force me to buy one from them, which could be a bit pricy! oh well...
thanks to all

What does your school sell?

 

[mantis]

i have no clue!
i know they sell the waxwood tappered on one side
all i saw is their staffs standing against the wall
they looked thicker to me. not a lot thicker
but mine look like speghettis dude!