DrewTheTKDStudent1992
Yellow Belt
Hey guys, What size Bo staff should I get.
I’m around 5ft7
I’m around 5ft7
What size Bō to get
- Thread starter DrewTheTKDStudent1992
- Start date
Flying Crane
Sr. Grandmaster
What does your teacher suggest?
Different methods may prescribe a different size staff. It may or may not depend on your height. So there is no simple and obvious answer.
Different methods may prescribe a different size staff. It may or may not depend on your height. So there is no simple and obvious answer.
D
Deleted member 39746
Guest
i thought the general rule of thumb was a couple of CM over your head. Or forehead, i forget which one just now. So its just slightly taller than you are.
But above comment, if you are using it as a spear generally longer is used and can be used as opposed to if you are using it like a club and spear.
But above comment, if you are using it as a spear generally longer is used and can be used as opposed to if you are using it like a club and spear.
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dancingalone
Grandmaster
About an inch or two higher than your head is the general guideline most kobudo instructors I know use. It is a starting point. At 5' 7'', the OP might find the standard 6' staff to be difficult to manipulate unless it is one of the ultralight modern ones. A few of my shorter adult students that stuck with kobudo eventually had custom staves made for them appropriately sized for their height.
Depends on the style. As always ask your teacher.
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
Yeah, there is no simple answer. What style? Twirling-swinging Chinese, or harder hitting Okinawan? This may influence the weight, thickness and flexibility of the wood. The most most common length for a bo is 6 ft (originally roku-shaku which is about the same) so in most cases, a little taller/close to same, as Western male average. However, the Okinawans were sometimes just over 5 ft tall, so their bo's were much longer relative to their height. So you should be fine with something at 6 ft.
But, ask your teacher (if you even have one) what is best. If you are just going to teach yourself, bo size won't matter as you will not be doing it right, anyway.
But, ask your teacher (if you even have one) what is best. If you are just going to teach yourself, bo size won't matter as you will not be doing it right, anyway.
CB Jones
Senior Master
My son is 5’6” and he uses a 6' bo.
Graywalker
Brown Belt
I agree with the others, ask your instructor, what will it be used for and most importantly, how does it feel to you.
jobo
Grandmaster
custom made? thats a bit extravagant, couldnt they just saw 4 inches of the one they had?
CB Jones
Senior Master
That's what we always did as Jacob grew.
We always bought the regular hardwood bos and cut them to 6 inches longer than he was tall. Once he got the same height...we ordered a new one.
He was given a purple heartwood bo that just now got tall enough to start using......we aren't cutting it....lol.
dancingalone
Grandmaster
Extravagant? Well, it is surely more costly. I have custom made kobudo items. A few bo. Some tunfa. Some sai. An eku. Some are made from exotic woods which are more expensive. I even own a custom-forged katana. That was the cheaper route than buying an antique, and the quality is top notch. I enjoy using my toys.
We spend resources on what is important to us. Some people like to travel. Some like cars. Some improve their homes or send their kids to good schools. <shrugs> Money is just a tool ultimately. Use it wisely.
jobo
Grandmaster
well i agree with your sentaments, but im not sure spend loads on a custom made broom handle is sensible
lklawson
Grandmaster
One of my students is a woodworker. He's made a number of fighting cudgels from Hickory. They are not outrageously priced.
I could get you a price on a Bo, Jo, Hanbo, or whatever if you'd like.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
If you hold your stick about 1 ft from one end, when you swing your stick vertically, the other end of your stick won't hit on the ground, that will be the proper stick length.
The proper stick length has to do with what kind of stick technique that you intend to train. You don't want your stick length to prevent you from training certain stick technique.
Some folks really like their weapons. They spend a good bit on one, but then it's a one-time expenditure. I've never spent much on mine, but I've spent plenty on other hobbies, so I can see the motivation.
Nor, really, is spending loads on a really nice hand saw when a cheaper model will do the work. But there's a satisfaction in a really nice tool, even when it doesn't do a better job. And there is a different feel to things like purpleheart wood. Even a dowel of that stuff (not a "staff") runs upward of $70.
Kirk, I'd be interested in his price for a bo. Anything in the vicinity of 6'.
lklawson
Grandmaster
I'll touch base with him.
Do you have a wood preference? Diameter? Are you wanting uniform thickness or tapered?
Here's his FB page:
Medlin's Good Wood
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
CB Jones
Senior Master
We had told Jacob that once he stopped growing we would look into buying a purple heart wood bo......luckily Jacob's sensei gave one to Jacob that belonged to his sensei....so it has some sentimental value....plus it saved me some money, lol.
Uniform thickness. I've been contemplating a hickory bo for a while.
