![Bo(weapon)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Bo%28weapon%29.png)
A ''bō'' (棒: ぼう), ''bong'' (Korean), ''pang'' (Cantonese), ''bang'' (Mandarin),
or ''kun'' (Okinawan) is a
staff weapon used in Okinawa. ''Bō'' are typically around and used in
Okinawan martial arts
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and Okinawan kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its central location, Okinawa was influenced by various cultures with a long hist ...
, while being adopted into Japanese arts such particular
bōjutsu
, translated from Japanese as "staff technique", is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve s ...
. Other staff-related weapons are the ''
jō'', which is long, and the ''
hanbō
The ''hanbō'' (半棒, "half-staff") is a staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the ''hanbō'' was approximately three ''shaku'' or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the '' rokushakubō'' ("six ''shaku'' staff"). Diameter wa ...
'' (half ''bō''), which is long.
Types
The ''bō'' is usually made with unfinished (no
varnish
Varnish is a clear transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not a stain. It usually has a yellowish shade from the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be pigmented as desired, and is sold commercially in various ...
,
stain
A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. They are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials. Accidental staining may make materials app ...
, etc) hard wood or a flexible wood, such as red or white oak, although
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...
and pine wood have been used; more common still is
rattan
Rattan, also spelled ratan, is the name for roughly 600 species of Old World climbing palms belonging to subfamily Calamoideae. The greatest diversity of rattan palm species and genera are in the closed-canopy old-growth tropical forests of ...
wood for its flexibility. The modern ''bō'' may be tapered in that it can be thicker in the center (''chukon-bu'') than at the ends (''kontei'')
and is usually round or circular (''maru-bo''). Some bō are very light, with metallic sides, stripes and a grip which are used for
XMA and competitions/demonstrations. Older bō were round (''maru-bo''), square (''kaku-bo'')
(''rokkaku-bo'') or octagonal (''hakkaku-bo''). The average size of a bō is 6
shaku Shaku may refer to:
* Shaku (unit)
* Shaku (ritual baton)
* Buddhist surname
In East Asian Buddhism, monks and nuns usually adopt a Buddhist surname and a Dharma name, which are combined in the surname-first East-Asian naming order. Since the 4th c ...
(around ) but they can be as long as (''kyu-shaku-bō'').
A ''bō'' is sometimes called a ''rokushakubō'' (六尺棒: ろくしゃくぼう). This name derives from the
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
words ''roku'' (六: ろく), meaning "six"; ''
shaku Shaku may refer to:
* Shaku (unit)
* Shaku (ritual baton)
* Buddhist surname
In East Asian Buddhism, monks and nuns usually adopt a Buddhist surname and a Dharma name, which are combined in the surname-first East-Asian naming order. Since the 4th c ...
'' (尺: しゃく); and ''bō''. The ''shaku'' is a Japanese measurement equivalent to 30.3 centimeters (0.994 ft). Thus, ''rokushakubō'' refers to a staff about 6-''shaku'' (1.82 m; 5.96 feet) long. The ''bō'' is typically 3 cm (1.25 inch) thick, sometimes gradually tapering from the middle (''chukon-bu'') to 2 cm (0.75 inch)at the end (''kontei''). This thickness allows the user to make a tight fist around it in order to block and counter an attack.
In some cases for training purposes or for a different style, rattan was used.
Some were inlaid or banded with strips of iron or other metals for extra strength.
''Bō'' range from heavy to light, from rigid to highly flexible, and from simple pieces of
wood
Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
picked up from the side of the road to ornately decorated works of art.
Martial arts
![2 bo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/2_bo.JPG)
The
Japanese martial art
Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts.
The usag ...
of wielding the ''bō'' is ''
bōjutsu
, translated from Japanese as "staff technique", is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve s ...
''. The basis of ''bō'' technique is ''te'', or hand, techniques derived from ''
quanfa
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common ...
'' and other martial arts that reached Okinawa via trade and Chinese monks. Thrusting, swinging, and striking techniques often resemble empty-hand movements, following the philosophy that the ''bō'' is merely an "extension of one’s limbs". Consequently, bōjutsu is often incorporated into other styles of empty hand fighting, such as
karate
(; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the ...
. The "bō" is also used as a spear and long sword in some of its motions, such as upward swing and slashing motion across the body as well as extensions by gripping one end and thus increasing its length as thus making it similar to a spear.
The ''bō'' is typically gripped in thirds, and when held horizontally in front, the right palm is facing away from the body and the left hand is facing the body, enabling the staff to rotate. The power is generated by the back hand pulling the staff, while the front hand is used for guidance. ''Bō'' technique includes a wide variety of blocks, strikes, sweeps, and entrapments.
History
The earliest form of the ''bō'', a staff, has been used throughout Asia since the beginning of recorded history. These were hard to make and were often unreliable. These were also extremely heavy. The konsaibo was a very distant variant of the kanabo. They were made from wood studded with iron. These were still too cumbersome for actual combat, so they were later replaced by unmodified hardwood staffs. Used for self-defense by monks or commoners, the staff was an integral part of the
Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
Written as 天眞正傳香取神道流 before adoption (1946) of Tōyō kanji. is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of '' bujutsu''. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born in 13 ...
, one of the martial arts oldest surviving styles. The staff evolved into the ''bō'' with the foundation of
kobudō
is a collective term for Japanese traditional techniques for the use of armour, blades, firearms, and techniques related to combat and horse riding. The ''kanji'' 古流武術 (old-school martial arts) and 古武術 (old martial arts) are othe ...
, a martial art using weapons, which emerged in Okinawa in the early 17th century.
Prior to the 15th century,
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
, a small island located south of Japan, was divided into three kingdoms: Chuzan, Hokuzan, and Nanzan. After much political turmoil, Okinawa was united under the Sho Dynasty in 1429. In 1477, Emperor Sho Shin came into power. Determined to enforce his philosophical and ethical ideas, while banning feudalism, the emperor instituted a ban on weapons. It became a crime to carry or own weapons such as swords, in an attempt to prevent further turmoil and prevent an uprising.
In 1609, the temporary peace established by Sho Shin was violently overthrown when the powerful
Shimazu clan
The were the ''daimyō'' of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.
The Shimazu were identified as one of the '' tozama'' or outsider ''daimyō'' familiesAppert, Georges ''et al.'' (1888). in contrast ...
of
Satsuma Satsuma may refer to:
* Satsuma (fruit), a citrus fruit
* ''Satsuma'' (gastropod), a genus of land snails
Places Japan
* Satsuma, Kagoshima, a Japanese town
* Satsuma District, Kagoshima, a district in Kagoshima Prefecture
* Satsuma Domain, a sou ...
invaded and conquered Okinawa. The Shimazu lords placed a new weapons ban, leaving the Okinawans defenseless against samurai weaponry. In an attempt to protect themselves, the people of Okinawa looked to simple farming implements, which the samurai would not be able to confiscate, as new methods of defense. This use of weapons developed into
kobudo, or "ancient martial way" as known today.
Although the ''bō'' is now used as a weapon, its use is believed by some to have evolved from the long stick (
''tenbin'') which was used to balance buckets or baskets. Typically, one would carry baskets of harvested crops or buckets of water or fish, etc., one at each end of the ''tenbin'', which is balanced across the middle of the back at the shoulder blades. In poorer agrarian economies, the ''tenbin'' remains a traditional farm work implement.
In styles such as
Yamanni-ryū or ''
Kenshin-ryū
Kenshin-ryū is a style of Okinawan kobudō that focuses on the use of the bō staff that is taught as a complementary style to Shito-ryū karate. As a supplementary style, it is known across the Japan, the US and Europe. One of its primary ...
'', many of the strikes are the same as those used for ''
yari
is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese blade (日本刀; nihontō) in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the is called .
History
The forerunner of the is thought to be a ...
'' ("spear")
or ''
naginata
The ''naginata'' (, ) is a pole weapon and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (''nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...
'' ("glaive").
Gallery
File:Bō.jpg, Japanese ''bō'' 6 ft tall
File:Bō 2.JPG, Japanese bō, close up of one end or tip (''kontei'')
File:Various antique Japanese bo (staff) showing the (kontei).jpg, Various antique Japanese ''bo'' showing the ''kontei'' (end or tip)
Popular culture
* ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is an American media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Miche ...
'' features bo staffs being the primary weapons of
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), better known as Donatello ( ), was a Republic of Florence, Florentine sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sculpture and use ...
. Sometimes, they were used by
Leonardo
Leonardo is a masculine given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese equivalent of the English, German, and Dutch name, Leonard
Leonard or ''Leo'' is a common English masculine given name and a surname.
The given name and surname originate ...
and
Miyamoto Usagi
is a fictional character, who appears in the American comic book ''Usagi Yojimbo'', a Dark Horse Comics book created by Stan Sakai. Usagi is an anthropomorphic rabbit (''Usagi'' is Japanese for "rabbit") and a ronin now walking the ''musha shu ...
in the
2003 version.
* ''
Power Rangers Jungle Fury
''Power Rangers Jungle Fury'' is the sixteenth season of the American television series ''Power Rangers'', and is an adaptation of ''Juken Sentai Gekiranger'', the thirty-first Japanese Super Sentai, ''Super Sentai'' series.
The season premiered ...
'' features the Jungle Bo used by
Lily Chilman, the Yellow Cheetah Ranger.
* ''
Ninjago
Lego Ninjago is a Lego theme that was created in 2011 and a flagship brand of The Lego Group. It is the first theme to be based on ninja since the discontinuation of the Lego Ninja theme in 2000. Whilst it retains some elements of the previous ...
'' features the ''bō'' as the weapon of sensei Wu during both incarnations of the animation and was the weapon of choice of Lord Garmadon during his period as Sensei Garmadon (during the third season ''
Ninjago: Rebooted'' and fourth season ''
Ninjago: Tournament of Elements'')
* ''
Tim Drake
Timothy Jackson "Tim" Drake is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick, he first appeared in Batman: Year Three, ''Batman' ...
'', the third Robin — partner, and sidekick to ''
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
'' — uses a collapsible bo staff as his weapon of choice.
See also
*
Bōjutsu
, translated from Japanese as "staff technique", is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve s ...
*
Budō
is a Japanese term describing modern Japanese martial arts. Literally translated it means the "Martial Way", and may be thought of as the "Way of War" or the "Way of Martial Arts".
Etymology
Budō is a compound of the root ''bu'' ( 武:ぶ), m ...
*
Gun (staff)
A ''gun'' (pronunciation , English approximation: , ) or ''bang'' () is a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the ''qiang'' (spear), ''dao'' (sabre), and the ''jia ...
*
Hanbō
The ''hanbō'' (半棒, "half-staff") is a staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the ''hanbō'' was approximately three ''shaku'' or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the '' rokushakubō'' ("six ''shaku'' staff"). Diameter wa ...
*
Jō
*
Kanabō
The (literally "metal stick" or "metal club") is a spiked or studded two-handed war club used in feudal Japan by samurai. Other related weapons of this type are the ''nyoibo'', ''konsaibo'', , and ''ararebo''.Mol, Serge (2003). ''Classical wea ...
*
List of martial arts weapons
Weapons used in the world's martial arts can be classified either by type of weapon or by the martial arts school using them.
By weapon type Melee weapons
*List of melee weapons
**Bladed weapons
***Swords: see Types of swords
***Knife, Knives
*** ...
*
Okinawan kobudō
, literally "old martial way of Okinawa", is the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts.
Etymology and definition
Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "''old martial way of Okinawa''". It is a generic term coined in th ...
*
Quarterstaff
A quarterstaff (plural quarterstaffs or quarterstaves), also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European pole weapon, which was especially prominent in England during the Early Modern period.
The term is generally accepted to refer t ...
*
Stick-fighting
Stick-fighting, stickfighting, or stick fighting is a variety of martial arts which use simple long, slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden "sticks" for fighting, such as a gun staff, bō, jō, walking stick, baston, arnis sticks or simil ...
*
Tambo
*
Yubi-bo
*
Ruyi Jingu Bang
Ruyi Jingu Bang (), or simply Ruyi Bang or Jingu Bang, is the poetic name of a magical staff wielded by the immortal monkey Sun Wukong in the 16th-century classic Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. Anthony Yu translates the name simply as "Th ...
*
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), better known as Donatello ( ), was a Republic of Florence, Florentine sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sculpture and use ...
*
Jade
Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of ...
*
Gambit
A gambit (from Italian , the act of tripping someone with the leg to make them fall) is a chess opening in which a player sacrifices with the aim of achieving a subsequent advantage.
The word ''gambit'' is also sometimes used to describe simi ...
References
External links
Martialarm.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bo
Weapons of Okinawa
Japanese martial arts terminology
Samurai staff weapons
Staff weapons of Japan
Non-lethal weapons
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sv:Japanska stavvapen#Bo