Karate Weapon & Training Tool:
By Sempai Scott Buchanan
The Bo
Karate Weapon & Training Tool:
By Sempai Scott Buchanan
There are many divisions or areas in the practice of Karate both traditionally and as it is known today. The common division can be observed between kihon (basics), kata (form-work), kumite (sparring) and kobudo (weapon training). These four elements comprise the essence of a karateka (a practitioner of Karate). Supporting these four basic elements is one’s psychological strength and conditioning through proper kokoro (attitudes) such as perseverance, fearlessness, determination, diligence, dedication and spirit. Kobudo refers specifically to the classical weapon traditions of Okinawa, but most notably the rokushakubo (6-foot staff) was the earliest Okinawa weapon and it portrayed much dominance. There are different theories on where the Bo originated from throughout history and it is still yet to be clarified. Although the exact origin is obscure, anthropologists know that it was first used as a survival tool compared to a weapon. The Bo originally was developed to suit it’s practitioner’s needs in reference to it’s dimensions, we generally use a generic six-foot staff in practice in today’s Dojo’s (place of training). There are many benefits to Bojutsu (the art of wielding a Bo) apart from the obvious classification of being used as a weapon for self-defense.
Before it was called a Bo, the use of a six-foot staff was very different to its purposes in today’s training. Our ancestors used the staff to collect food and reach things that were out of grasp. The earliest mention of the staff being used as a weapon was centuries ago in the Shorin-ji Temple in China. Lead by the Zen Buddhist priest Daruma Daishi around 517 AD, the Buddhists incorporated the use of the Bo and other weapons to protect their temple due to the lack of lawful control in their land. This art of mastering the Bo was later derived into Ryukyu Kobu-Do. In the Okinawa sense of the Bo, it originated with the tenbin (a stick held across the shoulders to carry buckets on either end) and when it was necessary, the tenbin was manipulated to strike or block against an attack.
Originally the Bo was constructed with consideration of the individual using the weapon in reference to the size, weight and thickness of the rokushakubo. In today’s training a generic Bo is used: six-foot in height, 1¼- inch thick at the center and taped to ¾-inch at the ends, and the weight still varies depending on the materials used to construct the Bo. A Bo can either be made of various hard woods, which create a heavier and harder Bo, or it can be made of strong bamboo, which develops a lighter and softer approach. Both materials have their benefits and their downfalls and different Karateka have their own individual choices towards which they prefer. Rarely but still evidently, the Bo can be made of metal or is metal plated for extra strength.
There are many benefits to practicing the art of wielding a Bo. In the essence of martial arts it is a very important component to one’s self-defense. In the most basic of descriptions, the Bo could simply be a piece of wood picked up in the street, so it is a very accessible tool to the trained Karateka. Firstly the purpose of the Bo must be looked at in reference to its importance and benefits. The basic purpose of the Bo is increasing the force delivered in a strike, through leverage, and to benefit the wielder from the extra distance this weapon affords. The Bo is mainly used for self-defense, and can be used to execute several parries and blocks. All other basics can be incorporated into the use of kobudo and the wielder’s hands are not restrained to holding the wooden object, it is merely used as an advantageous tool. 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 by slashing, thrusting, swinging and stabbing the Bo towards attackers.
Physiologically speaking, the Bo is very beneficial in training one’s awareness of one’s own body. Practicing with a large item such as the Bo enables the Karateka to become more aware of their own physical dimensions in reference to their height, limb lengths and joint flexibility limits. The weight of a Bo also adds extra conditioning to one’s body, strengthening the muscles and increasing the muscular coordination of the practitioner, especially when utilizing a hard wood Bo. This type of training also allows the Karateka to utilize both ‘fine’ and ‘gross’ motor skills/movements. Fine motor skills/movements can be defined as the coordination of small muscle movements such as the fingers and wrists in this case. Gross motor skills/movements can be portrayed as the simple large-muscle group actions required for striking or blocking with a Bo. On a muscular level, Bojutsu can increase one’s strength, stamina and explosive speed. At the nervous level, Bojutsu can help increase the activity of nerves surrounding the muscles being demanded for this training and help increase the nervous response to the sensations about one’s spatial awareness and increase the sensitivity to one’s senses. Mentally, the art of practicing with a Bo will increase one’s focus and concentration levels, to compliment the physical adaptations and benefits that will be made.
In conclusion, although it is not known exactly where the Bo originated, it can be justified that it is a very important part of martial arts training and an important part of a Karateka’s self-defense. It can also be seen that mastery of this art is very beneficial to the individual in many different ways including physically and mentally.
