Don's Bo

[Time Mistress]

Or the "gun" as it is known in Chinese. I love this weapon. It's the first weapon students (including myself) are usually taught in the martial arts. Sun Wu Kong Gun means Monkey King Staff and is the form I know. The Monkey King is a famous legend in China who's weapon was the staff. Before one learns a form though, basic moves and block and stike exercise are practiced. There are four basic blocks - side block, upper block, lower block, and Crane block (a diagonal block while standing on one leg). Basic strikes include - side strike, upper strike, groin strike, and eye poke.

The height of the bo staff is something tricky. I've read that it should be about a foot taller than you, but some of the shorter people in my class cut them down a little. The reason is one of practicality. I'm only 5'0" myself (roughly turtle height ) and I have a 6' bo, having not chosen to cut it down yet does present some intersting problems. Power is generated in the bo by sliding your hand down down the weapon almost to the end before striking. Usually an inch or two should be left sticking out on the end. But if your bo is too long and you are too short it's more like five inches or so sticking out and you don't want to overextend your reach either. So I often settle for extra inches rather than overextend. A longer bo with a shorter height also makes performing the groin strike more difficult. You have to adjust accordingly with your extention like I mentioned before, but with the added problem of if you miscalculate, your bo will scrape against the floor or even smack hard against the floor and not your opponent. Since I don't think Don cuts his bo, I figure he has to make similar adjustments that I do.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

I actually like the bo staff to. But I'm an amateure. I don't really take a class, I just practice in the backyard.

[Sage Ninja]

I love the bo staff, it is such a deciptive weapon because it looks relatively harmless but can be so lethal and do so much damage.