Staff Weapons

• Referring to: Bô (Bôjutsu), Jô (Jôjutsu), Hanbô (Hanbôjutsu)
• Description: Any staff weapon over 5 feet can be considered a Bô; lesser lengths ranging between 5 to 4 feet are Jô. A stick of 3 feet, considered half the size of a Bô, would be called Hanbô.

Origin

Protohistoric times

It is believed that in protohistoric times, the Bô and the Jô were already being used. Ishi-Jô ("stone-sticks"), which measured about 40 inches in length, have been found in the past. It's unclear if they were being used as weapons or as farm implements. No longer lengths (Bô-like stone objects) are thought to have existed as they would have been too heavy and susceptible to breakage.

References

• Donn F. Draeger & Robert W. Smith, Asian Fighting Arts, Kodansha, edition 1980.

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