Bo Staffs

remo wrote: Oak is subject to splintering, consequently striking the ground with an oak staff can cause it to splinter.

Since I also suggested (and endorse) oak, I wanted to share a tip after seeing this. If you'll wrap the staff in duct tape, you'll help prevent the splintering that may or may not occur from harming your hands until you can examine any damage. My friends and I have used this for years in our idiotic full-contact training, and it keeps our hands safe.

Also, you might fill a piece of pipe (I've used PVC before for solo drills) with sand, water, or sand and then water (in that order, very important) and cap it off. It's how I strengthened my arms to prepare for learning spear.

There are a lot of ways to make your own staff. I would recommend, as many others have, a hard wood like oak. Every material has pros and cons so there won't be one perfect option. Oak is heavy and sturdy and if you sand it and treat it then it should be rather splinter resistance. (also I've never been fond of kata that involve hitting the ground. It does unnecessary damage to the weapon and teaches you to over commit. Also, if you plan on using a spear or polearm it's a good way to get the head of your weapon stuck in the ground. Just my opinion though).

Chinese Wax Wood is practically indestructible and when it does break it flakes more than it splinters so it's pretty safe. The downside is that it's pretty light (I like some heft in my bo) and the surface can be...sticky isn't the right word but it's not the easiest to move your hands around on (I also don't like to leave my hands in one constant area as it limits the range and use of the weapon).

Steam, I'd never thought of the sand and water filled PVC for strengthening. I like it.

My answer, why not get or make a variety?! Make some heavy, some light, some longer, some shorter, some round, some octagonal, some ovular (more like the handle of a naginata, it helps let you feel where the edge is), the possibilities are endless. At one point in Japan there were over seven hundred variations on the naginata. Just the naginata, all in use at the same time in various parts of the country. Granted, not everyone is as weapon crazy as I am. :woohoo:

The first bo I ever had was a really tall sprout from an apple tree lol. It was really heavy on one side and much thinner on the other. I wrapped some tape around the center for a handle so I didn't tare up my hand and it was good to go. It was less than Ideal but I was young and it was free so it fit perfectly into my price range. After that I had a piece of PVC Piping left over from my uncle contracting job. Yes its true they tend to splinter regardless of whatever you do to try and keep them from doing so. But PVC is still a good place to start its cheap sometimes free if you know the right guys and you can experiment with dimensions. Ideally a BO should be only 2-3 inches or 4-6 centimeters taller then your body height. Diameter is however whatever you feel comfortable holding it can be thick or thin and pvc is a perfect medium to test out your limitations on. After that staff I bought a real oak competition staff for use in tournaments I find a small coating of super glue over the last 5 inches or so of each end of your staff keeps your staff from splintering, is inconspicuous enough for competition usage, and doesn't make the ends all sticky from applying and removing all that tape from the ends of your bo. Happy practicing and may the force be with you always.

Goken wrote: Steam, I'd never thought of the sand and water filled PVC for strengthening. I like it.

I did it for weight. I drilled with it empty, then I filled it with water and drilled more. Then I emptied the water and filled it with sand and drilled more. After that, we filled around the sand with water, and it was nearly like swinging concrete one-handed.

I tried using an EZ curl bar to strengthen my wrists. I cannot imagine sparring with it the vibration would be a shocker, and you gotta watch the momentum else you'll knock yourself out when you accidentally crack your head open. It's about the right length for a Jo.
Very Sith curved hilt lightsaber like with the twists in the bar :silly: