Long Staff The Bò –or Kon is a long staff which can be used as a very graceful yet affective and devastating weapon for attack or defence. A traditional Bò is exactly 1.82 meters in length which is wielded and used with both hands due to its weight and size. Usually made of tapered hard wood, example white oak, bamboo as well as for training purposes rattan. A full size Bò is sometimes called a rokushakubo. Translated in Japanese words roku means (six), shaku a Japanese measurement equivalent to 30.3 centimeters (0.994 ft) .

Therefore rokishabubo refers to a staff about (1.82m) , 5.96 feet. The bo is typically 3cm (1.2 inch) thick tapered to the middle to 2cm (0.8 inch) at both ends making it easier to grip. The most common shape is the maru-bò which is a round staff, while kaku-bò is a four sided staff , rokkaku-bò (six-sided staff) , hakkaku-bò (eight-sided staff) .Bò very from heavy to light, which also may be extremely rigid or highly flexible , made from rough pieces of wood to finely detailed decorated works of art . The Japanese martial art of the use of the bò is called bojutsu.

The basis of bò techniques is ( te or hand techniques derived from Quanfa and other martial art styles that reached Okinawa via trade and Chinese monks – the thrusting or striking techniques sometimes resemble empty-hand movements , which often in Okinawa-te attacks can be avoided or defended against by agile footwork and returning strikes towards the aggressor .

When striking the wrist is twisted, as if turning the hand over when punching, this creates a slicing motion on contact. Bo techniques include a wide variety of blocks , strikes , sweeps and entrapments . In 1609, the temporary peace established by Sho Shin was violently overthrown by the Satsuma Clan who invaded Okinawa. Japanese Samurai of the Satsuma Clan took over the island , placing a new weapons ban over the Okinawa people leaving them defenceless against the steel of the Samurai swords .

The Okinnawan people used simple farming implements which they converted and trained to use in order to protect themselves . This use of weapons developed into kobudo , or (ancient martial art) as we know it today .The bò was used to carry buckets or baskets of water , grain balanced across the middle of the back at the shoulder blades . In styles such as Yamanni-ryu or Kenshin-ryu many of the strikes are similar as those used for yari(spear) or naginata (glaive) these stick fighting techniques are common to many different styles and countries .

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