Buying Competion Bo Staffs...
Being rather new to the martial arts, I needed to know what the very best Competition Bo Staff was.
Turns out, out of all the martial arts weapons I have seen so far, the Bo staff is the coolest! I would like to compete in it when I'm ready. Naturally, I wanted to find out more so I started with the typical online search. I asked around. The problem was that I got a lot of somewhat confusing info. So much so that I began this website to ask you directly. I will use the website to tell you everything I know so far and thanks in advance for your insight! Please vote below here or leave comments below! This site isn't selling competition Bo staffs, it's about community and collaborating to discover what the winning Bo staffs are! Start here: What is the Difference Between Straight Vs. Tapered Bo Staff? |
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Here's what I know so far!
First off, there's a wikipedia entry for the Bo staff. If you're in the beginning stages of learning what the staff is all about, take a look. It's a quick read.
Today's staff's vary in length. From what I've heard, the staff should be three inches taller than you. I just heard from someone who prefers them on the shorter side more at the eyebrow or so. I have seen many start at 4' and I think the maximum size is 6'. Do you have an opinion on this? Comment below!
A Bo staff can be straight or tapered. The straight ones are the same thickness from end to end. Tapered staffs start and end thinner, with a thicker section in the middle.
Lastly, I have seen one piece and two-piece staffs are available. My thought is that the one piece is a bit trickier to get around. I borrowed a bo staff from my martial arts school and it's hard to get in and out of the car. The two piece ones are most likely easier to manage. Please confirm or deny using the contact form below :)
Today's staff's vary in length. From what I've heard, the staff should be three inches taller than you. I just heard from someone who prefers them on the shorter side more at the eyebrow or so. I have seen many start at 4' and I think the maximum size is 6'. Do you have an opinion on this? Comment below!
A Bo staff can be straight or tapered. The straight ones are the same thickness from end to end. Tapered staffs start and end thinner, with a thicker section in the middle.
Lastly, I have seen one piece and two-piece staffs are available. My thought is that the one piece is a bit trickier to get around. I borrowed a bo staff from my martial arts school and it's hard to get in and out of the car. The two piece ones are most likely easier to manage. Please confirm or deny using the contact form below :)
Here's What Bo Staffs are Made Of...
Wooden Competition Bo Staff - There's your classic wood Bo staff. Other than the fact that these are cheapest, I am not sure if anyone is using something like this in any sort of competition. Chime in, but if someone uses these in testing or competition it has to be for authenticity not function. The types of woods I've seen are hardwoods such as oak, ratan, white wax wood and bamboo.
Metal Competition Bo Staff - Sturdy Aluminum staffs are available. Now, this one I know a bit about because the one I have been borrowing is hollowed out aluminum. It definitely seems strong but seems heavy.
Fiberglass Competition Bo Staff - Really not sure if this is very common. I'll have to put some more detail in here when I find out more. All I really know is that fiberglass Bo's are supposed to be light and durable.
Graphite Competition Bo Staff - From what I can tell so far, this is the one to get. Very light and strong. I will find out more for you.
Foam Bo Staff - For practice not competition. Probably great for really young kids or anyone that doesn't pick martial arts weaponry skills up too quickly. I take that back, anyone can have fun with a foam bo staff regardless of proficiency. Actually, this one gets great reviews for a low price: http://amzn.to/2rlUflG
Metal Competition Bo Staff - Sturdy Aluminum staffs are available. Now, this one I know a bit about because the one I have been borrowing is hollowed out aluminum. It definitely seems strong but seems heavy.
Fiberglass Competition Bo Staff - Really not sure if this is very common. I'll have to put some more detail in here when I find out more. All I really know is that fiberglass Bo's are supposed to be light and durable.
Graphite Competition Bo Staff - From what I can tell so far, this is the one to get. Very light and strong. I will find out more for you.
Foam Bo Staff - For practice not competition. Probably great for really young kids or anyone that doesn't pick martial arts weaponry skills up too quickly. I take that back, anyone can have fun with a foam bo staff regardless of proficiency. Actually, this one gets great reviews for a low price: http://amzn.to/2rlUflG
Broken Bo Staffs
There's a lot of broken competition bo staffs out there. I've found out a few ways they can break:
1) Hitting the ground with it.
2) Hitting objects with it such as walls or other bo staffs.
3) Dropping the bo staff.
I've yet to break one because I don't compete, but since I've been talking with very experienced staffers, I realized that they do and will very likely break if they are true competition bo staffs.
Bo staffs are expensive! The main thing you can do to protect yourself is keep it from hitting the ground. I dropped one on the end, and could tell the wood broke inside the laminate so keep the butt edge of the end from striking the ground if at all possible. On a padded floor it wouldn't matter, but on cement, etc. it can shatter the wood inside.
1) Hitting the ground with it.
2) Hitting objects with it such as walls or other bo staffs.
3) Dropping the bo staff.
I've yet to break one because I don't compete, but since I've been talking with very experienced staffers, I realized that they do and will very likely break if they are true competition bo staffs.
Bo staffs are expensive! The main thing you can do to protect yourself is keep it from hitting the ground. I dropped one on the end, and could tell the wood broke inside the laminate so keep the butt edge of the end from striking the ground if at all possible. On a padded floor it wouldn't matter, but on cement, etc. it can shatter the wood inside.
The Bottom Line...
Every single Bo staff that I've seen online says it's great for competition. I know that's a bunch of bull so I'm going to figure it out. Ready, set, leave a comment! Thanks for viewing my site! -Jay