Hello all,

Recently, at a weapons training seminar my Sahbaumnim (Sensei) was demonstrating Staff techniques with a fellow Master, unfortunately during the course of their fight his Bo broke. This Bo was given to him by his own Master about 30 years ago, it is unlike any I have seen before. It isn't a hardwood staff, instead it is made up of many fibers, perhaps of bamboo, and has a length of about 2 meters (six feet more or less) and is very springy, so that when you hit a surface it bounces.
I was hoping someone here would have information on where to find a staff like this, so that we would be able to get a new one for our Sahbumnim (Sensei) Even though the new one won't have all the years of chi (ki) energy stored in it, it would be nice to be able to give him this gift. Any information would be appreciated!!

Bo's made of waxwood are quite flexible and springy. This may be what the bo was made from. Have you tried asking your instructor what it was made from?
http://www.martialartssupermarket.com/index.cfm?action=moreinfo&itemid=8598

is that similar to what was?

I seem to remember answering this somewhere else?

Your masters bo sounds like it was made of rattan which looks similar to bamboo but has a solid core that looks like it is made up of lots of fibres and is very flexible & springy.

They are lovely to work with and I love working with mine.. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

I agree with Reiki, sounds a lot like rattan. When they break, instead of breaking into many jagged splinters, they "fray" apart (for lack of a better word).
I've personally only ever seen it happen with rattan escrima stick but I assume the same happens with a bo.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Reiki:
I seem to remember answering this somewhere else?[/QUOTE]

LOL--I thought the same thing. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif[/IMG]

Here is a rattan bo, 6ft for about $32 after shipping.
http://www.boxingdepot.com/wp-bo-21.html

If you do an MSN search for "rattan bo" you will find several other links as well.

[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 10-06-2004).]