Bo Staff & Jo

The bo staff is used in a variety of different martial arts. The purpose of the bo staff is to increase the force that is delivered in a strike. Because of the added length of the bo staff, any slight motion results in a faster, more forceful motion at the tip of the bow, thus allowing for long-range devastation and broader strikes. It is used mainly in self-defense but, when combined with leg strikes and kicks, can become a lethal weapon. Most bo staffs are made of tapered wood or bamboo, but there are some that are made of metal. While there are various lengths that you can purchase a bo staff in, the six foot bo staff is generally the length martial artists are referring to when they use the term, “bo staff”.