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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 16:30:56 GMT
What kind of wood do you recommend for a bo? kata+sparring purposes mainly.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 17:05:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 19:43:28 GMT
Google, if you are sparring, you will want a hardwood bo of same nature. I have one out of Oak, it works well. I spar with one made from Hickory, it takes the lumps quite well. Now, if you want something that is different and looks quite cool. See if you can get some Purpleheart made into a bo. My Sensei has two Bos made from Purpleheart and a couple Jos. It is a very cool looking hardwood. It too can take and give some lumps. I am going to see about getting one made from White Wax wood for my Son this weekend. This wood is supposed to be quite strong and light.
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Post by swordboy bringer of chaos on Mar 12, 2008 19:50:04 GMT
wizz cold steel and bud-k both sell white wax wood hope I can save you some trouble
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 20:14:01 GMT
Thanks swordboy. There is a local MA store here that has them and I don't have to wait for shipping.
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Post by swordboy bringer of chaos on Mar 12, 2008 20:17:23 GMT
oh well never mind go for it
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Post by tajima on Mar 12, 2008 20:29:01 GMT
I used Tasmanian Oak, 25mm thick. But I doubt we'd export it Thanks, -Tajima
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 21:20:37 GMT
Thanks swordboy. There is a local MA store here that has them and I don't have to wait for shipping. Here's the lowdown from experience of various users I know including myself... bamboo - eh. It's cheap. Durability varies on the type of bamboo. It can be dangerous as the fraying of some types leave dangerous edges and breaks. exotic woods - YMMV. Biggest problem is that they are always expensive and difficult to determine how well they behave in various hard use scenarios. Usually pretty and some are very heavy but not so practical. Unless you are duelling for life and death and want to look pretty doing it best to stay away from. purpleheart - very good but expensive and flying chips from breaks are dangerous. So is the breaks themselves being very sharp and lethal. *****rattan / malacca - the best of all worlds. It is relatively cheap and is very safe if used properly. Some places have a moratorium on it's export or import globally. May be difficult or easy to get. Quality varies. You want unskinned, many nodes, and as straight as possible. Very susceptible to moisture and warping so protect as much as possible with waxing or oil coatings. Can last a long time if used and taken care of properly. Beginners and experts alike find this is the most versatile and customizable material. It is very forgiving. When it breaks it just frays most often. Still quite useable even then. Absorbs shock very well but can give impact blows of vicious force to combat levels. A wonder material in the combative arts community and a paradox.***** synthetics - it varies. The plastics used for bullet proof shielding is very good. Very tough and hard to break. Absorbs shock well but transmits a lot to the body, too. Other synthetics can absorb well but are expensive. Chipping and denting not a problem. Some have more whipback than others which could be dangerous. YMMV. white oak - less durable than purpleheart. More resilient to impact and denting but can be as dangerous. Warps more than purple heart. white waxwood - breaks nicely. Dents nicely. Very tough. Biggest problem is with whipback. Very dangerous for both user and receiver if the user does not have good control of it. Very popular but should only be used by experienced users. Do not buy red cedar or any of the wider grain woods. Very prone to brokage and many splinters. The cheapness factor is not worth it. Hickory is very tough but once it breaks a lot of danger from it for splinters and the actual break itself. Good luck with your search.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 21:42:15 GMT
cold steel makes a enscrima(sorry spelled wrong) stick i dont know if that would work or not
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 21:53:39 GMT
cold steel makes a enscrima(sorry spelled wrong) stick i dont know if that would work or not Too heavy and too whippy. Great as weight training. Fine for combat. Dubious for sparring. I prefer rattan. Poster originally wanted a bo and Cold Steel does not make a staff out of that material. They do make a white waxwood one, though. But it will not be uniform in structure as it is wider and tapers to thinner from one end to another. Most Japanese bos are uniform in structure.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2008 10:39:54 GMT
A hardwood mate, one not to brittle like African ebony but has a good weight to it. Most countries have them, not all but the timber is usually available as flooring or capping and can easily be cut and planed to size, girth, length, e.t.c. If that fails, may I recommend these people. They sell useable Japanese-made bokken and wooden training weapons. I use them only in a practical sense, and have never had any issues with their white oak bokkens and jos. bokkenshop.com/eng/jo.html
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2008 6:07:00 GMT
Sorry I only just noticed this thread, but how about a high impact plastic with a good specific gravity? If your staff is too light you won't be able to use it properly because the balances are all out, it is also personal preference. I love a good heavy oak staff, but I am considering plastic for actual sparring.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2008 8:22:28 GMT
A barbell makes a nice bo for bofurigata...
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