26″ NATURAL RATTAN STAFF

A versatile and essential training weapon for martial artist’s of all levels. Elevate your martial arts practice with our rattan staff and experience the authenticity and effectiveness of traditional weaponry while enhancing your skills in agility , coordination and self defense._x000D_
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The Rattan staff known as the bō_x000D_
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The bō is usually made with unfinished (no varnish, stain, etc) hardwood or a flexible wood, such as red or white oak, although bamboo and pine wood have been used; more common still is rattan wood for its strength flexibility.^[6] The modern bō may be tapered in that it can be thicker in the center (chukon-bu) than at the ends (kontei)^[7] and is usually round or circular (maru-bo). Some bō are very light, with metallic sides, stripes and a grip which are used for XMA and competitions/demonstrations. Older bō were round (maru-bo), square (kaku-bo), hexagonal^[8] (rokkaku-bo) or octagonal (hakkaku-bo). The average size of a bō is 6 shaku (around 6 ft (1.8 m)) but they can be as long as 9 ft (2.7 m) (kyu-shaku-bō).^[2]_x000D_
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A 6 ft (1.8 m) bō is usually called a rokushakubō (六尺棒). This name derives from the Japanese words roku (å…­), meaning “six”; shaku (å°º); and bō. The shaku is a Japanese measurement equivalent to 30.3 centimeters (0.994 ft). Thus, rokushakubō refers to a staff about 6-shaku (1.82 m; 5.96 feet) long. The bō is typically 3 cm (1.25 inch) thick, sometimes gradually tapering from the middle (chukon-bu) to 2 cm (0.75 inch) at the end (kontei). Traditional bō are not tapered. This thickness allows the user to make a tight fist around it in order to block and counter an attack.^[2]_x000D_
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In some cases for training purposes or for a different style, and in more recent years, rattan is used.^[9] Some were inlaid or banded with strips of iron or other metals for extra strength.^[8] Bō range from heavy to light, from rigid to highly flexible, and from simple pieces of wood picked up from the side of the road to ornately decorated works of art.