How to Do the Bo Staff Helicopter Spin

Though the majority of karate, literally meaning "empty fist", is a martial art that does not use weapons, it would be foolish for a combat system devised to overthrow an oppressive occupying army to completely disregard them. It was originally devised by the Okinawan people to fight back against a conquering army from the northern islands of Japan several hundred years ago. One common weapon readily available was the Bo Staff. These staffs are simple lengths of polished wood roughly the height of the combatant and can be deadly in the hands of a practiced user. Current day martial artists will use them for single person demonstrations, showing their prowess with the Bo through sweeping strikes and spinning parries. Though arduous and very complex, the individual movements that make up the Karate Bo Kata are fairly simple and can be performed within a day or two and mastered with a little more dedicated practice. This guide will explain how to perform one of these moves; the palm spin

Things You’ll Need:
Bo Staff
Practice Space

How To Do A Helicopter Spin
Step 1:
Begin with your legs at shoulder's width apart. Your arms should be down and to your sides. If right handed the Bo should be in your right hand, held about half a foot down from the center. The Bo sticking should be pointing forward at a downward angle and should be turned outward slightly.

Step 2:
Swing your Bo up and around so you're holding it over your head. Let the momentum of the swing turn the Bo through a three hundred and sixty degree spin. This spin should be on a horizontal axis. The Bo should be twirled from thumb and around your index finger to nestle between your index and middle finger.

Step 3:
When the Bo has made a full spin in the air reach up and grasp the Bo firmly with the left hand before it falls and then swing the Bo down to your left side so that your form and hold on the Bo mirrors the starting position.

Tips & Warnings
If you're serious about learning how to use a Bo, you might want to consider purchasing one of your own. They are readily available online and can be tailored in length and thickness to your individual specifications. For practice smaller Bos made from softer wood may be preferable, while for demonstrations chrome Bos are very flashy. If you do no wish to invest in a Bo Staff you can just as easily use a length of bamboo or a wooden dowel. Ideally you would want one perfectly balanced and at least five feet long. In case you're wondering what the use of this move in a combat situation is; it allows you to switch which hand is holding your Bo without changing your stance or breaking focus. The spin above the head is the same as twirling a baton or a pencil between your fingers. Give this a try before using the Bo. If the spin is giving you trouble try practicing spinning the bow in front of you on a vertical axis, it uses the same principles but will cause less damage to your head should you drop the Bo.
A Bo is very long and you will need a great deal of room to safely lift and spin one. If you've no dojo or exercise area you can use, take it outside. It may take a little practice to learn how to spin the Bo comfortably; your fingers will need time to gain strength.

How to Do Basic Bo Staff Strikes

Though the majority of karate, literally meaning "empty fist", is a martial art that does not use weapons, it would be foolish for a combat system devised to overthrow an oppressive occupying army to completely disregard them. It was originally devised by the Okinawan people to fight back against a conquering army from the northern islands of Japan several hundred years ago. One common weapon readily available was the Bo Staff. These staffs are simple lengths of polished wood roughly the height of the combatant and can be deadly in the hands of a practiced user. Current day martial artists will use them for single person demonstrations, showing their prowess with the Bo through sweeping strikes and spinning parries. Though arduous and very complex, the individual movements that make up the Karate Bo Kata are fairly simple and can be performed within a day or two and mastered with a little more dedicated practice. This guide will explain how to perform basic Bo Staff strikes

Things You’ll Need:
Bo Staff
Practice Room

Basic Bo Strikes
Step 1:
Begin by holding the Bo in the starting attack position. The Bo should be held diagonally across the body so that one end is over the right shoulder. Your hands should be near the center of the Bo and about a foot apart with your left hand gripping the Bo from below and your left hand gripping the Bo from above.

Step 2:
Imagine a target at roughly head height before you. All these strikes are meant to attack an opponent's head.

Step 3:
Sharply drive the right end of the Bo forward while pulling back with the left end so that it lodges up under your left armpit. The Bo should be roughly horizontal to the ground and the right end should have snapped into the side of your imaginary opponent's head.

Step 4:
Bring the left end of the Bo around spinning the Bo on a horizontal axis (careful not to hit your head). This circular motion of your arms should bring your left hand across your body to bury itself under your right armpit. Above your left arm your right should be fully extended and angled across your body so as to bring the right end of the Bo snapping into the opposite side of your imaginary opponent's head.

Step 5:
Pull the left end of the Bo under and forward with the right end of the Bo over the top of your right shoulder. This strike will snap the left end of the Bo up from below and drive upward into your imaginary opponent's chin. These comprise the three basic strikes used in fighting with a Bo Staff. However you can repeat the same three strikes over and over again.

Step 6:
From the ending position of the third strike pull the left end of the Bo back to slap under your left armpit and the right end of the Bo should snap into the imaginary opponent's head. This is the first of the three strikes and following these instructions you can practice these attacks continuously.

Tips & Warnings
If you're serious about learning how to use a Bo, you might want to consider purchasing one of your own. They are readily available online and can be tailored in length and thickness to your individual specifications. For practice smaller Bos made from softer wood may be preferable, while for demonstrations chrome Bos are very flashy. If you do no wish to invest in a Bo Staff you can just as easily use a length of bamboo or a wooden dowel. Ideally you would want one perfectly balanced and at least five feet long. Try attacking slowly at first and as you become comfortable with the movements slowly increase the pace as you can attack endlessly. Make it a game to see how quickly you can perform these strikes before messing up.
Make sure you have plenty of room to practice in so don't accidentally put a hole through a wall or ceiling with your Bo. All these instructions are for a right handed individual; if you are left handed make sure to reverse them.

How to Do Bo Staff Wrist Spins

Karate was originally devised by the Okinawan people to fight back against a conquering army from the northern islands of Japan several hundred years ago. Though the majority of karate, literally meaning "empty fist", is a martial art that does not use weapons, it would be foolish for a combat system devised to overthrow an oppressive occupying army to completely disregard them. One common weapon readily available to the poverty stricken locals was the Bo Staff. Martial arts pertaining specifically to the use of a Bo was called Bojitsu. These staffs are simple lengths of polished wood roughly the height of the combatant and can be deadly in the hands of a practiced user. Current day martial artists will use them for single person demonstrations, showing their prowess with the Bo through sweeping strikes and spinning parries. Though arduous and very complex, the individual movements that make up the Karate Bo Kata are fairly simple and can be performed within a day or two and mastered with a little more dedicated practice. This guide will explain how to perform one of these moves; the Wrist Spin.

Things You’ll Need:
Bo Staff
Open Practice Space

How To Execute A Wrist Spin
Step 1:
Begin with the Bo held vertically out in front of you. Your hand should be about a half foot down from the Bo's center.

Step 2:
Turn your wrist and arm inward so that what was the top of the Bo is now pointing down.

Step 3:
Sharply twist your arm and wrist back to the original position and then a little further. Let go of the Bo with you hands and finger, and let the momentum of the spin carry the Bo up over and out of your hand.

Step 4:
As the Bo spins over the top of your hand twist your arm and wrist inward again to catch the Bo before it falls to the ground. You are back in the position to repeat the move again and again, as many times as you wish.

Tips & Warnings
Beginners can wrap the middle foot of the bow with sports tape or electrical tape as a guide so you know where to place your hand when performing this move. A Bo is very long and you will need a great deal of room to safely lift and spin one. If you've no dojo or exercise area you can use, take it outside.
Make sure you're outdoors when you first try this out so as not to break anything. If you should be unable to catch the Bo, the force of the spin will pinwheel the Staff for a pretty good distance.

How to Do a Bo Staff Palm Spin

Though the majority of karate, literally meaning "empty fist", is a martial art that does not use weapons, it would be foolish for a combat system devised to overthrow an oppressive occupying army to completely disregard them. It was originally devised by the Okinawan people to fight back against a conquering army from the northern islands of Japan several hundred years ago. One common weapon readily available was the Bo Staff. These staffs are simple lengths of polished wood roughly the height of the combatant and can be deadly in the hands of a practiced user. Current day martial artists will use them for single person demonstrations, showing their prowess with the Bo through sweeping strikes and spinning parries. Though arduous and very complex, the individual movements that make up the Karate Bo Kata are fairly simple and can be performed within a day or two and mastered with a little more dedicated practice. This guide will explain how to perform one of these moves; the palm spin.


Things You’ll Need:
Bo Staff
Practice Space

Performing A Bo Staff Palm Spin
Step 1:
Begin standing upright, knees slightly bent. Grip your Bo at the very middle, hold it out in front of you vertically.

Step 2:
Raise your arm and Bo up and to the side. Your elbow should be pointing out to the side and the Bo should be comfortable over your head. At the same time as you raise the Bo, twist your wrist inward.

Step 3:
When your arm is completely up flatten your hand into a single solid surface like a waiter carrying a tray. The momentum of you twisting your wrist should spin the staff on the flat of your palm. Your thumb should still be separated from your fingers, this way all you have to do to end the spin is raise your thumb to stop the Bo and then grip it comfortably.

Step 4:
Lower the Bo back into the finishing position. The Bo should be held at least a foot out in front of the body, horizontal at chest height. Don't lock the elbow. Ideally in a combat situation you would want to be able to lash out with either end of the Bo or body check an opponent with the Staff's entire length, so make not to hold the Bo too far out.

Tips & Warnings
If you're serious about learning how to use a Bo, you might want to consider purchasing one of your own. They are readily available online and can be tailored in length and thickness to your individual specifications. For practice smaller Bos made from softer wood may be preferable, while for demonstrations chrome Bos are very flashy. If you do no wish to invest in a Bo Staff you can just as easily use a length of bamboo or a wooden dowel. Ideally you would want one perfectly balanced and at least five feet long. In case you're wondering what the use of this move in a combat situation is; it allows you to keep others guessing and at a distance if you were faced with multiple opponents. Also it looks cool.
A Bo is very long and you will need a great deal of room to safely lift and spin one. If you've no dojo or exercise area you can use, take it outside.