In many parts of the world, especially in the East, pilgrims and monks used a long staff (Bo) to help walk and defend themselves against animals, attackers who attacked on the roads. Bo is a weapon in the form of long stick or pole, usually made of wood (oak, bamboo, etc.), Bo exist in various cultures, varying weight, length, flexibility and decoration. In Japan in particular, developed a style where used this type of weapon known as Bo-Jitsu. The word Bo is actually an abbreviation Rokushakubo refers to the baton of 1.80 cm. Although it meant Roku (six in Japanese), shaku a measure formerly used in Japan which is equivalent to 30 cm. therefore the rokushakubo means six shakus baton.
Bo is divided into three parts, the upper part is called TEN meaning heaven, half JIN, which means man and CHI bottom which means land the part. There are also variants which are somewhat shorter, 1.20 and 1.40 cm. before the second world war it was used by the Japanese police and became known as Jo. The practice of the Bo serves mainly for the development of the perfection of bodily movements; used in a pattern of circular motion, shocks and punctures are linear or angular, attacks to strokes of up-down, feet go open and hang Bo on high horizontal position, for lateral half of body blows, cane must be upright and punctures can occur with any of the tips. In the world there are several types of Bo; in India for example, known as Lathi its length is approximately 2.30 cm. and is used in Rotary techniques to keep away the enemy.
In China it is called Kuin and used most in Rotary techniques. In the islands of the Philippines there is a short 90 cm stick. Used one in each hand, which is known as Arnis of hand. In Thailand this Krabi-krabing which means sword and baton. France uses the Canne which means stick ride unlike other canes of different cultures that are used with both hands this is used with a single, and in Italy, this the Paranza or Sicilian cane craft, this combat discipline is remote 1200 years ago in which farmers, shepherds gave dual-use since it was your working tool also employed it to defend themselves against robbers and animals that violated against your livestock or crop, its management consisted of continuous circular motion called mills. In the Kenpo system the same way bo has evolved very promising at the same time, giving another type of tint a bit simplistic in their movements which would otherwise be discarded those aesthetic movements but without losing its effectiveness as a natural weapon, weapons are an extension of our own body. By Victor Fernando Banuelos and Prof. Mauricio Mendoza original author and source of the article