Hello
I am both new to the forums and Kung-fu.
I just started to take Kung-fu in a school in Baltimore around a month ago .
Once I hit green belt I will be able to pick either a broadsword or bo staff to train with. I was leaning towards a bo staff but was wondering what choice other users of this forum made as their first weapon?
bow staff?
[QUOTE=Exadon;905917]Hello
I am both new to the forums and Kung-fu.
I just started to take Kung-fu in a school in Baltimore around a month ago .
Once I hit green belt I will be able to pick either a broadsword or bo staff to train with. I was leaning towards a bo staff but was wondering what choice other users of this forum made as their first weapon?[/QUOTE]
What style are you taking?
[QUOTE=Exadon;905917]Hello
I am both new to the forums and Kung-fu.
I just started to take Kung-fu in a school in Baltimore around a month ago .
Once I hit green belt I will be able to pick either a broadsword or bo staff to train with. I was leaning towards a bo staff but was wondering what choice other users of this forum made as their first weapon?[/QUOTE]
Well I’m a sword nut. But as a sword nut I’ll be the first to tell you that sword skills are of limited efficacy in this modern world as police tend to look unkindly on anything involving the words “stab”, “cut” and “decapitation”. So if you are looking for applicability go with the staff.
bo is japanese for staff, so if your teacher is calling it a bo-staff (a “staff-staff?”)you might want to look a little deeper into what exactly you are learning.
[QUOTE=MasterKiller;905924]What style are you taking?[/QUOTE]
Before I joined the school I asked one of the black belts the style of kung-fu they teach. This is the answer I recieved.
the name of the form is Chu Ji Quan. if you have the asian language pack installed on your computer you can view a dictionary entry of the words:
(Chu Ji) http://www.dict.cn/.htm
(Quan)http://www.dict.cn/.htm
The style is a bit of a mystery. Some people refer to it as Tian Shan Pai. However Sifu prefers not to use this name because the history of Tian Shan Pai is a little bit suspect. They claim it has been practiced for 65 generations which would make it older than Shaolin kung fu, a little bit hard to believe. This is one of the reasons that Sifu is afraid to refer to the system of forms by this name simply because the name and supposed history appears to be built on lies/rumors. However, it is definitely a northern style and is similar to Shaolin in many ways with all the same fundamentals and principals.
maybe thats just what hes calling it due to familiarity with the term bo staff. who knows, he is new.
i vote go for the staff. not only because its fun, and you get to train with a ‘real’ weapon in class as opposed to tin foil. a staff is a staff is a staff. but also for the same reasons Simon listed.
[QUOTE=TenTigers;905927]bo is japanese for staff, so if your teacher is calling it a bo-staff (a “staff-staff?”)you might want to look a little deeper into what exactly you are learning.[/QUOTE]
I am the one who is calling it a bo-staff, so if it’s use is in error then that error is mine.
I know he mentioned staffs or broad swords, I heard a friend of mine use the name Bo-staff and thought it was the same thing
[QUOTE=SimonM;905925]Well I’m a sword nut. But as a sword nut I’ll be the first to tell you that sword skills are of limited efficacy in this modern world as police tend to look unkindly on anything involving the words “stab”, “cut” and “decapitation”. So if you are looking for applicability go with the staff.[/QUOTE]
I beg to differ. Dan-dao techniques are very similar to single stick, including the use of the live hand. Southern dan dao is used pretty close range-corto. These techniques translate very well to stick, or anything you want to carry-walking stick, cane, umbrella, tire iron, fish bat, rubber chicken, or a very stiff, dead ferret.
[QUOTE=Exadon;905932]I am the one who is calling it a bo-staff, so if it is a spelling error then that error is mine.
I know he mentioned staffs or broad swords, I heard a friend of mine use the name Bo-staff and thought it was the same thing[/QUOTE]
ah, ok.
you should however, slap your friend.
[QUOTE=TenTigers;905933]I beg to differ. Dan-dao techniques are very similar to single stick, including the use of the live hand. Southern dan dao is used pretty close range-corto. These techniques translate very well to stick, or anything you want to carry-walking stick, cane, umbrella, tire iron, fish bat, rubber chicken, or a very stiff, dead ferret.[/QUOTE]
this is true, especially the stiff ferret portion. ive always found both weapons translate great into the real world. ive always just viewed the staff as a more practical weapon in many schools because wushu weapons suck. and a rattan staff is a rattan staff.
[QUOTE=TenTigers;905934]ah, ok.
you should however, slap your friend.[/QUOTE]
I definitely will do so, as he said he would join with me to keep me motivated…and I have not seen him at a class since
oh and where are my manners. welcome Exadon, and enjoy your journey in the martial arts. we love new people here! 
While “Bo-Staff” seems redundant, some refer to them as:
Bo-Staff - the 6ft staff
Jo-Staff - the 4-5 ft staff
HanBo-Staff - 3ft and under.
All staffs, but different lengths.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;905938]While “Bo-Staff” seems redundant, some refer to them as:
Bo-Staff - the 6ft staff
Jo-Staff - the 4-5 ft staff
HanBo-Staff - 3ft and under.
All staffs, but different lengths.[/QUOTE]
quit being smart, smart guy
[QUOTE=Lucas;905937]oh and where are my manners. welcome Exadon, and enjoy your journey in the martial arts. we love new people here! :D[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the welcome. I hope to stay focused and learn as much as I can.
Please forgive me if I make newb comments on the way as I learn.
Is there a Chinese word that is commonly used for staff?
I prefer thermonuclear bombs, for the deterrance power
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;905938]While “Bo-Staff” seems redundant, some refer to them as:
Bo-Staff - the 6ft staff
Jo-Staff - the 4-5 ft staff
HanBo-Staff - 3ft and under.
All staffs, but different lengths.[/QUOTE]
yes, I was reading this post while putting on my sneaker-shoes, my jeans-pants, and my cap-hat. Then I will go in my SUV-truck, and go and eat lunch-food.
[QUOTE=Exadon;905940]Thank you for the welcome. I hope to stay focused and learn as much as I can.
Please forgive me if I make newb comments on the way as I learn.
Is there a Chinese word that is commonly used for staff?[/QUOTE]
yeah, “gwun-stick”
ok, just, gwun.
exadon,
do you feel particularly drawn to either weapon? have you had the opportunity to heft either and kind of feel what its like to hold one. does one feel more natural to you than the other? for me the staff felt much more comfortable than the broadsword, i dont know why but it feels more ‘at home’ than a one handed sword does to me. a katana beats both for me personally, but right after nunchaku comes the staff.