Customer Reviews

Bo: Karate Weapon of Self-Defense

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Demura Sensei presents a well-organized primer in the use of the rokushaku bo (six-foot Okinawan quarter-staff). The book is organized into Introduction & History, Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced techniques, and a final section devoted to a bo kata. All basic stances, blocks and counters used with the bo are covered in the first sections. Many of these are similar or identical to standard open-hand karate techniques. Descriptions of subtle differences are well-explained. Combinations and working with a partner are covered in the latter sections of the book. Overall, the photo sequences of this acknowledged bo master demonstrating his art are very good, with the exception of the final bo kata pictures, which are very dark. This is an excellent reference.

This book is an excellent choice for anyone interested in learning the bo. It shows every basic movement in a clear, precise manner. It contains information on all attacks, blocks, stances, and grips.

The only downfall of it, is that it lacks in forms (katas). It shows one form at the end, but unfortunately the form is very boring. Having a couple more forms would have made this a 5 star book.

If you are a lone practioner of the martial arts and are interested in learning the BO, this book is for you. The pictures and descriptions are easy to follow and provide a good foundation for many of the techniques that come naturally with weapons practice. I gave this book 4 stars because I think the final kata is too long for any beginner and the pictures are much too dark. The first 90% of this book is a 5 star for sure...

Sensei Demura is considered by many to be one of the leading authorities on Tradtional Kubudo (the study of weapons). And while this book is a little dated, it still represents some of the best information available on the traditional uses and style of Okinawan Bo. If you are looking for flashy spins - look elsewhere - this book simply contains solid, basic information on the use of the bo. The book contatins basic blocks, stances, and strikes as well as a few techniques. If you're a fan of Demura Sensei - then you must own this book. After many years, it is still one of the most important works on this subject.

This book is a very solid introduction to using a bo staff (~ 6 foot pole weapon) in martial arts. The bo is nearly universally the first weapon form that practitioners learn yet there aren't a lot of really good books out there teaching people how to use one. Even a great book is no substitute for a competent instructor, of course, yet it can be a great supplement to dojo training. This one is fairly general, hence more broadly useful than some style-specific works, and pretty well done. Despite the fact that the layout is logical and the writing is quite good it is, unfortunately, a 30-year-old work with dark, grainy pictures that are a bit challenging to read. Contents include history of the bo staff, profiles of kobudo masters, types of bo staffs, bo basics (holding the staff, warm-up exercise, fighting positions), kihon (basics), striking, thrusting, blocking, combinations, applications, and basic bo kata. The comparison and contrast between open-hand and weapon applications (e.g., stances, basic techniques) is a great tie-in for karate practitioners interested in picking up a weapons form. Overall it's a very good resource.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles

Basically an excellent introduction to bo staff techniques. Without a doubt the best book on the subject available for some one interested in actually getting started with the bo rather than reading about it.

This book contains everything one needs to know about Bo fighting, Kata, stances... etc. VERY informatant.

My brother has the first (original) publishing of this book. When we were kids, we self-taught ourselves martial arts weapons. In the 1970s and 1980s most Karate, Tae Kwon Do schools did not teach weapons unless you reached brown, red, or black belt. So we bought this book to teach ourselves. Although I specialized in the nunchuckau, my brother loved the staff.

Fumio Demura is a karate legend. His books are easy to follow and understand. This is a MUST HAVE book if you are learning the Staff, Kwon, or Bo. And everyone should learn how to use a staff.... lots of the techiniques can be used whether you have a staff, broom stick, mop, long umbrella, or cane.

I bought this book again to teach my daughters. Get the book over the DVD. We bought both, because I thought the DVD would help more. But the DVD doesn't do justice for the student.

This is a very well done book on the subject of the bo staff, and it gives you an outstanding overview of this kobudo weapon and its history along with a variety of techniques demonstrated by the author.

The book then delves into the basic techniques you will need to know in order to effectively utilize the bo staff. This includes various grips, stances, strikes, blocks, etc. I felt that this was done in a very well organized fashion and the photographs and accompanying text adequately explained the basics of each technique. I did feel that in some cases more detailed text would have been appropriate, but it wasn't that much of a factor for the most part.

The author is a noted kobudo and karate master and every book I have by him on the traditional kobudo weapons has simply been outstanding. I would recommend this book.

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

This book is exactly what I was looking for in the way of an instructional book for the bo. It has numorous guide photos throughout the book, so that you can see what you are doing in the excercise described.