Hanbo: The Aiki Way, Revised & Expanded [Paperback]

John C. Goss Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2005

The Hanbo is an extremely practical and versatile martial arts weapon. This three-foot long staff is the perfect size to be used as a self-defense weapon in today’s urban environment. Any medium-sized, stick-like object, such as a cane, umbrella, or golf club, can be used as a hanbo, making it an unobtrusive as well as a practical weapon.

John Goss Sensei applies his extensive experience with Aiki arts to teaching a dynamic and highly effective method of using the hanbo. The principles of Aiki add a flexibility to the use of the hanbo, which makes it much more effective as a self-defense weapon.

Clear and detailed step-by-step explanations show how to perform the techniques and how to apply the principles of Aiki. Students of the Aiki arts will enhance their training by learning to use a hanbo to perform familiar techniques in new ways. Practitioners of other kobudo arts will find that the principles of Aiki add a new dimension of effectiveness and excitement to their hanbo training.

This second edition is completely revised and expanded, with additional techniques and street scenarios. The all-new photographs, more detailed explanations, and revised format make it easier for martial artists to learn to use this dynamic and practical weapon.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John C. Goss, Jr. has been a martial arts practitioner since 1968. He holds the rank of Shichidan (7th degree black belt) and Shihan in Korindo Aikido, and holds a Shidoin teaching license from the Aikikai Foundation. He is currently recognized as the highest ranking and only active Korindo Aikido instructor in the United States.

Goss Sensei was introduced to Hanbo-jutsu in 1968, through Okinawan Karate’s Kobu-jutsu. In 1974 he was introduced to a different system of Hanbo with the weapons work of Korindo Aikido. Mr. Goss is known for his unique style of Hanbowaza, which blends the fluidity and connective energy of Aikido with the dynamics of Okinawan Karate’s Kobu-jutsu.

In 1997, Goss became a direct student of Katsuyuki Kondo, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Hombucho. He received authorization to conduct classes in mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu in 1998. Goss also traveled to Japan on several occasions to study at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, the Nihon Korinkai, and mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Hombu Dojo. He has been instrumental in the dissemination of both Korindo Aikido and mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu in the United States.

Goss is currently the Chief Instructor of Aiki Martial Arts Institute in Bel Air, Maryland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Imaginator Press; 2 Rev Exp edition (May 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974560324
• ISBN-13: 978-0974560328
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but leaves a lot to be desired ..., August 12, 2005

By 

Dr. Georg Schober - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hanbo: The Aiki Way, Revised & Expanded (Paperback)

Actually, I had read the reviews of the 1st edition in which one of the customer reviewers justly complained that "...a page wasted (left blank) for "seminar/practice notes" after each technique is presented ...." before I ordered my copy of this "completely revised and expanded 2nd edition". I thought this new edition might be better, but I was wrong: the author only exchanged one silly idea for another: now each technique is first presented in a step by step fashion, with instructions under the picture (o.k so far). Immediately after this the very same technique is shown again in a "putting it together" sequence (using identical photographs in most cases) without the text "...so that you can more easily see the flow of the techniques...and incorporate the Aiki movement ..." (p.13).
This is simply a rip-off! Does Mr. Goss mistrust the capability of his readers to look over the first series of photos for a second time to create "... a filmstrip-like effect..." (p. 13), this time skipping over text instructions? By leaving out redundant picture series he could easily have doubled the number of techniques shown on those 208 pages!

Also - sadly - many of the photos don't show the footwork involved (which is vital in aiki arts if the techniques are meant to work!) or obscure it as both opponents wear hakama (which may be traditional, but is a didactic mistake - unfortunately seen in many aikido and other martial arts books). A far better visual solution is to have both partners wearing differently coloured uniforms as in George Kirby's jujutsu books.
I also disagree with Goss sensei's strikes against knife attacks: to strike at the MUSCULAR part of the forearm (as in technique 14, picture 2, p. 116) or of the bend of the elbow (as in technique 19, picture 3, p. 149) is not nearly as effective as striking the BONY parts of the forerarm, which hurts enough to make the attacker almost certainly drop the knife.

If you seriously want to learn about hanbojutsu (Aiki or not), my advice is to get yourself a copy of „Stick-Fighting" by Masaaki Hatsumi&Quintin Chambers (originally published back in 1971, well before the ninja craze centered on Hatsumi sensei started!): on less pages you get a lot more techniques (60 compared to 27 in Goss' book) explained in over 300 clear and well chosen photos, a lot more explanatory text and at a cheaper price than this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rare coverage on this weapon..., June 6, 2005

By 

Scott A. Zlotak "Aiki-The Way" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hanbo: The Aiki Way, Revised & Expanded (Paperback)

I have been a martial arts practioner for over 15 years. I have studied Korean, Burmese and Japanese Martial Arts. This book is a great workbook for a martial artist. The photos give you step by step instruction. Also one of the nice features is the street application of the weapon in the back of the book. If you train in martial arts this is a great edition to your library. I am very happy to see the evolution from the first edition to the second. I encourage all martial artisit no matter your style to go out and get this work book!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable resource for practical self defense., October 27, 2005

By 

James W. Wollenweber - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hanbo: The Aiki Way, Revised & Expanded (Paperback)

This is valuable book for anyone training in martial arts or someone that would like to know practical self defense techniques with common items such as a cane, umbrella or golf club. There are 23 well defined techniques with step by step illustrations and written instructions.

The layout of pictures and text provides space for making notes. Having studied hanbo under Sensei John Goss, this book is a valuable resource for reference and details. The hanbo is used not as a tool or club but rather than a conduit for aiki. Aiki has many forms; leading, surprise, breath and atemi (strike or a focused cut motion). I have been training for 9 years and this is a book that I use weekly! When you look at the cost per technique, the book is a real bargain.