How to Do Bo Staff Wrist Spins

Karate was originally devised by the Okinawan people several hundred years ago to fight back against a conquering army from the northern islands of Japan. 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 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 mastered with a little dedicated practice. This guide will explain how to perform one of these moves, the wrist spin.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bo staff
• Open practice space

1. Begin with the Bo held vertically out in front of you. Your hand should be about 1/2 foot down from the center of the staff.

2. Turn your wrist and arm inward so that what started as the top of the staff is now pointing down.

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

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

Tips & Warnings

• When starting out, wrap the middle foot of the bow with sports 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 don't have a 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 are be unable to catch the Bo, the force of the spin will pinwheel the staff for a pretty good distance.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Watch a video tutorial on the Bo staff wrist spin.