How to Perform Figure Eight Bo Staff Techniques

To add a little more variety to your offensive and defensive movements while still developing your overall skills with the Bo Staff, try your hand at the Figure Eight technique. When you watch someone who’s essentially mastered the method, it looks quite difficult, but in all actuality it’s surprisingly straightforward and easy to perform. You can execute the technique with either one or both hands. For the sake of practice, use just one hand, reserving the other to guide and guard.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hold the Bo Staff in your right hand using an underhand grip, positioning the staff so it is parallel to the floor.

2. Rotate the Bo Staff about 90 degrees so the right tip is pointing toward the sky. This will be the tip where all of the movement is directed. Think of it as the lead in your pencil.

3. Bring your right elbow close to your side and place your left hand on the Bo Staff, about 12 inches below your right. The left hand will help you guide the staff through the movements.

4. Swing the right tip of the Bo Staff to the right and down towards the ground, sweeping it back slightly. Use the wrist of your right hand to create the movement, rotating it down with your palm turning out. Now swing the back up in an arc to its original position, again rotating at the wrist. You’ve just drawn the top half of your sideways figure eight in the air.

5. Swing the right tip of the Bo Staff to the left and down towards the ground, again sweeping it back slightly. You’ll use the wrist of your right hand again to create the movement, rotating it down with your palm turning in. Now swing it back up, forming an arc, to its original position. You’ve just drawn the bottom half of your sideways figure eight in the air.

6. Continue to practice swinging the tip to the right, then the left, until you’re able to pick up speed.

Tips & Warnings

• If it helps, think of the right tip of your Bo Staff as the head to a paddle. You’ll paddle to the right, then the left, continually alternating sides.
• Make sure you have enough room around you to perform the Figure Eight.
• If you suffer from a wrist injury, consult a physician before practicing this technique.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

Resources

• Purchase bo staffs at Karate Depot.