How to Measure a Bo Staff

There are several reasons to measure a bo staff. Many martial artists make their own and need to measure it to make sure that it fits standard specifications. Other martial artists measure a bo staff that they are interested in buying to ensure that it is properly made. A bo staff should ideally be slightly taller than the martial artists. It should also be thicker in the middle and taper toward the ends.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Stretch the bo staff out on a flat surface where it will not roll away. Carpeting is ideal for this.

2. 

   Attach the end of a tape measure to one end of the bo staff. If you have a tape measure with a hooked end you may be able to do this yourself. Otherwise ask someone to help you. Stretch the tape measure down the length of the bo staff.

3. 

   Make sure that the tape measure runs along the side of the bo staff and not over its shape. A bo staff is fatter in the middle than at the ends. If the tape measure maintains contact with the bo staff for the entire length of the measurement, it will measure slightly longer than it actually is. A regulation bo staff should measure 72 inches in length.

4. 

   Find the middle point of the bo staff. Do this by locating its central pivot point. Place the bo staff on two fingers. Move it around until it is perfectly balanced on your fingers. If the bo staff is made correctly, it will weigh the same to the left of your fingers as it does to the right of your fingers. Make a note of where the central pivot point is located.

5. 

   Take the tape measure and find the width of the bo staff at the central pivot point. Make sure that you are measuring the diameter of the bo staff. Do this by measuring straight across and not around the curve. A regulation bo staff should be 1 inch in diameter. At this width, the circumference will be 3.14 inches. This is ideal for the average sized adult hand.

6. 

   Move down to one of the ends of the bo staff and measure the width. Again, make sure that you are measuring straight across and not around the curve. The diameter at the end should be 3/4 of an inch. Go to the other end and make sure that it is also 3/4 inch in diameter. This will confirm that the bo staff is curved properly so that it is fatter in the middle than at the ends.

Resources

• Punch and Kick .com