Weapons class?

Question

Should I go Escrima Sticks or the Bo staff. I am torn between the two. I have no desire to learn any bladed weapons, and these 2 appeal the most to me so far in training class. Which would you suggest as a primary focus?

Answer 1

For competition I would recommend the bo-staff. Escrima sticks don't get the scores generally that the bo-staff does especially since most people are not as familiar with them and a lot of the aspects of them.

If you are talking for self-defense or are considering going into law enforcement then by all means Escrima is much more beneficial for you to learn and train with.

Answer 2

Escrima/Kali would be better of the two. This is because if you have a staff available, you also have sticks (which originally was a staff broken in 2 sections). If you end up having the time, though, I would reccomend both.

The poster above stated Bo scores higher in competition. I agree comletely with that statement. So, if you are only learning weaponry for competition, the Bo is the way to go.

Answer 3

Escrima sticks are the most modern day functional as you can legally carry a stick with you or in your car at all times. Simultaneously, the techniques used with an escrima stick can also be used with a bladed weapon, (knife). When you learn escrima you are taught to hit with the "blade" of the stick: the part of the stick that would be sharp were it a knife.
Many people claim that the Bo staff is functiional as there are always brooms or mops around to break off/unscrew handles from, but what these defenders don't realize is that a Bo staff is 6 feet long. There is not broom handle that long. Additionally, the moves learned for a bow staff are generally wide sweeping moves, with focus on strong hits, not necessarily fast hits. Assuming you could even find a 6 foot long pole if you needed to, you probably wouldn't have room to swing it! A better weapon if you don't want the Escrimas would be the Jo staff. A Jo is 3-4 feet long (almost the exact length of a broom handle) and the forms usually taught for it are faster, and include many more techniques (as well as many of the same) than for the Bo. Some good "Jo" staff froms come from Kung Fu (choy li fut, shaolin, etc.) if you are interested.
Happy Training

Answer 4

It's up to you to make your decision

However I would prefer the kali sticks to the bo. The bo can be a rather bulky weapon that is hard to control in certain situations. It's hardly possible to get in the range of an experienced escrima fighter as one stick usually covers the other. a bo can not be controlled with one hand kali sticks on the other hand... you can fight double or single stick depending on what you are doing. BTW did you know that by learning escrima you are actually learning how to handle bladed weapons.
The intention of using kali sticks is to practice in real life they used this practice to train using machetes.

I'd prefer the kali sticks to the bo but when compared to a jo I'd tend to go for that

But each his own and you have to decide for yourself.

Answer 5

Escrima, you have more of a chance picking up something that resimbels a Escrima Stick than you do a long Bo staff.
Escrima's good for close in counters and you can stike easier and faster

Answer 6

Escrima sticks, definately.