Aikido Bo Staff Techniques

The Shaolin Cane: The Wooden Weapon of Kung Fu.  Instruction by Ted Mancuso.  Instructional DVD, 60 minutes.  Plum Publications, Santa Cruz, California, � 2005.  "In this presentation by Ted Mancuso, he utilizes a traditional Shaolin cane set taught to him by one of his teachers, Lam Kwong Wing, to explore the very nature of weapons work. Introductory remarks bring new points to light about the usefulness of weapons work especially, with simple, easily available instruments. Among the topics covered, Mr. Mancuso discusses and demonstrates:  Basic strikes and their applicability to all weapons.  Grips and the "flexible hand" concept.  The traditional Northern Shaolin Boxing Cane form.  In-depth stepwise breakdowns of each section of this fast and mobile form.  Examples of applications, including running commentary explaining more than just the movements but the reasoning behind cane defenses.  According to this teacher, "Over the years students have come to me and say, - I'd like to learn the cane from you. When I ask why they always say something like, - For my father. He's getting old. At that point I have to explain to them that this is one of the most dynamic weapons sets in the entire Shaolin arsenal. After all, if you think about it handing a simple stick to a Kung Fu artists who can do sword, spear, whip and dagger is just like saying "anything goes." This is definitely not your grandfather's cane form."  In this instructional DVD, the lineage of this particular Shaolin Cane form is given as:  Ted Mancuso was taught by Lam Kwong Wing,  who was taught by Yim Shang Mo, who was taught by Gu Ru Shang,  who was taught by Yan Gi Wen, who was taught by Yan Di Gong, who was taught by Wang Bang Cai, who was taught by Gan Feng Chi, who was taught by Monk Zhao Yuan He Shang.  Read the short essay by Ted Mancuso on The Shaolin Cane.   VSCL.   

"Aiiki-jo teaches principles and concepts of aikido via the staff, i.e. extension and showing quite graphically the movement of circles and spirals in technique. (Jo-dori vs. Tai-jutsu) like Shiho-nage, kote gaeshi, irimi-nage, can all be expressed through Jo-nage/dori, one of the best I have seen show this relationship is Andy Sato head of Aikido World Alliance.  If you ever get the chance to train with him do so.  Secondly the 31 count kata which spawned the Kumi jo was Saito's attempt to simplify and standardize movements, using sweeps, strikes and tsuki's that are both similar to empty hand, and Ken, the so call Riai of aikido. These Katas that now are used teach the aforementioned Maai, timing, footwork, and bear little resemblance to actual empty hand technique, but do teach us movement principles that are fundamentally the same. Now contrast that with SMR, which has a totally different organization to its kata and uses the Jo completly different. For example, the thrusts done in SMR very different than in Aiki-jo, as well, most katas, are Ken vs. Jo, secondly the rhythm of practice is different too. Just like the rhytmn of daito-ryu is very different than the rhytmn of Aikido practice.  Secondly the stance is different too. SMR is there to teach you combative principles that in theory are there to provide you with the tools to be successful in a combative situation, albeit, rare that I will be attacked by a katana wielding person when coincidentally I have a Jo. Whereas Aiki-jo is used as a supplement to my empty handed Aikido. If I had my choice, I would put more principles of SMR in Aiki-jo than the other way around." -   Dan Hoover, AikiWeb Forum