Franco: Of course
Ark's pretty big on using 6shaku staves to train the body. You think you're doing a particular exercise right, then you stick the staff to the body and you enter a whole new realm of pain, lol.
Al: I'll see if I can't post an example at some point, but again, its not something that you can really learn from a video, as simple as it might look.
Josh:
Yea I'm pretty sure they had it. They were especially focused on the store/release skills. That being said, I think it might be a moot point since its kind of doubtful anyone skillful in Hozoin still exists (even if there is someone that claims to teach Hozoin style spear)