bo

Does anyone know why ASU doesn't, routinely, pursue bodo? Maybe just my dojo? Thanks!

I don't think using a bo (~6' staff) is usually a part of one's aikido training -- at least in most aikido dojo.

I know that some ASU folks do the "Patrol Kata" (as can be seen in the latter part of Saotome sensei's "Staff of Aikido" video tape) using a bo.

Also, many people who have studied under Hikitsuchi sensei often practice with a bo including kata like bo ikkyo and bo nikyo.

I don't believe the founder really ever practiced with a bo; I believe most of his "staff" experience came from yari rather than jo or bo.

-- Jun

Paula Lydon wrote: Does anyone know why ASU doesn't, routinely, pursue bodo? Maybe just my dojo? Thanks!

In Sensei Robertson's (Seidokan) dojo, we didn't practice with the bo regularly, but periodically we would and at a certain level, around nikyu, you were expected to perform the kata that Kobayashi sensei developed.

In the Nishio sensei school I attended the use of the bo and jo was very important. They were very useful in helping me to better do regular Aikido techniques. Many times, I would have problems doing shihonage, kotegaeshi, nikyo, or whatever, and taking the time to do them with the bo or jo made me focus more on the overall movement and less on what my hands, or feet, or hips were doing.

I had to focus more when using the weapons.

Jun Akiyama (akiy) wrote: I don't think using a bo (~6' staff) is usually a part of one's aikido training -- at least in most aikido dojo. I know that some ASU folks do the "Patrol Kata" (as can be seen in the latter part of Saotome sensei's "Staff of Aikido" video tape) using a bo. Also, many people who have studied under Hikitsuchi sensei often practice with a bo including kata like bo ikkyo and bo nikyo. I don't believe the founder really ever practiced with a bo; I believe most of his "staff" experience came from yari rather than jo or bo. -- Jun

I think that the Hikitsuchi folks are really the only ones who do Aiki-bo seriously. FWIW, Hikitsuchi apparently has a very nicely illustrated scroll from M. Ueshiba giving him menkyo kaiden in Aiki-bo (don't know how much he actually did himself, though).

Best,

Chris

Christopher Li (Chris Li) wrote: I think that the Hikitsuchi folks are really the only ones who do Aiki-bo seriously.

That's been my thoughts and experience as well.

Although my personal experience with him has been limited, I, for one, have never seen Nishio sensei use the bo; the bokuto/iaito and jo, yes (as he's quite well versed in iaido and has done some jodo) -- but not the bo.

-- Jun

The Bo of the Founder as it is practiced by Hikitsushi Sensei's "folks" (for example, Gerard Blaize's students in Europe) is called Masakatsu Bojutsu It was transmitted by O Sensei to Hikitsushi Sensei, as shown on a makimono where is written :

Hikitsushi Michio

Dono Showa 32 (1957)

Dosho Ueshiba Morihei (signed)

Bo-Jutsu Masakatsu Okui Soden.

We do practice it regularly at our dojo, and learned as kata (I've just finished learning the first one, which is necessary to receive shodan, even though I won't pretend to know it).

...at a certain level, around nikyu, you were expected to perform the kata that Kobayashi sensei developed.

Kobayashi sensei developed a bo kata?

I wasn't aware that he did that. Would it be possible to get some info on it? I'd love to see it and learn it. I know the seidokan 1st and 2nd bokken and jo kata and am re-learning both the 3rd bokken and jo kata but have never even heard that there might be a formal seidokan bo kata. Any info you want to send my way would be greatly appreciated

Bronson

Richard Elliott wrote: In Sensei Robertson's (Seidokan) dojo, we didn't practice with the bo regularly, but periodically we would and at a certain level, around nikyu, you were expected to perform the kata that Kobayashi sensei developed. In the Nishio sensei school I attended the use of the bo and jo was very important. They were very useful in helping me to better do regular Aikido techniques. Many times, I would have problems doing shihonage, kotegaeshi, nikyo, or whatever, and taking the time to do them with the bo or jo made me focus more on the overall movement and less on what my hands, or feet, or hips were doing. I had to focus more when using the weapons.

Hi there, Are you sure you train with a bo? I also train at a Nishio Sensei school and we only use the Jo and the bokken.

// Mathias

There is another approach to using bo, jo, bokken, or any other extension of your body, you should be able to adapt any object or weapon into your techniques, your kata, or practice.

This was the philosophy of teaching by my first teacher in martial arts, and it has opened my eyes to making various objects work as extensions of techniques.

There are, of course, variations within the practice of particular weapons that do translate into seldom used movements of empty hand practice, but then that is the interesting part of the journey.

So remember ... what ever you learn should be able to be transferred to any weapon you pick up, with appropriate variations, of course.

I trained with Bill Sosa's Organization ( he first taught Roberton Sensei) they were long time members of Seidokan and I have not seen a BO persay.