systems-bojutsu

Bōjutsu

Bōjutsu (棒術) are methods of using a staff or long stick. Bōjutsu has a long history and serves as the basis for techniques and methods. Various forms of stick fighting can be found in many cultures around the world and they all share commonalities. Bōjutsu at Ikari Dōjō focuses on using the full length of the weapon to stay as safe as possible while causing maximum damage on the opponent. Bō can be used lethally, but there are also many non-lethal techniques. Bōjutsu is also an effective form of self-defense training because many items can be used as a Bō in a self-defence situation.

The kamae of Bōjutsu cover a variety of situations. The Bō can be used in several ways, from a balanced posture to extending the Bō forward or back. Kamae are critical to the structure of waza, jutsu and kata. It is often said that kamae are snapshots in time and that a practitioner is just moving through kamae. Breaking the opponents kamae is the first step to creating an opening to attack.

Bōjutsu waza focus on using the entire body to move the Bō in a strike or movement. Bō are a bludgeoning weapon and need a great deal of power to do damage. An important aspect of Bō and other weapons is keeping a strong grip so the weapon cannot be knocked from the hands or disarmed in other ways. This is the main difference between Bō of Ikari Dōjō and other martial arts.

Bōjutsu jutsu, like waza, focus on shifting the body and then moving the body with the weapon. Mobility is an important aspect of weapon techniques and this is no different for Bō. Jutsu combine the body strikes of the waza with mobility and various attack and evasion angles to create a dynamic way of using the Bō.

There are many kata that use the Bō and they are usually practiced against swords, but can work against any number of other weapons. Bō kata involve sequences of several waza and jutsu, often moving through various kamae. The kata teach concepts and ideas that can be later utilised in free play or randori.