Hanbo - A Self-Defense Tool

Even though our main focus is on Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu in Mesa, we not only teach karate, but we train with many weapons including hanbo (or short staff). Similar weapons to hanbo that many of our students learn include kioga (expandable police baton), tsune (cane), kobuton (short stick), manrikigusari (chain or rope), and even a rolled up magazine.

The hanbo and the kioga are common tools used by a number of police departments around the world. As a Kyoju no Budo (professor of martial arts) at the University of Wyoming, Soke Hausel taught several law enforcement officers and students these arts. But, you don't need to be a law enforcement officer to learn these valuable weapons.

Soke Hausel demonstrates kote uchi (two-handed

strike) with hanbo at Utah gasshuku (outside 

training) near Park City, Utah

The hanbo (半棒) is considered to be a ‘half-bo’ and is taught in several traditional jujutsu and ninjutsu schools in addition to Seiyo Shorin-Ryu karate. This weapon was added to the kobudo curriculum of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu because it is such a practical weapon and is an extension of many of our empty hand self-defense techniques. Hanbo also goes well with kioga and the walking cane since many techniques are similar for these weapons - so when you learn one, you are essentially learning all three.

In Seiyo Shorin-Ryu, to progress in hanbojutsu, (the martial art of the hanbo) students demonstrate basic strikes, blocks and stances and many self-defense techniques including one step sparring (ippon kumite) against unarmed and armed assailants. They also learn very restricted free sparring (juji-kumite) with the weapon. The sparring must be controlled and done with safety in mind.

Kyoshi Rob Watson, 8th dan explains use of katana at Gassuku.

The origin of the hanbo is uncertain. Some researchers suggest it originated quite by accident. According to a summary on Kukishin Ryu, legend suggests that during battle between Kuriyama Ukon and General Suzuki Tangonokami Katsuhisa in 1575, Kuriyama was armed with yari (spear) and Suzuki with katana (sword). During the battle, Suzuki sliced through Kuriyama’s spear cutting it in half, but Kuriyama was still able to overwhelm Suzuki with the remaining spear handle.

Kuriyama then realized the importance of the short staff for self-defense and developed the martial art of hanbo-jutsu. Our members also train in katana and yari and learn these weapons along with many traditional Okinawan kobudo weapons such as nunchaku, sai, tonfa, kama, bo, and others.

Hanbo has been incorporated into several martial arts including taijutsu (体術). Taijutsu is a term used interchangeably with jujutsu. Most koryu (old style) jujutsu schools use arresting techniques taught to law enforcement. In particular, munadori waza (lapel grab techniques) are the focus of many of these arts.

Hanbo is  traditionally three shaku (35.8 inches) long, or essentially half the length of a traditional bo. A bo can be referred to as roku-shakubo, or a stick of 6 shaku.

Shaku is the archaic unit of measure used until the Japanese adopted the metric system in 1961. Prior to 1961, shaku was a common unit of measure equal to 11.93 inches, or nearly one-foot. The shaku was derived from nature and is the average length between mature bamboo nodes.

Note the bamboo fence. A shaku was equal to the distance between bamboo 

nodes (or growth nodes). Many of these  pickets would make very good 

hanbo as they are between 3 and 4 shaku long

But the Japanese also had a second shaku - to make things confusing. This latter shaku was equal to 14.9 inches or the length of an average whale’s whisker which was adopted in 1881 to measuring cloth. To distinguish between these two, the cloth shaku was referred to as kujirajaka (kujira meaning whale); and the bamboo shaku was referred to as kanejaku. For me, I was surprised to find out that whale's had whiskers.

The hanbo is still used in training by many Japanese law enforcement agents. And it became very promintent during the late 19th Century during the Edo Period, when some law enforcement officers were armed with wooden staffs and were responsible for disarming samurai. These people worked in teams and attacked criminals simultaneously to disarm and restrain them with a rope (another art taught at our dojo referred to as  hojojutsu.

Hanshi Finley, 7th dan from the Casper Seiyo Shorin-

Ryu dojo, is retrained with hojo (rope) at a

samurai clinic.

Following the Edo period, the Meiji Restoration began in 1868, known as the beginning of the modern era of Japan. During the Edo period, samurai were still important and privileged individuals. But a chain of events led major changes in the political and social system in Japan resulting in opening their door to foreigners of the Western World. During the Meiji, members of the samurai class were eliminated and the honor of wearing swords was prohibited. This was followed by all Japanese males being required to serve in the military for 4 years.

These events caused considerable unrest with samurai, who prior to this event, were allowed to bear arms – unlike peasants. A samurai rebellion resulted and many hanbo techniques were developed at this time to evade strikes by the samurai sword followed by follow-up strikes to head or sword hand, or thrusts to the attacker's body. Included in this are many take downs followed by devastating restraints.

Demonstration of take down using hanbo at the Arizona Hombu Dojo 

in Mesa, Arizona

Our students learn how to use the hanbo in dozens of different situations for the street. But they also practice against a partner with a samurai sword as is tradition (as well as against an attacker with other weapons such as knife). As they progress, they work up to sparring to develop spontaneity and accuracy of action - in other words, to learn how to react without thinking. Restraints are important so that the hanbo can be used as a pragmatic instrument for law enforcement.

Not receiving enough hugs? In our classes we make sure that everyone receives many hugs.