I have mixed feelings regarding my double tapered 5 bo, mostly good. First the positive:
Karate Depot ships bos in heavy-duty tubes that give good protection. I like this. Ive received bos from other companies that use only paper wrapping. Also the shipping cost is most reasonable and I receive products in a timely manner. All are good selling points. And then Karate Depot has enough interest to inquire about my opinion of the product.

As for the bo, it is what I had hoped my other two oak bos would be in these respects: It feels good and lively in my hands. The overall weight is perfect for me. A subjective statement if there ever was one. It is heavy enough to be effective, and yet light enough to change directions of a strike quickly. The other two oak bos feel like dead weight. And in respect to the 6 straight bo you sent and I trimmed to eyebrow length, much dead weight. That sucker is heavy and in my personal opinion too heavy for combat, although the extra weight does have other advantages. The 1 diameter of the tapered bo fills my hands nicely and the stick feels solid and gives confidence. I started with the Shaolin school, but like the Kobudo school better as they go in more for thrusts. I have a tree that I practice penetration on and have found the following to be true: with the rattan 1 bo I get 1-1 ¼ penetration (and much flex), with your 1 ¼ straight oak bo only 3/8, if that much (but it really rocks the tree), with a 1 straight white oak bo 1 3/8. And with the double taper a whopping 2 ¼ penetration. This is probably due in part to the taper, giving a better grip.

I am interested in the bo for defense as opposed to sport. Robbers and dogs sometimes make sport of me and I carry a cane as my principle weapon. This could be a wooden Cane Master (my favorite) or a sword cane. Ive used both on dogs and men, so you could say that Im a veteran when it comes to street use. I have found that a thrust is faster and more difficult to counter than a swinging strike. Hence the interest in Kodubo school.

I find a 5 stick easier to manage in the streets than a longer one even though eyebrow length is my preferred length when space is not a consideration as it usually is, and in taxis that length is beginning to get unhandy. 6 is difficult even on a bus. I live in Centro America and the envelope people use here is smaller than in the States. In a spacious gym a 6 job would be great. Im 59 tall.

On the negative side Im disappointed in the quality. The 6 bo you sent had a slight waver that I called a wrap. I think now that I overstated it and should have called it a waver. It also has a couple of small knotholes, one of which appeared to have been filled. The tapered bo has a much more pronounced waver (it appears, like the first bo, to have a warp and then the warp reverses itself). It too has a small knothole that appears to have been filled. The knotholes in both bos are small and I dont think will cause a problem. However, the tapered bo has a fill almost at one tip the measures 18mm x 32mm. This causes me concern. The Shaolin school teaches ground strikes and with age I am afraid the patch may fall out. I sanded it smooth and whoever did a good job at colour matching, making it hard to detect. So appearance wise there is no problem. I did sand the entire bo finishing with 1200 paper and oil giving it a better feel.

Maybe the problem is that Im comparing your $20 bos with my $100-$200 canes and am not being reasonable in the quality that I expect. Perhaps Id be happier with your ash combat bo at $35. I know oak, white and red, Chinese and American. I know nothing of ash other than its a wood often used in hiking staffs.

Even considering the negatives I have no regrets in ordering the tapered bo although I do wish that it was straighter and without that large patch. I probably wont order the ash bo because by the time I receive it Ill have at least $75 tied up in the bo, and at present I have three serviceable oak bos. And while I think the bo is superior to the cane as a weapon I will continue to make a cane my primary weapon as it has many advantages that I wont go into over the bo. I do like bos and will continue to train with them with an occasional carry.  Permalink

I like. I opted for the plastic sole jobbies. There was the smell many people talk about, but I did not find it objectionable. I find the traction good, and hardly notice that Im wearing a shoe. I wear 9 and 1/2; and ordered 9, rightly or wrongly? They feel a little snug at the toe, but so far no problem as the material is stretchy. Am curious about the size 10, but I fear they maybe too large. I wish that they came in half sizes. Without socks a get lateral play at the heel. With socks they fit like a second skin, or a part of my foot. They are lighter and take up less room in my backpack then previous shoes. I am considering wearing them when traveling as they are more airport friendly than my cowboy boots.  Permalink