Ultimate Bo Staff Buying Guide | Michelle C. Smith

[@mathiasH9108]

I just found your channel earlier and I got hooked pretty quick. Swinging my broomstick around in my living room while my cat is judging 29 year old me gives me some peace of mind ;)

[@DantheComicArtist]

Why don't you create your own online, customized staff shop? I don't know, i think there will be plenty of people who trust you and will be sure to pick just the right staff for them, knowing that it comes from you. It just came to mind heh! I wish you all the best Michelle!

[@luqmanhakim8110]

Yes, i definitely trust her and her opinions 🤘🤘

[@wayneadams3307]

I definitely buy a stave from her, she speaks from experience.

[@realgranolaappleraspberry]

I’m VERY new to martial arts, weaponry and fighting in general but have always admired the craft so I decided why not learn it? Making a staff is such a great tip! I live right by a hardware store so I can easily walk to it and save tons of money since I’m just starting out. I really appreciate this video and will reference back to it in the future when I’m further along in my journey!

[@dazofthemoo1531]

G'day Sensei. I started following you about six months ago and didn't take long for my 16yo daughter to get keen. So thanks for making Father, daughter bonding really cool & badass! We bought solid bamboo broomsticks, cut to length etc. They're great. But, I think I will order a couple of battons (mine will be a camo) haha. Really appreciate you sharing. Its been great learning what most people wish they could do. (C'mon, everyone watches your vids and thinks "that's cool. I wish I could do that.) So thankyou, now we 'sorta' can. From two of your badass fam, keep looking good, looking bad! 🇭🇲❤🧹

[@onepenny5382]

You can also go into Michael's Art Supply and buy a decorative bamboo stick. Only cost about $5-10 each, and come at 7' so you can cut it down to where ever you'd like. Plus seemed to have some kind of preservative that keeps it from drying out. I've been using 2 for the last 2 years, and you can basically form it how ever I want. They begin to crack down the sides, it's unavoidable, but when you use packaging tape it becomes very sturdy. Duct tape is usually hard to get off if it's been there for a while and leaves a residue that needs to be cleaned off. In my personal opinion, I prefer the springy one because it's much more forgiving when it smacks me. I've gotten a few fractures from the one I taped up too tight. Between the two staves, I can have a really hard one for practicing more traditional techniques and a springy one so I can do more of a contact/dragon style. A taper from one side to the other is fun to play with too.

[@robertosantinni9656]

I really like your enthusiasm. It shows you really like what you are doing.

[@ayushmourya2831]

She is always ready to help bad ass family without any hesitation 🤓💓

[@VapeDrDan]

Use rem oil on the sections and make sure to thoroughly clean. I carry a baton for work and regular maintenance will save you from having to smash it on the ground. A couple taps on the side will release the friction lock 14:43

[@FantasiaDeep]

Thank you Michelle. The Illuminator looks very beautiful while spinning!

[@BudoBrothers]

Thanks For The Review!!! Your the best 🙏

[@gothaestheticgirl]

I came from TikTok looking for a staff. I started training myself lightsaber moves. At age 3 I was using a long paint roller wood handle. With silver metal tape over the entire paint roller handle. I was so good it split in two when practicing with my dad. Before his illnesses rip.

[@Beverly-o3k]

If you made a little online shop on some staffs you recommend, I would totally buy! I know that it's a big commitment, but you should really thing about it!

[@VapeDrDan]

Wait. Wait. Wait. Am I just now finding out that you’re Canadian? We really do have all the best!

[@saoirsemorridanes]

First of all: YOUR BOOTS .❤ Are those Dr. Martin's? Second of all: I was SO happy with the baton part from 21:09 ! The Starline batons are indeed very affordable! (Mine was 32,95 EUR - my husband bought it from a Dutch twirling website.) Thank you for another informative video!

[@4EntertainmentOnly]

have to do t he hero pose and smash the ASP baton on the floor. If you like the smooth tip...you might want to cover it cause the tips gets damaged from smashing.

[@Jesusfgg]

Very Awesome Vídeo Congratulations Michelle 😊😊😊

[@Darkmatter_studio]

Oooo I want the Jackson Rudolph staff !! I use a 5”” tapered bo but that one is so pretty 🌈

[@Cmaryu]

Re: the Kali Sticks you can get them in 32" and 34" from some places, as that is the length we use in our FMA system.

[@budokaiboy]

Broom handle from Home Depot or Lowes and Hockey tape. The dowels at those places are only 4'.

[@FantasiaDeep]

Oh,and I hope you get a few solid colour batons 😁😁🎁 🎄 Happy Holidays 🎇🎇🎇

[@bluebomber81]

Definitely have to go for the kali sticks and baton down the line. Ain't hiding it either, people who bust balls over that kind of stuff are sad. Nothing healthy going on with people who do that, so I try not to mind them. Really working this all down until I can do all those cool flippy pen tricks that have bothered me for years and I'm not gonna let them stop me. 😂

[@AV8R_Surge]

@5:40 the reaction of the spectator in the back room in the right when Michelle catches that super toss on the trail end of 4 pirouette @12:41 that Hun Bo' tip ends look like they have met some action and kissed some teeth 😬 @23:04 didn't even cross my mind until Michelle said it 🤣 "Young lady: shame on you" 😉 Purple sounds cool. However, I heard once you go black, you never go back! (I know! I'm sorry! I just had to say it! I'm so weak minded 😭)

[@maryduarte3248]

hi michelle happy new years

[@antwonewilson1647]

Hey I'm a beginner and would like to thank you for the info. I'll be going to homie depot for my first made staff. Looking forward to joining your free style staff . Pray for me 😂

[@SteveO2021]

It's been awhile since I last commented but you really are the best. What a bad-ass

[@SenseiEmmett]

I love bo staffs but lack the skill you have Michelle. I love all the colourful staffs you have too

[@traditionalmartiallife5425]

Hey Sensei, Im very sorry to hear of the passing of your father, you are in our thoughts. I have donated and shared link for your sisters charity event. Osu

[@lockdowndb4863]

This was really helpful, there was some guidance in there for everyone. Also you would be trying to explain things, but your crazy spinning videos would be playing in background. Like "this is important so listen closely", then you start playing more of your crazy highlights😂

[@SacredSincerity]

So grateful i found you!! I only have a few moves under my belt with a led staff i for from a festival years ago. I'm ready to get more serious about the craft because it's my favorite way to meditate and connect to my essence 🥹🥹

[@GeoffreyABruce]

Thanks for an amazing video, Christa! I think it may have convinced me to buy a baton, to match my low cielings lol Straight men aren't often associated with baton twirling, but I think it's super badass and weapon-like. Would love to see some baton basics tutorials, but from more of a freestyle staff/stunt fighting angle!

[@keishareginahoestiawan5834]

I like the pink bo staff

[@nicolehamadeh7616]

Omg u’re so good at it

[@nrig9609]

Maybe you know it. Have you ever try a "porra". My cousin was the "porrero" from the foreign legion in my country and was impressive. Imagine a big staff with a bronze sheep head (very heavy ) for the most experienced one. You can find a lot of video with classic porra on youtube.

[@mikeransom3654]

What an amazing video! So helpful!

[@Auto-Bots.Custom.Detailing]

Loved the video, thank you

[@axelroge]

Hello ! How are you ? Here's a big fan of yours! I wanted to consult you. I am about to buy a 1.40-centimeter collapsible stick, should it be 1.40-centimeter or 1.50-centimeter? Thank you

[@DarstarEddy]

*Thanks for the tip*

[@timedriverable]

Wish you might have mentioned the thickness sizes of the dowels.

[@andygarcia3599]

please teach us to spin the staff like sakura (sakura cardcaptors) does when she transforms her magic key!

[@mytube785]

Is there a video for the selection of laser sabers from Michelle ?

[@AV8R_Surge]

Yes. She has a video on lightsabers. Check her KZbin channel's list of videos.

[@gronkymug2590]

Any foam staffs you would consider useful for beginners?

[@glennmacneil549]

The Purple Heart hanbo is not on the budo brothers site. And purple heart is a hardwood. It’s one of the hardest hard woods… trust me, I’m a woodworker 😊. They have a phenolic hanbo though. Not sure how much the weight compares to the hardwood.

[@DFX2KX]

Honestly I *wasn't* giggling like an immature idiot until the fact you've heard all the jokes got pointed out. THEN I giggled. lol. I have used a broomhandle as a staff before, it works surprisingly well. Taping it is a really good idea, since it's often pine and that can splinter.

[@kdefensemartialarts8097]

Thank you for your video.

[@Avivush]

is the wood dowell actually like a broom stick?

[@cameranerdsmedia]

23min in and it starts getting wild

[@mikeransom3654]

Loved this!

[@Hotdogcity]

Wow! Badass indeed!!

[@afinepoint4u]

Perhaps I missed it. How do you determine the length needed? I would think a taller person with long arms would want or need a larger/ longer staff. And hand size? My gloves are all XL.

[@frankvazquez4050]

For the money I think dowels and broom handles or tool handles provide enough variety. There are many ways to customize them. I'm not a fan of "performance" nunchaku, staffs or balisongs. Although an unsharpened sword makes sense since nobody needs to die doing sword tricks.

[@scottdrebus]

Do you have any LED staves? What about fire staves? Finally, you mentioned sizing for a baton, but what are your recommended proportions for other size staves based on spinning style?

[@robertosantinni9656]

I am 70 years old. I have found a staff is better for me as a walking aid (and to grab onto when my body decides to shoot lightening bolts through my back, causing me to fall down). I also want it sturdy enough to use for self defense (can’t always carry my sidearm). I am 6ft tall and weigh 250 pounds. I want a 55-60 inch staff. Could you recommend something for me?

[@yesofastora3572]

what do you think would happen if this lady actually had to fight with one of those staffs

[@yesofastora3572]

i mean the spinnings cool but in the dojo if youre flourishing your opponent will just poke you in the stomach and halt your training for 30 minutes while you pick yourself up off the ground

[@4EntertainmentOnly]

Did you speak about the tape your using?

[@KCx1286]

Hey Michelle, quick question does your red illuminator bo have a confetti pattern to the wrap? I ordered one recently and it is confetti wrap, which is a big difference from my green illuminator which is like the Jackson Rudolph one. Also just a note that GForce makes the JR and Century bos which is why they are similar

[@Bahujan_Boy]

Very nice

[@emekaawobokun9521]

For the DIY stave, what are the recommended dimensions and weight ?

[@VasiHasan]

Is there a rule for how long a staff should be for a beginner?

[@persephone-vibes]

you’ve probably found an answer by now, but not necessarily, just know that the shorter a staff is typically the faster it spins. in the circus we usually start kids out on longer staves (4-5 ft). everyone has different preferences though, the maker of the video seems to prefer a length of four feet, i like a length of about 3 1/2 (at 5’5”) and i know people who spin doubles and singles the length of kali sticks. i would say start at 4’ and go from there, you can make a shorter staff later.

[@pearlwilliam3245]

Hey what's the ideal height of the stick?

[@sharonlundholm1841]

Some people advocate for PVC pipe staves, chin to floor for length, for beginners. What do you think of that advice?

[@michelle-c-smith]

They’re an inexpensive and accessible option for sure. Howver, because they are hollow, I find that pvc is often very bouncey and more difficult to work with. They will sometimes vibrate right out of your hands, especially when trying to catch.

[@sharonlundholm1841]

@@michelle-c-smith Thank you Michelle. I appreciate your reply and I appreciate all your hard work creating great content! ❤️

[@taewankim6283]

You should do a baton joke video(s). I bet your community can sponsor the videos. 😁😁😁

[@syedmansoor1571]

Yeh michalle you are the only one original pieces of God nobody as you I like u very much ur awesome

[@milananderson7806]

Is there any way to buy any that are not thicker on one side and thinner on the other like you showed above that you still trust as much as a wood dowel? I've gone to Home Depot, Lowes, and an actual hardware store and none of them have a dowel that's 7/8 diameter and 4 feet long. I'd rather have the specifics you chose, but I only found 7/8 diameter and 3 feet long, which may not look as cool on camera, or would just be harder to work with since it's smaller and i'm a long limbed human hahaha.

[@Vincent7385]

Just came across your channel because I have a 10 years old boy that is starting to learn to use bo staff for his taekwondo class. He is on the small side and the bo staff that came with his equipments is too long for his height since it keep hitting the floor. How do I measure what length is appropriate for his height? Is there a formula that I can use to figure out for what he needs? THANKS! He will love your channel when I introduce him to it.

[@sawboss5794]

What diameter is you dowels? I have one that's 1 1/8”. It's pine. I like the weight but not the thickness. (It's around 6’ long).

[@obatasari169]

Hi mam How we get this type sticks ?

[@charlescombs2522]

Michelle: I am also 5’ 8” I bought a 6 foot staff is this too long to spin with? How do I know what size to get?

[@marsvigila6664]

Powerful and gorgeous

[@mkleng]

Michelle, there NO jokes here about your baton. Suggest the next video please tell us about all the jokes please!! :)

[@matthewsorino2049]

Can a dojo staff be ok in bo staff tricks

[@matthewsorino2049]

Or pocket staff

[@lasses.andersen4696]

it's always the ones you cant buy, that I want the most 😀...

[@oahukane]

Hello! I'm 6'3". What would be the right Staff Height for me?

[@cheguevara3574]

You are awesome, sweet. inspiration

[@torbennielsen8110]

You are so [BEEP] cool

[@wonderwhy5824]

Shes so pretty

[@ollietheartist1719]

Oh my god who did the cat painting I fkin love it 🥰

[@Auto-Bots.Custom.Detailing]

Would the second Bo hold up to real world abuse? Or is it more performative? I’m looking for a nice hardwood, or aluminum.

[@SandraSantos-ii5nv]

Good. Please legendas in Portuguese. I am From Brasil😘🍀🍀🍀🤭🤗

[@MrPhilbautista]

You need to get a baton with a glowing staff, just to trigger all those Star Wars fans.

[@headlightman]

I was surrounded by 5 black dudes in my hood in the middle of the night. I was walking with my staff across a field to a friends house. I seen them right as the street met the field. I was like oh fk! I tried to ignore them but got out by the dude that had just moved on my street. He already had a rap sheet from stealing from people on my street. He hollered at me, hey white boy!!! Where u going with that stick? I said to a friends house. He's like come here, let me see that stick! They were in a circle. I walked over to them and gave it to him. He's was holding hit by the middle dipping his arm feeling the weight. He's like yeah! This is nice! Started laughing. They started to walk away. Him leading them. I hollered at him! Hey dude can I have my stick back. They all stopped dead in their tracks. He turned around, paused for about 10 seconds before throwing it back to me. Caught it mid air. Last thing I said was thanks! Continued to walk on. That was the first time be surrounded by dudes in my hood. Second time friends pulled up and told me to get in the car! 😂 Bloomfield all day! Bloomfield don't play! 😂 Over 50 years here! LoL House beside got shot up 5 times. I had to up grade from a staff! Bwahahahah Loved your video! Subbed and shared!

[@headlightman]

*called out. Bloomfield all day is on YT by the way! 😂

[@Mr.Revere]

This ladie looks like she was born with the staff in her hands 🥴

[@robertj7414]

Bo means staff. You are just saying "staff" staff.

[@Kazaksmarsa]

Как же они любят много говорить и мало показывать...

[@heykool69]

Thanks for the guides, but i WOULDN'T want to meet you in a dark alley. You're a WOLF in a sheep skin :)

[@hapyharyhard0n581]

Wait, you preferred a longer, thicker shaft since age 5? ....savage.

[@nikolaydubna4564]

Ни о чем

[@yogayoggie2209]

Are you married Michelle

[@katg9756]

SWEET, thanks for this video! I really value your advice.