Kobudo Weapons Bag: Bo / Han Bo

Sewing a bag for a Bo is not that hard (it is just a 6 foot tube with a handle) but I thought I would offer some construction tips that other practitioners may not have thought of.

I used 2 packages of light boning (like that used in shirt collars rather than used in functional corsets) and sewed it in a spiral "spring" to give the case a bit of structure. It was a bit annoying to do because I had to sew it in by hand by shoving a fish food can in the tube to keep from sewing the walls of the case together. It was also the most expensive part of the case and I don't know how much it really helps getting the bo in and out. If I make one again, I will probably leave this out.

I used the handle and strap from a discarded piece of luggage. Having both a shoulder strap and a handle is very useful.

I kept the top rigid by sewing in a pipe cap for a PVC pipe and the bottom by pushing a stiff foam can cozy to the bottom to keep the bo from wearing a hole in the bottom.

I end up carrying multiple sticks (1 bo, 2 han bo, 1 jo) in the case and it makes it much, much more convenient to get to class.

Weapon Bags for Kobudo: Attempt 1

This is my first attempt at making a case that would carry all my Kobudo weapons to class.

 

I realized that I rarely secured the weapons and preferred them to slide into pouches rather than be velcrowed in (The kama NEVER go put away in those straps, I always just ended up shoving them in somewhere). Each weapon didn't need it's own pouch, my weapons are cheap practice versions and I would rather they get stored as a pair to save time and space.

I did not like having to switch out bags between  Karate and Kobudo because, invariably, something I would want would be in the OTHER bag.

I did like that I was usually the first to be able to lay my hands on the correct weapons, the case was pretty good looking, and I could carry the weapons from place to place in a non-threatening manner.

Overall, I think that this was a good first attempt.

Some notes on construction: the stiff portions of this are a cheap blue camping cushion covered in cloth and stitched together at the bottom like pages in a book. The sai slide into a fleece sheaths and the cross ribbon are structural to hold the "blades" tightly in. The tonfa slide into a slick lined sheath and are actually my favorite part of this bag. It would work better structurally to install two shoulder straps (like a backpack) instead of the one cross strap with the buckle but I found that style to difficult to put on over my uniform top. I bought all the buckles in the camping section as "lashing straps" because it was cheaper than buying the same thing out of the sewing aisle as "buckles".

Pain Pics / Red Dragon Gloves

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

These are my new Red Dragon fencing gloves:

I only fence poly (plastic HEMA swords) and these do an okay job. I think I would rather they have big enough cuffs that they go over the sleeves of my fencing jacket or small enough cuffs that they go under. As they are, the cuffs of they fencing jacket tend to push the already large gloves off my hands (this can be negated by holding tight to the sword, though).

I was fencing with a Pentii style poly swords and got thwacked right across the padding on the right thumb. It hurt quite of bit and when I finished the match the thumb had swollen up enough that it was hard to bend. The next day the bruising and swelling went down any my thumb was fine so the gloves did their job … just kind of a 'meh' job. I've also gotten hit on the side of the pinky where there is very little padding and that seems like it could be improved.

I'm not unhappy with the gloves.... just not super happy about them either.

What did I learn? Don't get hit in the hands even if it is "free" because you opponent gets no points. And buy better gloves. 

Weapon bags for Kobudo: Searching

I have not (yet) found the perfect way to bring my weapons to Kobudo. I dislike having them in a jumble in my gym bag because the other gear could mess them up, they could mess up the other gear, it is hard to lay a hand on exactly which weapon I need at any given time and it is hard to see at glance if I have them all.

I have seen few cases on the internet that store a set of kama, tonfa and sai together. Someone in my dojo has this one:

The problem is that is it is large and it is time consuming and inconvenient to strap all the individual weapons into their respective places. Knowing that I would never take the time kept me from buying this bag.

I found one picture of a case like this (http://www.kobudo-tesshinkan.eu/News/news-en.php):

This case looks genius but a little bigger than I need (only 3 weapons) and it looks like it is international which would complicate things.

Sooooo… I decided to make my own!

All those skills I got in high school making my own purses will finally come in handy! It can't be too much different to make the perfect pouch for a tonfa than the perfect pocket for a lipstick!

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

If I know I have iffy ankles and the instructor calls for a drill where I hop laterally over a bo, I shouldn't go all out trying to keep up with everyone, I will inevitably not stick the landing and sprain my ankle. 

Also, have an ankle brace in my gym bag, not just ace bandage. 

Also, never wear clogs with heels to class.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

I learned today that you can actually sprain your thumb if it is bent back far enough.

I also learned a valuable lesson about how adrenaline dump and crash may have consequences in a real fight. When it got rolled, I basically had to sit down as my hands shook, my dilated pupils made my vision wonky, and I could not concentrate on anything. A Brown Belt got his toe nail ripped off at the same time, he too took a moment and then went on the teach a portion of the class. I learned that I am a wimp.

I don't feel like I fit in

I enjoy karate, but I will admit that I never have really felt I fit in. Most days going to the dojo feels like being a square peg shoved into a round hole over and over and over again. 

Is it me? 

Is it the teachers? 

Is it the art? 

I honestly don't know.

Those Martial Arts Feels:

 When you look at the muscle anatomy chart to figure out exactly what hurts.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Here is a peek at some of the lessons that pain has taught me:

Always punch with the first two knuckles on your hand. In this pic, I was taking out some anger on  Bob and am lucky I didn't break anything in my hand.

Also, beating people (or just a Bob) with your bare hands is painful. Hands are delicate precision tools, not indestructible weapons. It hurts less to hit stuff with a stick.

…………………

Also, I am a slow learner.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

"Letting" someone punch you in the arm is not the same as blocking.

Also, don't get hit so much.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Wear a correctly fitted fencing mask.

Also, don't let anyone hit you in the head.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

I need to remember to pull my toes up when I kick and never, ever kick Bob in the "shin" with the top of my foot. Ever.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

The Turtle Cups chest protection in inadequate and bruises to the chest suck.

Also, don't let black belts hit me, it hurts

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Don't fall down. Don't let anyone "help" you fall down either.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Dodge or block but don't ever let a kick connect.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Always remember to put sunscreen on your feet and ankles when you go to the beach. Even if it is cool and windy and you are walking in the surf.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Brazilian Jujitsu is painful. No other lesson learned.

Pain Pics

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

Goju Ryo blocks are suppose to be circular or else this happens. 

Also, I need to build more muscle on my forearms.

Those Martial Arts Feels:

When you wake up in the morning and think "Why does it feel like someone hit me?"

"....."

"Oh yeah, because that is my hobby."

I forgot to set my alarm clock this morning...……. luckily, the cat breakfast alarm is always set, always ready, and has no snooze.

Apparently it is a big controversy to wear your gi out in public, but when I weigh looking like an escaped mental patient vs. not having coffee in the morning, the choice is an easy one.

Alternate Uses for a Bo

1) Confined spaces cat removal and retrieval device

***Poke-Poke-Poke***

"I may be out in the open, Human, but only so I can plot my kitty revenge under your nose"

"A correct shooting stance is easy. Just stand in the fighting stance from that martial art you do."

Other People's Kata Goals: learn the art as it was passed down for centuries to better understand Karate and its motions and philosophies. Alternately, well enough to pass a belt test.

My Kata Goals: know it juuuust enough to be facing the same direction as the rest of the class so I don't feel like an idiot

I have heard people on the internet argue that traditional martial arts do not give a person a realistic expectation of how they would fare in on the street fighting. I think it does. If I can't win a match against an 11 year old, realistically I should just hand over my wallet.

Why are my only white clothes the only clothes I roll around on the floor and bleed on?

All the fun conversations you can have when you take up martial arts.