Hand-carved Kanji Bo Staffs

[Nolan]

Greetings everyone!

i am posting here to get a sense of how interested folks might be in the purchase of high-quality bo or jo staffs augmented by hand-carved chinese or japanese kanji down the length of the staff.

i have done one for myself, writing a long poem using kanjis from the i-ching, and putting the hexagrams on the sides by their respective kanji. Allison thinks IT is very beautiful and wonders whether others might be interested in purchasing similar hand-decorated staffs, using the best quality woods available of course. i am interested as well and am writing here in hopes that you all will write to me and help me gauge the possible interest in these personalized staffs.... i have photos i can send you via email if you are interested

my email is itrocksmyworld@yahoo.com

thanks!

peace

Nolan ;-)

[David Craik]

What sort of woods are available? And do you have any pics you may be able to post here?

[nicojo]

I may not be so interested in a full length poem, but a few kanji or bonji would be swell. Post pics!

[Nolan]

i just tried about twenty times to post a pic.... i guess IT's not happening and i don't really know why 'cause IT uploaded every single time.... but no pic! IT's been a while since i posted originally, so i remain new to this....

anyway, i am currently working on bo staffs made from Brazilian Tigerwood, a dense, durable, and high-impact wood perfectly suited to high-quality weaponry and artistry....

if anyone would like, you can email me at itrocksmyworld@yahoo.com and i will email you a pic or two.... or maybe someone could email me and tell me how to put the pic up here.... that would be okay too....

hope to hear from you!

peace

Nolan ;-)

[Gene Williams]

I want one with "Paradise Lost" carved on it :t2:

[CEB]

How do they look after a month on two of KumiBo?

The $20 straight staffs from places like century actually work pretty good for the money. Once you really beat them up good then tape up the splintering Bo-monouchi and use them for Kama-Bo practice.

[nicojo]

I want one with "Paradise Lost" carved on it

That doesn't surprise me at all, my presbyter friend. :laugh: But think of poor Nolan, don't you think he'd go blind carving it? Unless his wife can help him out.

For me, maybe "Beowulf" (Hwaet!) or "Wasteland". Don't worry, no "Song of Myself." I'm not that cruel. :laugh: Though wouldn't this line be great: "Do I contradict myself? Very well I contradict myself. I am Large. I contain Multitudes. Now I will kick your ***. WHACK!"

[Gene Williams]

I hate Walt Whitman!!! Beowulf would be cool. Also, Chanson de Roland. :)

[nicojo]

I thought you might hate weird ol' Walt. But you have to admit, it would be a carving challenge due to length. And the opponent might be baffled by the nonsensical messages long enough to be struck down.

Ah, we better not derail the thread anymore. But I almost suggested Byron's Don Juan simply for length as well. The challenge is something long, aphoristic, and martial. So: Paradise Lost, Beowulf, Chansons de Roland it is. I want three in ironwood. Heck, if there are rice grains with tiny passages on them, a bo should be easy.

---
Nolan, here are some examples of Bonji, which were sanskrit characters (like kanji, but originally from India and spread from there into China and Japan with Buddhist texts) that were often used by samurai as horimono (carvings on the katana blade), tsuba (like the one on my swordstore iaito), maedate (the crest on a kabuto/helmet), and on samurai armor itself. They were like prayers to various deities to aid in battle, or simply reminders of a particular state of mind for the wearer. So I think they'd actually be well-suited as carvings on a bo, though some doing some research into the meaning and use of them would give more authenticity than just "Ooh those are purty".

Bonji link (http://members.westnet.com.au/whiz/richard/Kanji/Bonji.htm). Apologies if you already knew about the bonji.

BTW the easiest way for me to post pictures is to save it to an easily-found folder on the desktop and treat it like an email attachment. But it has to meet the size requirements of Budoseek. You could try posting them in the Member Support forum until you get it right.