半棒術
HANBŌJUTSU

Hanbo-jutsu – Bujinkan cane techniques, “half-staff” or stick can also be called 三尺棒 Sanshakubō (three shaku* stick); which is a stick about 90 centimeters long, and usually made of white oak.

The first thing to know about bōjutsu is that “the essence of martial arts is jūtaijutsu, and the main weapons used are stick and stone.”

Jūtaijutsu is the basis, and only after learning this will you understand how to use a bō. In Kukishin-ryū there was a weapon called 棒刀 Bōtō (sword-stick) of 3 shaku and 5 sun (106 cm) with a stone ring attached to one end**.

Later the warriors got more skilled and the stone was removed and the stick shortened to 3 shaku. It is said: “Unless you have mastered the truth of the 3-shaku-bō, the principle of sword fighting (kenpō) will elude you.”

Hanbo-jutsu – Bujinkan cane techniques the traditional way

After the big success with my “Stick Fighting for Self Defence” in 2010 (described below), I made a “Traditional Stick Fighting” video in Tallin 10 years later in 2020 where I covered the traditional techniques of Kukishin-ryu.

On this video Mats show all 16 Hanbō techniques from the nearly 700 year old school Kukishin-ryū in the Bujinkan system. In the first level there is nine techniques against someone armed with a short sword or knife. The second and third levels is against someone armed with a sword. The instructions are in English.

This video was recorded at a seminar done by Mats Hjelm in Tallinn, Estonia in February 25-26’th 2020. The seminar was organised by Bujinkan Estonia.

九鬼神流半棒術
KUKISHIN-RYÛ HANBŌJUTSU

三心之構 SANSHIN NO KAMAE

1. 型破之構 KATAYABURI NO KAMAE
2. 無念無想之構 MUNENMUSO NO KAMAE
3. 音無之構 ŌTONASHI NO KAMAE

Hanbo-jutsu – Bujinkan cane techniques as Self defence

The hanbō can be used as a means of striking, restraining or even throwing someone. It is useful to know because sticks are abundant and can be picked up if attacked.

In Bujinkan we rather hold the hanbō as if it was not a weapon, it could be disguised as a cane for example. Because of the length and strength of the hanbō it is a very capable self defence weapon.

In the summer 2010 Budo Shop released a Stick Fighting DVD with Mats Hjelm containing all the techniques from the Stick Fighting book (see below).

(Clip from the Stick Fighting DVD by Mats Hjelm)

In 1971 Kodansha released a book with Hatsumi Sōke and Quentin Chambers, this book have been a good resource for many martial arts instructors and practitioners, not just within the Bujinkan, and this for a good reason.

The techniques from the book is a collection of techniques from various ryū-ha, mostly from Kukishin-ryū. The book have step-by-step instructions with over 300 pictures, but if you don’t have previous experience in Bujinkan the movements might be difficult to fully understand.

Following is the techniques covered in the book “Stick Fighting; techniques of self defence” by Masaaki Hatsumi and Quintin Chambers and the “Stick Fighting” DVD by Mats Hjelm released by Budo Shop in 2010.

* One shaku is approximately equal to one foot, and 3 shaku is almost 91 cm.

** At least one other branch of Kukishin-ryu (not Bujinkan!) hold the hanbō exactly as they would hold a sword and fight from there. If they had a stone attached to the end it would make sense.