Those who are involved in martial arts weapons are usually familiar with the Bo, which is about 72 inches in length and the Jo, which is about 48 inches in length. The hanbo is usually about 36 inches in length. The great advantage of using the hanbo is that the length is the same as a police riot stick. The techniques you can use with the hanbo can relate directly to the use of the police baton. The length of the hanbo is also ideal for weapon to weapon practice, such as counters to sword, bo or jo attacks. In my system (Bushi Satori Ryu) we practice with the hanbo rather than the bo or jo. I found this model ideal for not only striking and practicing the sword cutting movements, but one can also perform numerous control holds with this weapon as well. In conclusion, I recommend this hanbo for anyone interested in hanbo-jutsu.Rating 5 stars: Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Cane and Walking Stick Techniques for self-defense)