Jedi Kishibo: The Essence of Zenryoku-kai

Since the creation of Zenryoku-kai over ten years ago, I have sought after the understanding of the warrior of peace, the Spirit Warrior. I have to confess that there have been many times that I have questioned if my level of martial arts focus is actually a hindrance to my walking of the Way. Many great arguments can be made against the practice to the extents that I have taken them over the years... but even in reflection, they never seemed to really grasp the nature of the Jedi Way or the Force as I feel them in my core.

So, I pushed on, keeping my martial practices close to the vest, as the saying goes. It wasn't until the formation of the first of the ZRK forms, the Staff Form, that I really began to understand why I could not let go of either the deep training of the martial way, or the connection to a collective that has more than once ostracized me for attempting to share my gained insight. How I teach and train myself have evolved, but in ways that build a foundation for a martial life way, something so much more than just technique.

These changes have come together in the building of my first set of laminated polearms: a 5ft bo, a 26 in tanbo, and the Knight's Staff: the Kishibo.

The Kishibo is not round, but instead oval shaped, like the grip of a bokken. It is a bit longer than a bokken, and is neither curved nor cut for a presented edge. It has a wide side used for defense, and a narrowed side used for attack. It is staff, sword, and shield all at one time. It is also two different grains and colors of wood, to symbolize the concept of balance. A Jedi Seeker should never act in a way that goes to undo the harmonious balance of the Ashla, the light which we are all called to embody and bring to those in their dark times.

The design of this staff is not just meant to be overly esoteric. It wears it's own unique duality on bold display. This is a weapon of defense, surely, but it is also a tool of personal refinement. This is not just a bludgeon. It is polished, and refined. The cut and finish of the final shape calls for patience, control, and persistence. The training of technique for this calls for those same qualities. This is a weapon of precision, acting as a deterring display just as it acts as an impact weapon. The training for the Kishibo will be presented a bit differently than the other staff weapons have been up to this point, not only showing the practical use, but also the meditative use of this weapon.

This has been said to be a "Jedi Bokken for Bokken Jedi", and in the spirit it was said, that is a fitting description, one that both honored and humbled my efforts. While I doubt that I will ever see a day when the Jedi all walk with Kishibo in hand, this symbol of their dedication to both action and stillness, hardness and softness in appropriate measure... a man can dream.