- Wax wood
The wood from White Wax Wood (presumably "
Ligustrum lucidum ") saplings has been prized inChina for thousands of years. It is an ideal material from which to fashion staffs, spear shafts, andwalking sticks , because it is tough, hard andflexible and can absorb shock without breaking. However, a downside to "Wax Wood" is that it is very vulnerable to wood worm. This can be treated if found early enough with various powders and oils.Fact|date=December 2007Japanese and Korean
martial artist s will typically choose a piece of waxwood cut to be 1/2' - 3/4' above their personal height, and which will have a pointed end (toward the top of the wax wood stalk) and a thicker base. The size and weight of the bostaff is determined by how near or far the staff is cut from the tip of the wax wood stalk.Various
kung fu styles also use Wax Wood for many weapons such as; spear shafts,three section staff , poles. AlthoughRattan is also used.For a demonstration of the physical characteristics of a wax wood staff, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4iOO1rfBo4
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