Jo

[sirdarksol]

One of the most wonderful Okinawan weapons to learn when thinking about self defense, the Jo is so versatile that you can use it in a wide range of situations. Even better, the training lends itself to being added to training in a wide range of other weapons, such as bo, sword, empty hands, even entirely odd weapons such as nunchaku.
Knowledge of this weapon can be applied to using broomsticks, canes, broomsticks, and other objects roughly three feet in length. Attackers can be stopped simply by raising the tip of the weapon to the level of the sternum as the attacker moves in. Of course, there are ways to defeat this defense, but your typical attacker isn't likely to respond fast enough.

[Hatori]

In Ninjutsu we use a 3 foot staff called a Hanbo which is very similar to a jo and an excellent tool to use. As Sirdarksol mentioned it is incredibly versatile and can be used to strike and also to lock armsor shoulders and excellent for takedowns and manipulations. I absolutley adore this item!!

[disgruntled]

how does a jo differ from a bo?

[Hatori]

It's shorter.

[sirdarksol]

Sorry, I meant to answer that and forgot.
"Bo" technically just means "length of wood" or "stick." So any length of wood, from an escrima (known as nitan bow in Japanese) to what most people call a "bo" can fall under that term.
The full term for what we call "bo" is "roku-shaku bo" Shaku is a unit of length that is ridiculously close to a foot. Roku is six, so the entire term means "six-foot length of wood."
A jo, I think, is called "san-shaku bo" (or maybe it's "nana-shaku bo'), meaning "three (or four) foot length of wood".

[disgruntled]

cool, thanks....

which do you find easier? i would think that the more range the better, is that true?

[sirdarksol]

The range is definitely an advantage, but it doesn't necessarily make it easier to use.
However, it's hard for me to judge. I've been using a bo for over two years now, and picked up a jo only a few months ago.
I learned jo more quickly, but I also had a framework to build that learning on, whereas I had to build that framework from the ground up when I learned bo.