Bo jutsu means the skill of use of a staff or a cane. Within the Bujinkan, many differently sized staves are used, the shortes of which is the eda koppo, a pencil-length wooden stick or a metallic rod. In the Kukishinden ryu, staff techniques are considered to be born from a situation where your spear or naginata has been broken by the blade and the battle has to be continued with a broken weapon.

In the Bujinkan, we practice with a sanshaku bo (approx. 90cm staff), jo (approx. 120cm staff) and the rokushaku bo (approx. 180cm staff): We also practice with more unique staves, such as the yojibo, a battlefield-designed, log-like staff that was often reinforced with metal bands, or the shinobi zue/chigiriki, a staff or metal rod which had, among other things, a chain with an weight or a hook attached to it.

According to the tradition of Kukishinden ryu the founder of the school, Yakushimaru Ryushin (Kurando) (薬師丸隆真) was born in 1318 in Hongu to a powerful family which was an offshoot of the Fujiwara-clan. The duty of the family was to take care of the shrines of the area, and in the Genpei-war they commanded the fleet and flagship of the Kumano Suigu. Kurando partook in the war between the northern and southern court in 1336, during which he was a part of a secret plot to free the imprisoned southern court emperor, Go-Daigo. The plot was successful, but Kurando and Go-Daigo's troupe was caught by the pursuers, and in the fight that followed Kurando's naginata's blade was cut off. Kurando continued fighting with the shaft of his weapon, keeping the enemy at bay long enough for help to arrive. After the battle, emperor Go-Daigo gave Kurando the surname "Kuki". Kukishinden ryu bo-techniques are said to be based on this battle.