Hanbō-jutsu (半棒術), translated from Japanese as "half staff technique", is the martial art of using a staff weapon called Hanbō which simply means "half staff"( half the length of the rokuhskau bo or 6 foot staff ). 
Staves have been in use for thousands of years in East Asian martial arts.
The style of " three foot staff" training at this dojo derives from the Kukishinden Ryu, as taught within the Bujinkan Dojo.
The half staff was originally believed to have developed after a warriors halberd ( naginata ) or spear ( yari ) had been broken in battle and also from commoners needing to use their walking cane for self defence. Hanbo-jutsu is not Jo-jutsu ( 4 foot staff ). However, the Jo is also studied in the Kukishinden Ryu and practiced at this dojo.

Thrusting, swinging, and striking techniques often resemble empty-hand movements, following the philosophy that the hanbō is merely an "extension of one’s limbs". Consequently, hanbō-jutsu is often incorporated into other styles of empty-hand fighting, like traditional Jiu-jitsu.
Training at this dojo will revolve around a strict curriculum teaching variety of techniques and the three levels of Traditional Kukishinden Ryu Hanbo-jutsu kata from short sword ( kodachi ) and long sword ( tachi ) attacks.