This 50" (127 cm) long traditional Jo has been carved from a solid piece of South American Purpleheart hardwood. Also known as amaranth, purpleheart has gorgeous tones and a Janka hardness rating of 2710. It is strong, dense, and fairly heavy, making an excellent training tool. After giving a final sanding with 220 grit paper, we have given our Jo several coats of tung oil, which will lock in the color and provide a strong coating that resists wear, soiling or denting from light contact. Because of the unique properties of purpleheart, the colouration is very sensitive to long-term exposure to sunlight. A program of maintenance is recommended to prevent gradual darkening of the wood over time.  For an additional fee we will custom engrave your jo (as seen in the photos) with Japanese kanji & kana.