Iron Wood Gijo Sticks from the Philippines

Overall Length: 26″
Weight – 1lb, 3oz

Iron Wood Gijo Sticks from the Philippines – The Flat Octagon shape Stick: Flat sticks are made out of a rare Philippine hardwood called Gijo (gee-ho’) …sometimes spelled Guijo or Giho.

Gijo, is one of the most favored woods used by boats-men who make their fishing and traveling vessels of it. The shiny appearance of the wood does not come from a coating of wax, but rather it is an oil that is a natural part of the wood’s composition. Only rare Lignum Vitae and a small number of other exotic hardwoods have this quality.

Gijo contains natural occurring oils which can repel water and that is why it is chosen by most wood carvers who live near the sea in the Philippines. Wooden furniture, such as chairs and tables made of other types of wood exposed to elements such as the sun, rain, and salty air will crack in time but Gijo does not. Gijo wood, even today, is sometimes found buried in the ground or in the ocean and then brought up and used for making boats and furniture. There is no other wood like this, as you can see!

As for it’s strength, Gijo outdoes the strength of both Kamagong and Molave. Additionally, Kamagong can crack upon impact, and Molave does not have the waxy finish, though Molave wood still makes for a very good impact weapon. These are the advantages of Gijo over the other the other iron woods in the Philippines. Gijo Iron Wood varies in color shades such as brown, to light brown, to a tan color to a darker tan. the one sold at the time is from the crop of wood shade we ended up with. Color has nothing to do with hardness differences.

Gijo wood is not made for impact weapon sparring or for drilling purposes. Gijo Ironwood sticks traditionally were used as impact weapons designed to break bones and/or kill. Traditionally in tropical SE Asian areas, rattan sticks were always used to practice martial art drills or for sparring due to the fact rattan will just fray and not break off like any type of wood will from constant hitting sticks together.  A big plus is, rattan hurts a lot less than getting hit with Gijo Iron Wood sticks. Gijo ironwood sticks will break a sparring helmet. Its much too dangerous to use these for sparring so its NOT recommended by anyone involved in TFW.

One more point: You will not be able to get Gijo wood anywhere else. One must be very well connected in the Philippines just to get it shipped out of the country. This is a VERY rare wood found only on a few islands in the Philippines.

Each Gijo Iron Wood Stick is  sold singularly.

 

MORE INFORMATION ON GIJO IRONWOOD:

Guijo (Shorea guiso) is a tree species belonging to the family Dipterocarpaceae, primarily found in various regions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. The term “Guijo,” often spelled “Gijo,” is derived from the Tagalog language and has Spanish influences. In some English literature, it may appear as “giho.”

Guijo is highly valued for its applications in construction and furniture making, as well as for any projects requiring durable hardwood with an aesthetically pleasing grain. It is also utilized as a decking material due to its natural resistance to rot and insect damage; however, it is important to note that termites can infest rotting Guijo that has been in contact with the ground for extended periods. Additionally, Guijo’s durability can be compromised when exposed to harsh weather conditions without proper treatment or when it remains in contact with the ground for a prolonged duration. Therefore, it is best employed in situations where exceptional durability is essential, and the material will not face severe environmental exposure.