long squared wooden poles used as weapons by student protesters
Historical term from the 1960s–70s Japanese student protest era. ゲバ is short for ゲバルト (Gewalt), German for 'violence'.
See also: ゲバ
During the student movement era, gebabō were often used in clashes with riot police.
Compound of ゲバ (from German 'Gewalt', violence) and 棒 (stick, pole). The term emerged during the Japanese student protests of the 1960s–70s.