What is the colloquial/comman usage of '棒' I have seen it as usage of 很棒, but I don't get how that means thumbs up as it were?  Was I misunderstanding the comment on the video??           

I know that on mdbg.net there is a different meaningg = = ~~~~ : )

It says:  stick / club / cudgel / smart / capable / strong / wonderful / classifier for legs of a relay race 

Whenever I search it on Google images, it only shows thumbs up..O_O

I seen this on a video about 楚辞, I think it is worth a share :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlkBPOX2u7I
According to this answer which have over 600 people voted to agree

木棒的“棒”，乃是强盛的木
'棒' (rod) is 'strong hard wood'
你说一个人“棒势”，那么就是说他屌大
When you say someone &quot;rob form&quot; , it means he has &quot;huge penis&quot;

棒 means 'baton / rod',  which is 'stiff and hard'
The term “好棒&quot; was originally a slang for 'excellent, great, wonderful' -- meaning something is as great as a 'good hard rod' (hard rod is a metaphor for stiff penis)