Bokken
木刀 · bokutō
Also known as: bokutō
A wooden replica of a Japanese sword, usually made of red or white oak, used in aikido, kendō, iaidō and kenjutsu to practice kata in place of a sharp katana.
Quick Facts
JapanAbout the weapon
The bokken, in Japanese also bokutō, is a wooden implement shaped like a Japanese sword, intended for training in martial arts. In its present form it began to be used in the Muromachi period (1336–1600) during samurai training. According to legend, Miyamoto Musashi carved a bokken from an oar on his way by boat to a duel with Sasaki Kojirō and shattered his opponent's skull with a single blow. It is traditionally made of red or white oak; white oak is somewhat more expensive and prestigious. Ebony, hickory, persimmon or walnut are also used. Folk belief holds that wounds caused by biwa wood (Japanese loquat) never heal. The All Japan Kendo Federation standard sets the overall length of the long bokken (tachi) at around 102 cm with a hilt of about 24 cm, and of the short one (kodachi) at around 55 cm with a hilt of about 14 cm. The last four Japanese bokken-making workshops are based in the city of Miyakonojō. In aikido, kendō, iaidō, kenjutsu and jōdō, the bokken serves as a substitute for a sharp sword. It is not used for sparring but for practicing kata; for free sparring, a bamboo shinai is used for safety reasons. A blow with a bokken can nonetheless cause comminuted fractures, damage to internal organs and other blunt injuries similar to those caused by a club.
Related weapons
- Training substitute for: Katana
Katas using this weapon
People
- Miyamoto Musashi — Made it famous