Does size matter?

[hobbit]

Having grabbed your attention . . . :cheerful:

Having spent an evening learning kendo with bokken . . . an interesting question arose - if the idea is to improve posture and maai, why was the shinai developed to be the length it is i.e. longer than a sword, rather than the same length ? Some one out there must be able to explain that to me . . .please . . .

[Charlie]

Two reasons, I think.

One, to make it easier to hit the opponent!

Two, to give more substance to the shinai, to make it heavier, to spread it out so that it doesn't hurt the body as much when you strike someone with it.

That's me just thinking out loud.

[GMason]

Hi,

In the past as I understand it. Anyone was allowed to use what ever length shinai they wanted. There where even different styles of shinai. Such as the Yagyu shinai which was encased in a leather bag. But in more recent times (the last fifty or so years.) The length and weight of shinai's was standardised. So that there was only a couple of different lengths and size's. I see it as the usual Japanese way of think. Adapt yourself....... not the art you do ???

I suppose it is the same in Jodo the Jo is a set size and you adapt the that size. Not the other way around ??

[emitbrownne]

Oooh.. I ve just had a thought..
Is there an official size/length/weight for bokuto?

I ask because I have 4 and none are the same size nor weight. (I use them on different days when trying to focus on different aspects of my kendo)

And.... looking on the internet there is a great variety.
for various schools therer are various styles...

[Neil Gendzwill]

When shinai and bogu were originally invented there wasn't a standard as has been pointed out. As use of the equipment became more popular instructors would try to drum up business by visiting competing schools and challenging the instructors there. One of the tricks was to use an extra-long shinai and just tsuki the poor fellow while remaining out of range. Eventually it was agreed (don't ask me who or when, all this is from my sensei) to standardise shinai lengths to make such competition fair. You'll note that the blade part of the shinai isn't actually that long, still within range for a normal (longish) sword - equivalent of a 2.6 shaku sword or so. The handle is longer to accomodate kote, you couldn't readily grasp a normal shinken tsuka wearing kendo kote. The shape is what it is due to the limitations of the material.


Oooh.. I ve just had a thought..
Is there an official size/length/weight for bokuto?

I've never seen an official number but bokken for kendo kata are all a pretty standard shape and length. My own bokken is a custom design and is slightly (1/4") longer and more curved - nobody has ever given me grief about it.

[Charlie]

My own bokken is a custom design and is slightly (1/4") longer and more curved - nobody has ever given me grief about it.

*Walks up to Neil and hands him some grief*