Bokken from Amazon

[nimrod19]

Anybody bought this particular set of bokken from MartialArtsLand fulfilled by Amazon?

Bokken Set (http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Bokens-Practice-Swords-Training/dp/B000HJVYJ0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1257859259&sr=8-7)

Looks real cheap and I can get free shipping with prime. Will these do for Kendo forms kata?

[ender84567]

note that its a set of 2 daito or long swords, for the last 3 kendo kata you will need a shoto or short sword. While these look like they would be fine for the first 7 its the same price to get a set (long and short) from ebogu or emudo (within $1) and they offer free shipping on orders over $100, if you get a couple shinai (everyone needs more shinai right?) it puts you over the limit.

[Toecutter]

The only suggestion that I would give is buy either a white or red oak bokuto, I would not buy ones that are stained like the ones from Amazon. The stain will rub off on someone else’s bokuto. It’s not a real problem but some people have very nice ones and get a little upset if you're using a black or stained bokuto. I've personally been asked not to use a black one when visiting other dojos, maybe it's just a thing around here but I'd stick with a natural finish white oak or red oak, they don't cost much more and you can't go wrong with either.

[Neil Gendzwill]

They don't look stained to me, they look like a hard finish like polyurethane or something, which is common in cheap bokken to help keep them straight. They also look like a funny shape, not enough curve. I'd avoid these.

[nimrod19]

They don't look stained to me, they look like a hard finish like polyurethane or something, which is common in cheap bokken to help keep them straight. They also look like a funny shape, not enough curve. I'd avoid these.

I understand, thanks for the advice.

[Toecutter]

They don't look stained to me, they look like a hard finish like polyurethane or something, which is common in cheap bokken to help keep them straight. They also look like a funny shape, not enough curve. I'd avoid these.
It's hard to tell from that photo, but the set I got to replace mine looked just like that (in color). I ended up sanding them down and recoating them in poly. They were red oak filled and stained with a color that resembled the natural color. It’s not a big deal but I would ask your sensei and others at your dojo to see what they have and recommend.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I ended up sanding them down and recoating them in poly.I don't normally recommend any finish on the wood other than oil. You're less prone to blisters with just the plain wood.

[Big One]

I bought a cheap set before (not from anyone at Amazon). Lesson learned, they were not good, either crooked or cracked.

Later, bought a set from Eguchi, still using since.

[Bucho]

There are reviews on that product, this one doesn't sound very promising:

"Not Suitable For Tachiuchi (partner practice), February 15, 2006
By yotesong

This bokken feels heavier than my Japanese white oak bokken. It simulates the weight of a live blade katana made for tameshigiri (test cutting) more accurately. The sticker on the wrapping says it's "red oak" but I'm not sure if it's American red oak, Japanese red oak, or other. The description on here says it's just a generic hardwood. It's beautiful because it's highly figured but it's not suitable for all swordsmanship practice. It would be a nice display piece without the tsuba (hand guard). The tsuba is ugly and mine is bent so it's rippled around the edge.

I'd recommend it for solo cutting/kata practice but not for partner practice where it would have contact with another bokken, due to the grain of the wood not following the curve of the "blade" and/or knots (both of which create weak spots). For partner practice, I'd recommend a Japanese red oak (aka kashi) bokken at the very least or a Japanese white oak (shiro kashi) bokken which is more durable than Japanese red oak but is more expensive."

[Wesley Myers]

I second 'endo' on this. E-bogu.com has some nice bokken. I have bought a few from them. They can be seen here. (http://www.e-bogu.com/Bokken_s/16.htm)

For only a couple dollars more you can get a good quality set of red oak daito (long) and shoto (short) bokken. They are the proper length (29 inch blade - 2.4.5 shaku/sun/bu) for Kendo kata and you can use them for Iaido as well as Kendo.

If you get one with a bohi to hear the 'whooshing' sound you won't want to use that in contact for kata as the bohi is just routered out of the wood and it will chip up with the contact of Kendo kata and bokken waza. The bohi is kind of nice for Iaido, though.

[nimrod19]

Thanks all for the input. Will look for a better bokken. I'll probably go for this one:

E-Mudo Bokuto (http://www.e-mudo.com/100cm_50cm_Master_White_Bokuto_set_from_Japan_p/whiteoakbokutoset.htm)

[Wesley Myers]

Thanks all for the input. Will look for a better bokken. I'll probably go for this one:

E-Mudo Bokuto (http://www.e-mudo.com/100cm_50cm_Master_White_Bokuto_set_from_Japan_p/whiteoakbokutoset.htm)

You should ask your dojo-mates if they would like to order anything at the same time as you - that way you might be able to save on shipping and be courteous.

[nimrod19]

You should ask your dojo-mates if they would like to order anything at the same time as you - that way you might be able to save on shipping and be courteous.

Will do that.

[MikeW]

A couple people in our club have bought those and they seem pretty well made.


Thanks all for the input. Will look for a better bokken. I'll probably go for this one:

E-Mudo Bokuto (http://www.e-mudo.com/100cm_50cm_Master_White_Bokuto_set_from_Japan_p/whiteoakbokutoset.htm)