What do you use bokken for?

[Polemarch]

Hi everybody,

I've just Kendo classes and its going really well. I am curious though, what is the bokken used for? From what I've seen so far it seems to be used only for kata. Is this correct? I assume it is used in Iaido before you move to metal weapons?

[Khabbi]

Bokken is used in Kendo for Kata and suburi . In Iaido befor u move on to a sword ,we only use a sword , no "metal weapons" . Its allso used in Jodo , Aikido , and some other arts

basicly its a sub for a real sword ,


Khabbi

[Halcyon]

I am curious though, what is the bokken used for? From what I've seen so far it seems to be used only for kata. Is this correct? I assume it is used in Iaido before you move to metal weapons?
try using it for suburi. it often helps beginners understand how to better grip a shinai. many beginners make the mistake of gripping a shinai like you would a hammer, which prevents you from performing correct tenouchi -- that sharp snap at the moment of contact with a target.

you should be gripping the shinai so that the thumb and forefinger form a V-shaped grove, almost like you'd grip a tennis racquet. since the bokken handle is oval, it tends to facilitate this, or at least serve as a physical reminder of how you should be properly gripping the bokken/shinai/katana.

[Raiza]

It sort of depends on the kendo dojo whether bokken are used for suburi. A lot of bokken are so heavily varnished that the grip becomes very slippery and tends to fly somewhere. At the two dojos I've been to, the bokken are used for kata, unless there's a whole bunch of beginners and there's not enough shinai to go around for suburi. There are some beautiful bokken (http://sdksupplies.com/cat_stdweapons.htm#Bokuto) out there that you can do suburi with without launching it across the room.

As for iaido, many iaido beginners start with a bokken in saya. It great because it's relatively inexpensive so you're not out too much money if you want to try the martial art and it doesn't work out for you. Using bokken depends on the dojo as others may be advised to jump right in and use an iaito (blunt sword). A few beginners start with live blades! :shocked:

[niji]

and....... u may need one bokken for years :wink:

btw.... anyone knows is there any diff for the length for diff user (adults)?
like for shinai diff for gals n guys...

ja~

[Raiza]

Not that I'm aware of. It's the same bokken for both men and women.

[munenmuso]

hello. some people use heavier bokken to strengthen the arms so when using a shinai it will be relatively lighter.

[LNGUYEN]

It is used for revenge

[mystic_kendoka]

that is not proper revenge, for the ultimate and most honourable revenge i suggest my newly found technique... get a shinken(real live sword) go into wakki no kamae (moving sword backwards) and swing blade upwards aiming between the legs... if you are very cruel you may want to do this with a suburi bokken... for ultimate pain...

[Musha]

In England Sumi sensei brought a new style of Kata where people use the bokken to do basic strikes like MEN, DO, TSUKI but in the same way you would do if it was kata, ie no fumikomi etc.

I really don't like it :(, but I used a bokken for Aikido before shinai and like the bokken a little more.

[Halcyon]

btw.... anyone knows is there any diff for the length for diff user (adults)?
like for shinai diff for gals n guys...
bokken lengths are pretty standard, but i suppose you could look around at different makers to see if there's one that approximates the length of a katana that would be right for you.

as a rule of thumb, you want one where the kissaki barely touches the ground when you hold it by the tsuka by your side.

[Polemarch]

Thanks to all that answered, I think I understand now. I actually ordered a bokken mainly because the white oak ones looked so lovely I thought it would look nice in my home and encourage me to practice my kendo. :-) As it happens maybe I will be able to use it for kata later on then?

I do have another question though. Is it ok to use my bokken to practice my kendo techniques at home (solo) alongside my shinai? I have been working on around 15-20 mins a day since I started to work on my men cuts. I tested out the bokken doing the same thing and it seems to work quite well, especially as it is a little heavier. Is this a smart thign to do or should I concentrate on just the shinai?

My next class isn't till Tues hence asking you chaps :-) Thanks agan for the info.

[niji]

bokken lengths are pretty standard, but i suppose you could look around at different makers to see if there's one that approximates the length of a katana that would be right for you.

as a rule of thumb, you want one where the kissaki barely touches the ground when you hold it by the tsuka by your side.


mine too long T_T

[Padawan]

It sort of depends on the kendo dojo whether bokken are used for suburi. A lot of bokken are so heavily varnished that the grip becomes very slippery and tends to fly somewhere. At the two dojos I've been to, the bokken are used for kata, unless there's a whole bunch of beginners and there's not enough shinai to go around for suburi. There are some beautiful bokken (http://sdksupplies.com/cat_stdweapons.htm#Bokuto) out there that you can do suburi with without launching it across the room.

As for iaido, many iaido beginners start with a bokken in saya. It great because it's relatively inexpensive so you're not out too much money if you want to try the martial art and it doesn't work out for you. Using bokken depends on the dojo as others may be advised to jump right in and use an iaito (blunt sword). A few beginners start with live blades! :shocked:
You have shinai at your dojo? Kewllllll! We don't. If someone wants to practice kendo, they have to buy thir own equipement form the start (first or second week.) The beginners don't get to touch a shinai in the first month!

[mystic_kendoka]

wat do they do for the first month then? :S

[Serenity]

:devious: We use bokken for Nihon Kendo Katas. The first month I started training kendo I just used bokken and then on fine day my teacher gave me a club shinai and I was the happiest girl in the world.:ko: And this mondey I got mine first shinai. :rolleyes: Serenity :cool:

[mystic_kendoka]

has anyone oiled their bokken? or is that something stupid to do? i oiled my white oak bokuto, because i thought the colour looked better... but now in taito/teito the oil gets on my hand...

if you ever see me in kata you'll probably see me rubbing my hands on my keikogi...

[Niels]

You have shinai at your dojo? Kewllllll! We don't. If someone wants to practice kendo, they have to buy thir own equipement form the start (first or second week.) The beginners don't get to touch a shinai in the first month!
This is a joke right?
i can understand that you might need your own equipment,although this is still strange since beginners need a shinai anyway,so your dojo could just sell them to them at the beginning of the course.But that last bit "The beginners don't get to touch a shinai in the first month!" ..THAT i do not get

[Bleda]

Bokkuto does not need to be oiled really. If you feel that for some reason your bokkuto is in need of oil use tung oil on it.

[mystic_kendoka]

it was purely to change the colour and make it a bit heavier for suburi.. :)