What Is a Bokken Used For?

A bokken is a wooden sword originating from Japan that is used for martial arts weapon training.

  1. Types

    • Bokken can be made in the form of many different types of weapons such as katana, short swords, knives and even spears or cycles. Most commonly bokken are made in the form of a sword and used to practice sword skills.

    Wood

    • Bokken can be constructed from many different types of wood, but harder woods like oak and hickory are preferable since they do not break as easily. Cheap bokken are often made of soft woods and break readily if used in a full-contact situation.

    History

    • Historically, bokken were used by samurai as a training tool as they closely mimicked the weight and feel or a real sword while not being lethal when struck. This allowed warriors to practice sword fighting with full force.

    Shinai

    • Shinai are another type of practice sword consisting of bamboo strips lashed together with sinews. Shinai are less dangerous than bokken since they have significant flex when striking.

    Safety

    • While bokken are safer for practice than normal swords, they are still capable of causing blunt trauma and can kill if they strike the head. Therefore helmets and body padding should be worn when using bokken.