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ahsq
19th April 2008, 03:42
Thank guys for your wonderful comments. Now I know that I should not get a steel Katana Sword without proper training under professionals. I think I should get a wooden Bokken for a beginner like me.

What type of Wood in a Bokken should I get? :cry:

Could anyone tell me what Bokken I should get from the links below:

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=mycroft02-20&index=blended&link%5Fcode=qs&field-keywords=bokken
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=bokken

Brian Owens
19th April 2008, 06:33
Hi, Jeff. Good questions.

First a bit of terminology.

"Katana sword" is redundant. While not all swords are katana, all katana are swords; so it's just "katana."

Similarly, all bokken are wooden practice swords, so "wooden bokken" is redundant. It's just "bokken" (or "bokuto" -- the terms are interchangable, and some schools use one term over the other).

As far as what type you should get, it's easy: whatever your teacher says. Some ryu have specific size and shape requirements that are unique to their ryu.

Among the "standard" bokken, Japanese white oak is a good material, with true Japanese red oak being a close second. Most "red oak bokken," though, aren't true Japanese red oak, and are made of inferior wood that won't hold up.

Among those in the links you provided, some of the brands are ones I'm not familiar with, and some of the ones I am familiar with are selling junk.

The only reliable choice I saw was on the Amazon link: the one from e-bogu.com. E-bogu is a well-known source of equipment and supplies for Kendo and Iaido practitoners. If you haven't been to their site, you should give it a good look over.

HTH.

J. Mijares
19th April 2008, 14:09
As far as what type you should get, it's easy: whatever your teacher says. Some ryu have specific size and shape requirements that are unique to their ryu.

Ditto what Brian said.

The style your sensei teaches will determine what kind of bokken you get. Are you studying with someone now?

-- Jay

ahsq
19th April 2008, 18:03
Thanks for Brian's knowledge and recommandation.

I am not in studying with anyone but I am looking forward to spend sometime for it.

DDATFUS
19th April 2008, 23:38
I am not in studying with anyone but I am looking forward to spend sometime for it.

In that case, the fastest way to find answers for your questions might be to look for a reputable sensei in your area-- it will do you a lot of good to have someone that you can talk to face-to-face, rather than online, and a qualified teacher can give you much more specific advice than we can offer.

Brian Owens
20th April 2008, 06:30
Jeff, if you tell us where you live, how old you are, etc., we might be able to recommend a good teacher near you. Fell free to send me a private message if you don't want to post it on the open forum.

In the mean time, just for fun, here's a Web site I thought you might enjoy looking at:

Bokken Shop (http://bokkenshop.com/eng/style.html)

The comany is in Japan, but they ship around the world.

HTH.

ahsq
21st April 2008, 23:48
Hi Brian, sent you a PM.

how good is e-bogu.com?
I have been eyeing on this set
http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bokken_Combination_White_p/ebo-com-bok-hqbokcombo-white-.htm

Please give me suggestions.

Brian Owens
22nd April 2008, 04:34
...how good is e-bogu.com?
I have been eyeing on this set
http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bokken_Combination_White_p/ebo-com-bok-hqbokcombo-white-.htm
That looks like a good daisho set for a reasonable price.

I've not had any major problems with E-Bogu, just a delay once when my order was misplaced. A simple follow-up e-mail solved the problem.

I don't belong to a dojo at the moment, but when I did several other members also used E-Bogu, and were satisfied with their products and service.

In fact -- amusing anecdote here -- I actually discovered E-Budo when I was looking for E-Bogu and came here by mistake, and I've been happily BBSing ever since.

(BTW, I got your PM and I'll respond after work tonight -- around 10PM Pacific Time.)

J. Mijares
22nd April 2008, 13:22
how good is e-bogu.com?
I have been eyeing on this set
http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bokken_Combination_White_p/ebo-com-bok-hqbokcombo-white-.htm

Please give me suggestions.

I've heard good things about E-Bogu, and some of the students I train with use their equipment.

White Oak is a strong wood and has good crush strength. Hickory is good also. I've done a lot of full contact bokken-on-bokken with both. My personal preference is for hickory, only because I tend to get a custom bokken made.

Jay

Nii
22nd April 2008, 15:35
I got most of my stuff from Tozando shop, you might want to take a look there as well.

Brian Owens
23rd April 2008, 07:27
I got most of my stuff from Tozando shop, you might want to take a look there as well.
The BokkenShop site I linked to above is Tozando Group's special bokken site.

But, yes, they also show bokken on their main site, as well as other stuff worth looking at.

Tozando (http://www.tozandoshop.com/category_s/17.htm)

Ken-Hawaii
23rd April 2008, 09:21
Jeff, E-Bogu is run by Taro Ariga-Sensei, who I believe is godan fifth-degree black belt) in kendo. He & several of his all-female staff come out to practice with our Hawaii dojo once or twice a year. Killer ladies!

And they have taken excellent care of all of us on all purchases. For example, when my almost-new hakama started showing major signs of wear, they simply replaced it with another one at no charge, without my having to ask.

Good people & reasonable prices.

Nii
23rd April 2008, 13:37
He & several of his all-female staff come out to practice with our Hawaii dojo once or twice a year. Killer ladies!

Wait, what? All female staff? Curious...;)

Lance Gatling
23rd April 2008, 13:52
Wait, what? All female staff? Curious...;)

How do they look in bikini?  :cool:

Kim Taylor
23rd April 2008, 17:04
Taro is Renshi 7dan Ken, founder of the U. Waterloo kendo club, perennial member of the Canadian national squad.

Kim Taylor

Ken-Hawaii
23rd April 2008, 21:59
Lance, you ask them to model. I'd rather keep my head attached!!

Thanks for the update, Kim. Any word on my new kodachi?

Kim Taylor
23rd April 2008, 22:02
Thanks for the update, Kim. Any word on my new kodachi?

Still a bit cool to laminate Ken

He said, trying to avoid as much work as he can before the May seminar(s).

May 3 AYC Jodo seminar Toronto 1:00pm http://www.aikido-yoshinkai.org/
May 16-19 Iaido/Jodo seminar U. Guelph http://seidokai.ca/iai.seminar.html

Kim Taylor

gendzwil
24th April 2008, 16:16
how good is e-bogu.com?From a service point of view, they probably have the smoothest e-business site around for kendo and related goods. The goods they offer are always good value.

I have been eyeing on this set
http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bokken_Combination_White_p/ebo-com-bok-hqbokcombo-white-.htm
That's the one we've bought in quantity for our students. They are a standard kendo bokken shape, we haven't had a warped or miscut one, and are a fine bokken for kendo kata use.

Jitsumania
24th April 2008, 22:40
I find it quite interesting that while trolling through this thread my impulsive buying got the best of me. Browsed the E-Bogu site and wound up buying the set (could not resist the white wood) for my Aikido practice. I just remembered that one of the 3 Bokken I carry in my bag was given to me by a student of mine that he obtained from them also a while back. Extremely durable product subjected to much practice.
Just to piggyback what is being said on this thread by people much more knowlegable than I, secure a good instructor who will lead you on the right path of training with your tool of choice. Good luck and remember "sharp side always toward oponent" ;)

J. Mijares
25th April 2008, 01:21
Good luck and remember "sharp side always toward oponent" ;)

I thought it was "the pointy end goes into the other man.":laugh:

Jitsumania
25th April 2008, 06:03
I thought it was "the pointy end goes into the other man.":laugh:

That too my brother :laugh:

BTW Jeff, there is a good little primer on the Bokken that you can use as a reference written by Dave Lowry called "Bokken- Art of the Japanese Sword" from Ohara publications. There may be some technical differences from style to style but it serves a a good general primer to better understand stances, cuts, etc. Its about 15.00 bucks and maybe can be found cheaper on Amazon, etc..