bokken

[Gessho]

Hello,

What kind of wood is best for a bokken and what recommendation(s) do you have for where I could purchase one online?

Thank you

[SLeclair]

I would strongly reccommend <a href="http://www.sdksupplies.com">SDK Supplies</a> for all your bokken needs. Many different styles and woods, custom work available, everything.

Unka Kim has also written a bunch of stuff on bokken, from a great article on <a href="http://ejmas.com/pt/ptart_taylorcol_0603.html">bokken bashing</a> to another on <a href="http://ejmas.com/tin/tinart_taylor_1100.htm">making your own wooden weapons</a> (also include much information about wood selection; his favorite is hickory). You can find much more on his website, and other places scattered on the web.


---
Sebastien L.

[Mekugi]

White oak is a really good choice. Middle of the road as far as price goes, top of the line in material.

If you are into a particular ryu, I have some here:
http://budoguten.futagotrader.com/bokuto/

[Gessho]

Thank you all !

[UAB]

Mark,

I've been enjoying my bokken made out of Jatoba wood (also known as "Brazilian Cherry"). The wood is stronger than any oak, denser, and can flat out take much more impact than any cheap bokken wood.

[Joshua Smith]

Hey Gessho,

I've heard success stories using Ipe wood, Jatoba as well, and Macassar Ebony.

This site, www.woodworkerssource.net, has many different woods from around the world including the above mentioned.

Hope this helped :) .

God bless,
J.Smith

[Gessho]

May I ask where you purchased it? I'd like to get a bokken that is heavy and can take damage without having it look like an oar.

Although, I am aware of the story that Musashi may have used a modified oar in his fight on Ganryu (?) Island!

Mark,

I've been enjoying my bokken made out of Jatoba wood (also known as "Brazilian Cherry"). The wood is stronger than any oak, denser, and can flat out take much more impact than any cheap bokken wood.

[hyaku]

May I ask where you purchased it? I'd like to get a bokken that is heavy and can take damage without having it look like an oar.

Although, I am aware of the story that Musashi may have used a modified oar in his fight on Ganryu (?) Island!

But Musashi used specialized weapons. Don't you use a specific bokuto for your art. Its not a matter of what we would like but whats the best wood for "our" bokuto.

Also there is the problem of being able to wield it proficiently. Best start with light one until you are getting good at what you do then work your way towards heavier ones. A heavy one will hinder progress.

We use http://www.sdksupplies.com/

[Brian Owens]

...We use http://www.sdksupplies.com/
Hyaku-san,

I found this interesting. You're in Japan, where one would think there'd be many good sources of bokken in all shapes and sizes, and yet you use a supplier in Canada.

Can you expand a bit on what it is about SDK's bokken that you find makes them the best choice for your school?

TIA.

[Mekugi]

Colin,

Do you need a maker over here? I know a guy....



We use http://www.sdksupplies.com/

[Mongo]

This is my first post so I will say hello as well as my experiences.

About 7 or 8 months ago I started making bokkens based on the instructions from SDK. In the mean time I have tried allot of woods and this is what I have found.

From weakest to strongest

Oak

Brazilian Cherry(jabota)- Very tough)(easily crushes oak) relatively expensive

Cocobolo- hard and strong, similar to brazillian cherry expensive

Ipe/Cumaru- Super tough and super heavy(easily crushes Brazilian Cherry) really cheep

Vera Wood(blond lignum vitae)- Tougher denser and stronger than all of the above. Really expensive!


Personally I like the vera wood for its combination of strength and beauty. I also love the ebony bokken my wife brought me from Japan- however the vera wood is stronger.

Just my opinion, If you want some pictures of the various woods I can post them.

[Trevor Johnson]

Mongo, full names on all posts. Best bet is put 'em in your sig file. And welcome to e-budo!!!

[Mekugi]

From weakest to strongest

Oak




What type of oak were you using?

[poryu]

Hi

you can also try www.bokkenshop.com

[UAB]

What type of oak were you using?

I'm guessing that he's referring to your "average" North American red oak, that won't hold up to any serious contact.

[Mongo]

I have made one bokken out of your average American red oak(it was a prototype for the one I made from brazillian cherry), I have broken about 10 both white and red oak from your local MA store. Best indicator I have found is the Janka hardness rating of the woods, this seems to correlate well to their durability(though not perfectly). There are certainly more experience people on the forum with bokken than I.

Frankly I can get ipe for about 2.25 a board foot so thats what I would recommend to most people for cost/durability, if I were making it for them. I bought one huge board and have made several out of it. I still have some blanks in the garage.


Bradley Fountain(sorry for the breach in protocol)

[matt rogers]

Japanese oak is a different variety of wood than what we find here in North America. The Japanese oak is closed grain and does not crush and splinter in the same way. Japanese white oak is the stronger standard in Japan. The red oak used today in Japanese weapon making is actually a different species than the one which was traditionally favoured in the Kansai area by budoka in years gone by.

If the wood is too dense it will simply crack. But dense wood makes for great solo practise as it can be heavy but not unwieldy.

We use Japanese sources Tozando.com (bokkenshop) or Meirin to supply our Itto-ryu bokken. Mugendo, e-bogu and other kendo sites abound. Itto-ryu bokuto approach the correct heaviness but their roundness compromises the ability to feel and control the 'centreline' in way that is similar to a blade.

Sometimes we will use cheap iaito to practise kata carefully to reinstill the right feeling into this part of kata. I wish we could find heavy, metal but blunt (including the point) iaito to remove some of the concern from that practise though.