Likes Likes:  0
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 21

Thread: Questions for Beginner Wooden Bokken Swords

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    6
    Likes (received)
    0

    Smile Questions for Beginner Wooden Bokken Swords

    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?

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

    http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=...eywords=bokken
    http://search.ebay.com/search/search...satitle=bokken
    Jeff Zheng

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    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.
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    40
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Owens View Post
    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
    Jose "Jay" Mijares
    Nakamura Ryu Batto-Do -- Kenshinkan Dojo (San Francisco Bay Area)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    6
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    Thanks for Brian's knowledge and recommandation.

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

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    The Old Dominion
    Posts
    1,590
    Likes (received)
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ahsq View Post
    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.
    David Sims

    "Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum." - Terry Pratchet

    My opinion is, in all likelihood, worth exactly what you are paying for it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    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

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

    HTH.
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    6
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    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_Bo...mbo-white-.htm

    Please give me suggestions.
    Jeff Zheng

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ahsq View Post
    ...how good is e-bogu.com?
    I have been eyeing on this set
    http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bo...mbo-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.)
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    40
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ahsq View Post
    how good is e-bogu.com?
    I have been eyeing on this set
    http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bo...mbo-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
    Jose "Jay" Mijares
    Nakamura Ryu Batto-Do -- Kenshinkan Dojo (San Francisco Bay Area)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    186
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    I got most of my stuff from Tozando shop, you might want to take a look there as well.
    -John Nguyen

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Nii View Post
    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
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA
    Posts
    883
    Likes (received)
    35
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    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.
    Ken Goldstein
    --------------------------------
    Judo Kodansha/MJER Iaido Kodansha/Jodo Oku-iri
    Fencing Master/NRA Instructor

    "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it'll annoy enough people to be worth the effort."

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    186
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ken-Hawaii View Post
    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...
    -John Nguyen

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    285
    Likes (received)
    33

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Nii View Post
    Wait, what? All female staff? Curious...
    How do they look in bikini?  
    Lance Gatling ガトリング
    Tokyo 東京

    Long as we're making up titles, call me 'The Duke of Earl'

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Guelph Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    312
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    Taro is Renshi 7dan Ken, founder of the U. Waterloo kendo club, perennial member of the Canadian national squad.

    Kim Taylor

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •