![]() ![]() Thus, young masters are often seen starting off with very thick Bokken or practicing a lot of Suburi using a Suburito. In contrast, and provided the required physical training (tanren), a thick Bokken is easier to wield with precision, it is therefore essential to have the required strength to wield it properly. A lighter model allows for more finesse, all in precision and swiftness. It is indeed harder to be precise with a light Bokken than a heavy one. It could even be considered its most important feature, more important even than its length. The thickness and weight of the weapon play a major role in its usage. This is due to the fact that numerous schools are split into regional sub-groups that sometimes have their own small peculiarities and order from various workshops. Please note that the blade/tsuka length ratio can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer. ![]() *Length might vary depending on the user, used in "standard" 101.5 cm until a more suited length is found. The various lengths of classic and stylized Bokken (Koryu) If you have reached a certain level of practice and wish to acquire skills other than those acquired through the sole practice of Kata, then a Bokken of a suited length is warranted (mostly longer, as Bokken tend to be relatively short for western practitioners). In the end the answer is quite simple: if your teacher offers a Bokken suited to your size, they probably have their reasons and his work is tailored accordingly. For example in the case of a specific study, such as breaking the fixed distances principle and by doing so drive the student to better their adaptability to various situations- once the Kata are mastered. That being said, a sword length tailored to the user can very well be considered when practicing Aikido, Jodo, or some other specific schools. One of those schools, for example, is the Jigen Ryu school, established during the 16th century and famous for its emphasis on the importance of the first strike. Those Koryu are generally older than Kata-oriented schools, less focused on duels (Kata) than on a battlefield usage, and have overall been much less influenced by the Edo period, the era of peace. In general, those schools use the Bokken either as a full-blown weapon or as in a battlefield bout rather than in a Kata (duel). The reasoning is simple: some cutting techniques and, more importantly, the unsheathing of the sword from the saya (scabbard) cannot be done with a sword too long.ĭespite a mostly harmonized length for each art, some Koryu do adapt the length of the weapons to the practitioner. The Bokken used for Kata will be the same size for everyone, since it’s about practicing Kata.Īn Iaito is mostly used for Katas, too, so its size will fit the practitioner's height. Note that in Kendo, the weapon used in competition is a Shinai (a lot more impact-resistant and less dangerous than a Bokken). However during competitions, rules have to be put in place in order to level the playing field. Those norms are comprehensive, since a man can be shorter than a woman and still practice with a longer weapon. In order to broadly adapt the size of the weapon to the practitioner’s height, length will tend to vary according to age and gender. ![]() If two practitioners wield weapons of different lengths, the distance between the meeting/contact point of the weapons and the practitioners is therefore not the same, which de facto entails a change in technique, but working with weapons relies on specific Katas that need to be reproduced in an identical fashion by all practitioners.įurthermore, in competitive arts such as Kendo, the length of the weapon can be a factor of advantage or disadvantage -as such, competitions carry specific rulings on the matter. The other reason is related to the Bokken’s use’s nature that often requires an identical mirror distance. The first and most obvious one is that it is very difficult to tailor products to everyone individually. ![]() Though it is indeed the case in some traditional Kenjutsu schools, in most arts it is very rarely the case and thus for two reasons. The length of the Bokken One size fit all?Ĭonsidering that the length of a Katana or Iaito should fit the height of the practitioner, it is easy to think the same applies to a Bokken. You will then choose the wood according to your expectations when it comes to wood species and resistance. Indeed, we think that the most important is to first pick the shape of the weapon. Similar wood species are presented on the same page and wood species that significantly change the weapon’s characteristics are shown on a separate page. At Seido, we have decided to put forth the overall shape of the Bokken. ![]()
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