Was wondering where the best quality training bokken is via internet sale ?
Thanks in advance ,
Jon

What do you want to do with it?

If you're only going to do kata work, or otherwise stick with non-contact, then almost anything would work.

If you want to do contact drills, then you want a dense wood that combines strength, flexibility, and stability, all in one.

Take a bit of time to read the link I've just posted below, and you'll see what kind of woods would be good. My personal favorites for bokken are jatoba and purpleheart.

I've bought from Crane Mountain on a couple of occasions, and have always been pleased with the quality.

http://www.crane-mountain.com/index_Page699.htm

Thank you very much, the link is an excellent resource and good reading, too.

Glad you found it useful.

Remember, stay away from North American red oak. This wood is used in almost every cheap wooden weapon out there, and is a VERY porous, weak wood that is suitable only for kata work. If you even take time to strip off the varnish, you'll see where the company that made the item, filled in the pores with wood filler. I've been using my bokken made from jatoba wood (Brazilian Cherry) for bokken to bokken contact drills, and it's not surprising that well over a dozen people have broken / cracked their cheap red oak ones on mine (which only has a few indentations to show for it).

There are some types of red oak from Asia that are much tighter grained, though, and companies such as Shureido make decent weapons from this kind of wood. However, for the amount you'll pay, you may as well get something better.

Try the Bokken Shop (http://www.bokkenshop.com/eng/index.html). That's where I bought my Yagyu bokken and suburi (a heavy bokken for working out). However, they're based in Japan, so you'll have to pay a hefty shipping fee. You can also try e-Bugu (http://www.e-bogu.com/Kendo_s/184.htm) or Bugei (http://bugei.com/subcategory_31.htm).

Anticipate spending about $40 - $80 for a good quality bokken. You can go cheaper, but you'll get what you pay for!

My instructor is making very nice bokken, many different grades and woods - many suitable for vigorous striking. You can contact him at steiner @ kempo karate . com

For my money, you can't beat the Artha Gallery Ebony Bokken. I have had mine for a number of years. It has seen some pretty hard contact with next to no damage only some very small dents that you need to look for to find. here is the web address: http://arthagallery.com/

Jeff Harris

Shameless plug here:

http://www.bokken-art.com/

Justin Britton will customize a bokken to your liking out of hardwoods like Ipe and Purpleheart or if you have a specific kind of wood in mind. Great for solo or paired contact work. Please check out the site and email him for details.

www.japaneseswordstore.com

Mr Graves can pretty much find anything you are looking for to entertain the study and contact practice associated with Japanese combat arts.

Regards,
Walt

I got my bokken from white heron dojo, they have 2 realy good types of bokkens, mine is the guijo bokken, and i have brokken a LOT of other types of sticks and 2/3 inch thing wooden club thing, of some tpye... not sure what it was, but i shattered it into a bunch of peices... and my bokken does not have nothing more than a few indenshions.... amybe a scrach or two.

Its really nice. here is the link. http://whiteheronblades.com/bokken.html


R.W.-M.

Well the 2 good bokkens that I know of is the Iron Wood Bokken from White Heron Dojo, and the Dragon Ebony Wood Bokken from Kris Cutkery.

I got a bolo from Kriscutlery for Christmas and I'm pleased with it.

I ordered mine from http://www.kingfisherwoodworks.com/ and I think they have truly beautifully made bokken with a unique feel and great handling. They have bokken for different styles (including Kashima etc.). So, see if it suits you. They are quite expensive, though. On the other hand you'll have a beautiful and very unique bokken

Definitly not traditional, but I love mine.
http://www.ltspecpro.com/92bk.html

Jeff

please don't smack me, but century has a new product that's actually very good.

yes, god help me, i said century.

it's a bokken that actually comes in a saya. you can practice your draw cuts and your resheathing. also, the 'blade' section if closer to the size of a regular blade. and the weight is closer to a metal katana.

thing runs for 25 bucks or so, i think.

and if anybody knows where to find this from another distributor, i'd love to hear where

I ordered mine from http://www.kingfisherwoodworks.com/ and I think they have truly beautifully made bokken with a unique feel and great handling. They have bokken for different styles (including Kashima etc.). So, see if it suits you. They are quite expensive, though. On the other hand you'll have a beautiful and very unique bokken

I know people who have bought their products and really like them. I heard they made some props for The Last Samurai --

One of our students makes & sells bokken. He has done a lot of research on woods & grain structure in order to produce stonger bokken. I remembered this thread thought it would be a good time to wake it back up. Below is his web address.
http://www.bokkendowoodworks.com/

Jeff Harris

One of our students makes & sells bokken. He has done a lot of research on woods & grain structure in order to produce stonger bokken. I remembered this thread thought it would be a good time to wake it back up. Below is his web address.
http://www.bokkendowoodworks.com/

Jeff Harris

I'll vouch for that, too. I have one of Ray's bokken that is made from Ipe wood, and it's an exceptionally strong one that feels pretty darn close (in terms of weight) to a steel blade.

One of these days, I'm going to have to see how good his bo are, since I'm probably going to order an Ipe bo from him.

One of these days, I'm going to have to see how good his bo are, since I'm probably going to order an Ipe bo from him.

His bo staff are nice. I have a ipe one & so do a number of our students. They have a very solid feel and are very strong. Don't let the hex shape worry you, it is very easy to get use to.


Jeff Harris
Mesa & Chandler Shinkendo Dojos

Thanks for the info on the bo, Jeff. I'll be ordering one soon.

Kim Taylor (http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/) makes some nice stuff, from a variety of hardwoods, including exotics. I've never purchased one of his bokken (I have several from Japan), but I've been happy with the other stuff I purchased from him.

......it's a bokken that actually comes in a saya. you can practice your draw cuts and your resheathing.....You can do this with any bokken you get - go to any sporting goods shop (or even the sporting dept. of your local Wal-Mart), and for 25 to 85 cents each, you can buy a plastic tube used for keeping golf clubs from rattling against each other in a golf bag. The tube is the right length and diameter for use as a sheath with almost all bokken. I let my beginning students practice with them, as they provide a good practice tool, and an excellent introduction to the problems/difficulties with doing the same drills/cuts with a scabbard in the way.