Clinton Shaffer
Yellow Belt
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2019
- Messages
- 33
- Reaction score
- 12
Can anyone tell me if there’s a noteworthy difference between the handling and weight of an iaito when compared with that of a boken?
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I’ve been forced into using a bokuto for training in quiet coves around where I live. The experience is very different for using a shinken or Iaito mainly because the mass of a bokuto is pretty much distributed throughout it’s length whereas a shinken has it‘s centre of gravity carefully positioned by the swordsmith and the mass of the various koshirae such as tsuba and habaki. Thus the feeling is different but better than nothing. I tend to use a lightweight kiri (paulownia) bokuto for accuracy of technique and a heavy lignum vitae bokuto for a bit of a workout.Can anyone tell me if there’s a noteworthy difference between the handling and weight of an iaito when compared with that of a boken?
Good to see you sir. I hope you have been well.:smiles: Such will be very useful. My sensei was a carpenter in his working years and made a wooden daisho for very similar purposes :nods:.
One thing to note, of course, is that unless they are weighted, you will notice a difference in weight and balance but it shouldn't be enough to be a problem. A beneficial side-effect of the material is it doesn't matter so much if it rains, which is quite pertinent given how terrible the weather has been this year so far .
As I was reading thru the above posts, I was thinking the same thing! Similar to training on flat, bumpy, smooth or inclined grounds, a variety of training conditions is only beneficial. I think the form of the actual cut, the technique, is the same with bokken, iaito, or shinken, but the feel will be a little different in the arm muscles.I quite like oddly balanced and weighted bokuto. They make you work a little differently...it’s a challenge!
It depends on the school you practice as to what equipment they suggest. Ideally you can make up a tool for personal training. I used to use a 1 1/2" steel bar with a pipe bolted on as a tsuka. You need to reach the stage where the weapon is an extension of oneself. Not heavier or lighter.Can anyone tell me if there’s a noteworthy difference between the handling and weight of an iaito when compared with that of a boken?
Can anyone tell me if there’s a noteworthy difference between the handling and weight of an iaito when compared with that of a boken?