Bokken

[ldmc2469]

I have a bokken made out of bamboo. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to use it. It has ropes on it and looks like it could be loosen up. Anyone have any ideas. Thanks

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Is it made out of bamboo strips, rather than one solid piece of bamboo? If so, you have a shanai (sp?), not a boken. A boken is made of a single piece of hardwood, not bamboo..or the ones I've seen and used anyway.

 

As for how to use it..take an aikido class, as I think they all (most?) teach that as a part of their art. Kendo also. Akijutsu? I use both a boken and shanai in class, but have no formal training in them. I use them as weapons to attack with, where the other person has a weapon that I am familiar with and teach, such as the bo, sai, tonfa, kama and nunchauku.

 

Maybe do a seach for a video or book perhaps, but I don't have a lot of faith in learning good technique from either of those methods.

[Bdaze]

A shinai is used for Kenjutsu or the more sportlike Kendo.

 

firstly: the ropes are not to tighten the bamboo they are to keep it from falling apart. don't mess around with them.

 

Secondly: you use it like a sword. that's what it is. you hit things with it. it's made out of bamboo so it makes a loud noise in training and you can gauge the power and acuracy of your strikes.

 

you learn to use it through careful training administered by a Kendo instructor.

 

 

 

if you want to practice with it before you take up training with an instructor, practice the basic cut (called "Men" which means "head" because thats what you're aiming for)

 

this is an over head cut. the sword should come close to toouching your back. you should grip it tightly with your pinky, middle and ring fingerwith left hand on bottom and right hand up by the gaurd.

 

scream "MEN!!!!" at the top of your lungs while preforming this cut and have absolutley no emotion. a warrior has no time for emotion.

 

repeat until you feel it's time to move on and then find an instructor.