BLADED OR WOODEN VOTERS POLL

[fujita san]

which is a better weapon

[Grenadier]

There is no one right answer, since it depends on the circumstances in which the weapons are used.

For example, if you're going to be regularly doing sword on sword contact drills, then it's a no-brainer, that the wooden weapons are preferable. Even if someone were attempting to use blunted steel weapons, the possibility of injuries are simply way too high, when using metal weapons in such a manner. For that matter, using wooden weapons for contact drills is also dangerous, but at least you've factored out some of the dangers in the equation.

On the other hand, though, if you're going to be practicing kata, then starting out with wooden weapons isn't a bad idea, but once enough familiarity with the weapon in question is achieved, then switching to a metal weapon isn't out of the question.

I regularly perform kata with a live kata (Last Legend Mark V, folded blade, 4096 layers) that can also easily slice through three rolled up straw tatami mats. I won't, however, let others use live blades, unless they've also had significant amounts of familiarity and experience, and have demonstrated that they are mature and responsible people. This isn't very common, even amongst karate-ka, and only the most dedicated people who are serious about weapons training, are the ones that I would let use live blades.

Even though I enjoy using a live blade for kata, I still enjoy bokken to bokken drills, and even took the pains of saving enough $$$ to buy a very nice bokken made out of jatoba wood (Brazilian cherry, very tough, hard, and beautiful).

[Mr. Mike]

very well said.

I don't think I could pick which is better. I train with both. I prefer to train with the wooden for safety reasons, since I am not as proficient with a blade as I would like to be. Once at that level, I will begin to use one of my two 'babies' that hang on my wall.

[WudangDragon]

deffinatly wooden weapons, EXCEPT when it comes to the sword. nothin beats a good katana or wudang sword.

btw- fujita-san is ur name from the rurouni kenshin manga?

[kiba no chi]

definatley steel weapons, i prefer thier (please excuse the terminology) feel to a wooden sword, theres something that just doesent feel right about a wooden sword, it could be that the katana just feels better though

[CapitalKarate]

For actual self defense today, wooden. You can more easily control whether or not you kill or injure them and you can carry a 4-5 foot staff around, you can't carry a sword around.

[kiba no chi]

yep, good point

[Conqueror]

I don't work with swords, but my kama are certainly metal blades. The Bo is my favorite weapon, both for its feel and its practicality - it's easy to find a pool cue, broom handle, stick, whatever in a fight, but when are you gonna find some sai in that dark alley?

[Qui Gon Tzu]

It has been said that some Samurai became so adept at using their bokken that they preferred them to a sword. These Samurai were able to defeat many a foe with this wooden weapon. Incidentally, the wooden bokken also cost a lot less money than a metal weapon.

[kiba no chi]

It has been said that some Samurai became so adept at using their bokken that they preferred them to a sword. These Samurai were able to defeat many a foe with this wooden weapon.

yep, miyamoto musashi was noted for that many times, i only know two of the stories but im shure there are more