Kobudo Sparring

[Revario]

Anyone actively spar Kobudo techniques with weapon replica either foam or of other types. With padding and protection that technology has allowwd us to have, I see no reason why we shouldn't spar and pressure test Kobudo techniques as much as we do with Karate. 

Having that said, does any of you have any recommendations on store options for solid replicas that can withold heavy contact. What I found in Martial Arts circuits seems to break when working harder with them. I am tempted to look into HEMA stores and LARP that may have solid version. I have had a sword of this kind so far and its one that seems to last. 

[bushido_man96]

My Aikido instructor is looking into getting some HEMA equipment to test out with jo and bokken.  If you're going to start looking, HEMA would be the way to go, as they focus on re-creation of Western European weapons styles.

[aurik]

We don't spar in kobudo per se, but we do perform bunkai of our hojo undo techniques.  We use bamboo or rattan bo as they are much less jarring on impacts and fairly inexpensive to replace.  When you perform the bunkai for the hojo undo it definitely helps with your technique; poor technique definitely shows when someone is actually whacking you with another weapon.