Bokken History
A word formed by 2 Japanese compositional elements: BO (wood) KEN (sabre). The Bokken is a wooden saber used in various japanese martial arts: (ninjustsu, kenjutsu, aikido...). The idea of this sabre was to replace the katana of steel when carrying out the training. This wooden saber becomes popular between 1300 and 1500 AD, because it was used by warriors drawn to the art of dueling, rather than fighting until death against an opponent on the battlefield.
Bokken Features
There are bokkens of different sizes. They usually measure between 100 and 105 cm in lenght, but there are also smaller bokkens for the training of the little ones. In the past they were made from more fragile wooden, but currently they are made of either pressed oak wood (much more robust), or a more modern material such as polypropylene, whose main advantage in that it doesn't break.
Different types of bokken
Bokken made of wood: The most common. You can find them in most Dojos. There are oak wood, red wood ( more advanced and for a professional use), bamboo, pressed beech...
Bokken made of polypropylene: the most resistant. Unbreakable, no matter how much use you give them, they do not wear out. It should be noted, that this Bokkens are exactly the same as those of wood, both in size, in weight and in handling.
