Bokken Question

[semi c]

Hi,

Bought a bokken today. It came in two parts, the sword and a plastic guard.

I slid the plastic guard all the way down the sword until it was just above the handle. Now the guard is a little bent.

Is this how its done or did I just screw something up ??

[Patrick Hayes]

Yeah, that's pretty much the pattern I've seen with every bokken I've had. Bokken all vary slightly in shape and size, even if they're from the same manufacturer, but the plastic guard always seem to be identical, mass-produced items. If you can find the white plastic rubber ring that goes above the guard, it will help prevent the guard from slipping off.

[semi c]

If you can find the white plastic rubber ring that goes above the guard, it will help prevent the guard from slipping off.

I thought that was part of the packaging and I threw it away

I don't think it will slip off anyway. It was hard to put on, which is why it bent. Maybe next time I will try some lubricant to help the guard slide down better...

My shinai is also longer then my bokken (by about 2 inches). Is this how it should be?

Equipment wise, I think Kendo is a pretty hard art to get into.

[David Craik]

Usually I use a small file to get the tsuba to fit a bit better. But since you threw away the 'habaki', I'd just leave it. Your tsuba might come flying off if you adjust the hole now.

Shinai do seem to be a bit longer. I believe this is because the distance at which you intersect is longer in kendo.

[Gene Williams]

Bokken are most often used without the plastic tsuba and habaki. I think there are a couple of esoteric technique in some ryu where you leave it on. I usually throw them away.

[David Craik]

Depends on the ryu, I think, and what you're doing with it. Sometimes I use it and sometimes I don't. I prefer the feel of the bokken without it, but I can see it saving knuckles in kumitachi and forcing the grip to be more realistic (as if one is holding a real sword).

Although many extend the index finger past where the tsuba would be for suburi, I prefer to use the grip one would use with a shinken, and the tsuba prevents the finger from creeping out.

[semi c]

Usually I use a small file to get the tsuba to fit a bit better.

That's a good idea. I think I'll buy another one and do that - have one for home use and one for the dojo/gradings.

Bokken are most often used without the plastic tsuba and habaki. I think there are a couple of esoteric technique in some ryu where you leave it on. I usually throw them away.

Not putting it on was one of my first thoughts. I know its just a cheap piece of wood but I don't know why they have a crappy little plastic guard that probably wouldn't protect you from much. I would prefer something like a built in metal guard.

[David Craik]

There are better hard leather tsuba available from such sources as http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_furtsuba.htm. They last for just about ever, and look very nice too. Fit much better aesthetically with a bokuto than plastic as well.

I got mine from Mugendobudogu, but they unfortunately seem to be out of business.

Remember that tsuba are not so much a handguard as on European swords. They are not generally used to "block" strikes, but rather to prevent slippage of the hands onto the blade during tsuki, and to protect against cuts caused by the opponent's blade sliding down your own blade onto your hands.

I cannot see the purpose for a steel or iron handguard on a bokken, though there are ryu that use heavily padded handguards for kumitachi.

[pgsmith]

Mugendo Budogu is alive and well David. Here's the site ... http://www.budogu.com/

[Neil Gendzwill]

But since you threw away the 'habaki', I'd just leave it.

That piece is called the tsuba-dome. The cheap tsuba are pretty flexy, but you can buy a better one if you like. Tsuba and tsuba-dome for bokken are available from many sources. Try e-bogu.com for a start.

[David Craik]

Mugendo Budogu is alive and well David. Here's the site ... http://www.budogu.com/

Ah..great. I remember "mugendobudogu.com" used to redirect you, but it's up for sale now. Thanks Paul.

That piece is called the tsuba-dome.

I know, but thanks. I was being a bit facetious, thus the quotation marks.

[semi c]

There are better hard leather tsuba available from such sources as http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_furtsuba.htm. They last for just about ever, and look very nice too. Fit much better aesthetically with a bokuto than plastic as well.

I got mine from Mugendobudogu, but they unfortunately seem to be out of business.

Yeah, I think something like http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/leat...burstboken.jpg would be much better, I'll have a search around and find one I really like.

I cannot see the purpose for a steel or iron handguard on a bokken, though there are ryu that use heavily padded handguards for kumitachi.

I just thought it would look cool

[David Craik]

I think Tori would be a bit unhappy at having to buy a new bokuto every week though.

[Erik]

This may not be the most beautiful way to do things, but you can secure your tsuba in one of the following ways, if you like:
-Epoxy it on
-Duct/Speed tape loop on the tip-side edge of the tsuba, same pattern as the little plastic bit
-Piece of string soaked in wood or white glue wrapped around a few times in the same place
-Staple or very small nails on the tip side to keep it in place

Were it mine, I would keep it on so I get used to having a guard. It's there for a reason. I'd probably just glue it on, assuming the glue would stick to both the laquer and the plastic.

Of course, this depends on your preference and your ryu.

[RickMatz]

Kushida Sensei used to say that if you don't break a bokken once a year, you arent' training hard enough.

[Gene Williams]

Repeat. In most traditional sword ryu, bokken are used without the plastic tsuba. You should hold the bokken just like you would a sword. If you would not extend your index finger down the back or side of a shinken, then you shouldn't do it on a bokken, either. Kenjutsu classes do some pretty rough bokken work, but I rarely hear of fingers getting smashed. Besides, most quality bokken don't even come with a dumb plastic tsuba. Throw it away or give it to the dog to chew (or the baby to teethe on)

[Patrick Hayes]

Rarely hear of fingers getting smashed? Can I train with you guys? Thanks to the tsuba-dome, I still have one finger out of 10 that looks remotely like a human finger.

[Gene Williams]

Sure. C'mon and train I know seniors in several sword ryu and they say that smashed fingers are not that common. I have trained pretty vigorously with bokken and have been hit on the hand more than on the fingers. Tsuba wouldn't prevent that, anyway.

[David Craik]

Besides, most quality bokken don't even come with a dumb plastic tsuba. Throw it away or give it to the dog to chew (or the baby to teethe on)

Hmm...my shiro kashi bokken I have ordered from Japan all have come with a plastic tsuba and tsubadome, and while not extremely expensive like ones of Ipe or Lignum Vitae they are pretty much the standard and of high quality.

A number of practicioners do extend the finger, as well as curl the pinky below the tsukagashira during suburi - a practice that will rub the skin straight off of the inside of your pinky if done with a shinken. But, it is accepted...it is even shown as the correct way in Dave Lowry's book "Bokken".

Funny that you mention the dog though..I had a beagle that loved them, and resulted in the purchase of my first bokken case.

[Charles Mahan]

Repeat. In most traditional sword ryu, bokken are used without the plastic tsuba.

Well MJER must be different than most. We make great use of our tsuba. Without it I'd have been pretty smashed up on multiple occasions. Not just my fingers either.