Looking for a special Bokken/Bokuto

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[pezalinski]

I was recently at NY Aikikai's 40th Anniversary Summer Camp, and I saw a type of Bokken I had never seen before -- and now, I want one (and so do 3 others in my dojo). I've searched EVERYWHERE on-line, trying to find it, to no avail (yet).

Here's what I saw: oak bokken, Yagyu-ryu style (narrow and light-weight), with plastic saya (sheath) and hang-cords, black rubber hand-grip with integrated rubber tsuba (hand-guard), textured like a true katana's handle.

Kid who owned it claimed to have found it in a weapons shop in New York City. It was extremely well balanced, and held up during hard contact kata practice.

Anyone with any information, please give me a clue -- my sensei keeps asking me if I've located a supplier, yet, and I hate to keep disappointing him.

[Kent Enfield]

I've never seen one with a rubber handle, textured or otherwise. However, if you're looking for bokuto with saya, many kendo/iaido suppliers carry them. You can get them at BoguBag.com (http://www.bogubag.com/Swords/Bokutoh/bokutoh.html) among other places.

[pezalinski]

By the way it was manufactured, I know it was not a one-of-a-kind. It was the first one like it that I've ever seen - and the first time I've had serious bokken-envy...

[Larry Feldman]

It's a long shot but Honda is a martial arts supplier in New York City, you might try there. They are located near Chinatown. Or call the NY Aikikai to see if they could recommend some another supplier in NYC....

[John Boswell]

Could this be it?

Shiro Kashi Saya Bokuto

This is our shiro kashi bokuto (without hi), with a plastic saya and our leather single layer tsuba. The perfect beginning step for iaido students, no more pretend saya or trying to hook your hakama himo to get the bokuto tucked away at the side.

More importantly, you can practice noto correctly, with the left hand at the centre rather than at the left hip.


http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_stdweapons.htm#Bokuto

If there was something, some kind of grip actually ON the handle, I'd have to say he or the person who sold it to him added it on there. /shrug

Goodluck with the hunt! I'm pretty sure if there was another out there with a saya, I'd know about it. This is the only one that comes to mind... via the internet (aside from one at e-bogu mentioned above).

[John Boswell]

http://swordstore.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/02/4wep-1bok.html

Found one other bokken with a Saya at Sword Store. (Linked above, bottom of page)

The quality of these to far surpass just about anything out there. At least... for the money they are asking, the quality BETTER surpass the rest! :D

How goes the search, Peter? Haven't heard back. Curious if you ever tracked it down on your own for find something else???

Domo!
Bozz

[thomas_dixon]

I found this link:

http://www.kwonusa.com/kwon/usa/weapons/bokken/index.htm?Artikelgruppe=8001036&SInfo=details

And you can search around for a plastic saya...(google)

[p00kiethebear]

why get a plastic saya when you can get a wooden one that looks cooler?

http://www.bokkenshop.com/eng/258.html

However the whole thing with the bo hi on a bokken. It's not exactly the best idea. It compromises the integrety of the sword. All in all, buying something like this just seems like a waste of money to me. Are you really interested in learning how to draw and sheath the sword? If so get an iaito. If you're just going to be using it like a novelty and nothing more, i highly suggest not spending so much cash, and getting one of these babies: http://www.bokkenshop.com/eng/3.html it will last you forever and you can bash it like the mafia would a narc. Practicality over "coolness" is how i like to go.

[thomas_dixon]

Plastic is less abrasive than wood. And yeah a Bo Hi is a waste of time in a bokken, because Bo His are there to give a smoother cut, and you can't cut anythign with a bokken except styrofoam...and even that just gets beaten until it falls apart LOL. Plus, not all Iaido schools use Iaito. Some use shinken. I just bought a cheap $10 century bokken made out of red oak. it works great.

[pezalinski]

Well, I have :rolleyes: given up on finding it. I suppose I could wrap the handle of a good oak bokken, and modify it for a fixed tsuba, and buy the saya... but, as someone already posted, what's the point? It's only going to look neat -- it's not in and of itself going to improve any of my techniques.

I thought to pick up a saya for one of my existing bokken, since some of the kata we do requires starting with a "drawing" of the bokken... but my sensei doesn't have one, and hasn't sen the need, so why should I waste the money?

Thanks for all the help, though! Some of those sites, I hadn't found on my own, yet.

:ai: :ki: :do:

[bryce_montgomery]

Well...does everything in life have to serve a purpose and a single purpose?...I mean, if you wanted a cool looking bokken and weren't in desperate need of the money then I'd say go for it and get one of the bokken mentioned above. It might not improve your technique or help you financially...but it would be something that you wanted whic could improve your morale...

Bryce