Bamboo bokken?

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[Jeanne Shepard]

I recently trained at a school that had a bokken I liked alot, and it seemed to be made out of bamboo. It was the first one I'd ever used that felt good to me. Noone there remembered where it had come from.

any ideas on where I could get one?

Jeanne

[Zato Ichi]

Uh... was is it a bokken or a shinai? I have never heard of a bamboo bokken before....

[Jeanne Shepard]

No, it was definitely a bokken. I didn't realize it was bamboo until someone pointed it out to me. I just noticed how light it was. Bamboo can be quite hard.We have a store that sells bamboo furniture here in Seattle, and people use it as hardwood flooring too.

Jeanne

[p00kiethebear]

http://www.tigerstrikekarateequipment.com/bamboobokken.html

Second Result on google.

[p00kiethebear]

This one looks like a much nicer bokto,

http://martialinfo.iisports.com/product.asp?s=martialinfo&mimid=UTXUTF0GJMX88M4M9VC0D8TR9CN3A7B5&pf_id=WJ0544A&dept_id=2501

They claim to be durable but i really wonder at how much impact they can take. I know bamboo is extremely flexible and all but I don't know how well they'd stand up to some of kimusubi exercises we do in my kenjutsu class.

However they're also really cheap (comparitively) so maybe trying one out wouldn't be a bad idea, no breaking of the bank involved.

[Dan Rubin]

Jeanne

Did the bamboo bokken have a ripple-like handle carved into it? If so, it was probably made by Ghon Srahulek, Granthams Landing, BC.

Dan

[racingsnake]

I recently ordered a bokken online, and what arrived was
a) quite light, and
b) laminated.

I would be more concerned about the latter than the former,
especially if the bokken is going to be used for kumi-tachi
(sparring). I would suggest that you check the bokken carefully
before each training session for cracks, splinters or other signs
of potential failure - but then, that's good practice anyway.

Hope this helps -
Robin Wilton

[rachel]

I really can't imagine a bokken made from bamboo being very durable, but I'm no expert. Shinai are of course split, so they are stronger, but bokken? Anyway, here is my dojo's equiptment website: http://www.homestead.com/floatingmountain/ We are located in Hawaii and have many beautiful weapons made from tropical woods that you might like to try.

[bryce_montgomery]

Has anyone tried the leather covered bamboo shinai for aikido at http://www.bujindesign.com/weapons_bamboo.html ? I'm interested in maybe purchasing one.
Thanks,
Bryce

[Don_Modesto]

Has anyone tried the leather covered bamboo shinai for aikido at http://www.bujindesign.com/weapons_bamboo.html ? I'm interested in maybe purchasing one.
Thanks,
Bryce

Excellent. Standard fare in ASU (Saotome's organization).

There's a post on one of the boards about how to "finish" the FUKURO SHINAI. That is, you lacquer the suede making it tougher and affording a smoother feel in connection with other SHINAI. Search for "Fred Little". I think he's the one who posted the instructions.

(If you find the post, would you be so kind as to post it here? Thanks.)

[Kamikaze]

Well i have a bamboo bokuto, actually its very durable, i even use it in Niten Ichiryu practice(sometimes), grip a bit different , it is thicker than a musashi bokuto. :)

[cguzik]

Don,

here you go:

http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=265948#post265948

Chris

[aikitim23]

Has anyone tried the leather covered bamboo shinai for aikido at http://www.bujindesign.com/weapons_bamboo.html ? I'm interested in maybe purchasing one.
Thanks,
Bryce

we have one of those at my dojo, made by bujin aswell, it it very nice, although i prefer the regular shinai more

[bryce_montgomery]

Thank you Don and Tim. :D I've been thinking about getting one ever since I saw them the first time on Bujin...Just thought I'd get some insight by some trustworthy people.

Bryce

[Don_Modesto]

Don,

here you go:

http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=265948#post265948

Chris

Much obliged.

[Ryan Bigelow]

At the local Kendo shop they sell bamboo suburi bokken. Since theyre only made for swinging practice I doubt they are intentionally made to be strong, but they could be. They have a very nice grain. I have never seen a Japanese martial artist of any stripe use one, but that doesnt really mean anything either, just an observation.