Bokken
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A bokken or bokutō is a Japanese wooden sword used for training in kenjutsu. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the wakizashi and tantō. S
Various types of bokken
Various styles of bokken
Shinai
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A shinai is a Japanese sword typically made of bamboo used for practice and competition in kendō. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from kendō shinai, and repre
Bokken
…red oak or white oak, although any hardwood can be used. In comparison, practice swords made of flexible, soft wood such as bamboo are referred to as shinai. It is hard to determine precisely when the first bokken appeared due to secrecy in ancient martial arts training and loose record-keeping. While various…
A shinai made of bamboo
Johnny Devine (left) uses a kendo stick on Buck Gunderson during a match.