Martial Arts 
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Red Oak Bokken
Specifications
| Length | 42 inches |
| Blade Length | 75cm |
| Handle Length | 26cm |
| Tsuba Width | 7cm |
| Handle Width | 2cm x 3cm |
| Material | Red Oak Wood |
| Colour | Red |
Product details
- For styles such as Kenjitsu, Aikido, Ju Jitsu and Ninjutsu
- Tough durable and hard wearing
- Is 42 inches in length or 101cm
- Red Oak bokken are the staple for many Japanese Martial Arts
- Comes with plastic tsuba
Watch our video on our Red Oak Bokken
Red Oak Bokken Description
The absolute standard for nearly all Japanese Martial Arts that have sword training as part of their syllabus. Martial Arts that use Red Oak Bokken are widespread and include Aikido, Traditional Ju Jitsu, Kenjitsu, Ninjutsu, Iaido, some classes of Kendo to name a few.
The wooden bokken is a ‘safe’ version of a Katana or Samurai Sword, used in many Japanese styles. It is a way of practicing with the sword and avoiding major injuries. It helps build up the muscle strength, technique, skill, control until you are ready to move onto the Katana. Although in some styles you will always stick with the wooden bokken, styles like Aikido do this.
There are so many Bokken out there on the market these days, it can be hard to know what bokken to buy, let alone make a decision but maybe you think there can’t be much variation in bokken, right?
Wrong!
Actually there is a huge variation in the bokken you can buy. Bokken are made in all kinds of wood but Red Oak Bokken and White Oak Bokken are the most common. The other types of wood used tend to go up massively in price. Wood such as Hickory, Cherry and Ebony. Red Oak is the standard as we said, so usually people will buy Red Oak as their first bokken, unless told otherwise by their instructor.
In an ideal world you would want to feel the bokken before you buy it, and specifically pick your own bokken, all bokken ‘feel’ slightly different. This can be due to many factors including where the tree grew, which part of the tree the wood was taken, how the wood was treated post cut. There are so many factors, it's impossible to say. Being an organic product they will vary even in the same batch we buy, Bokken that all look identical. Without getting too technical pick up as many bokken as you can and find the one you like the ‘feel’ of and buy that one.
Buying online you don’t get this luxury so you’ll have to be slightly less picky but you can still get a great bokken. You can always call us and we can pick one out for you, depending on your wants and needs.
They are perfect for partner work, drills and forms. If you purchase one of our plastic saya too they are great for practicing drawing sword (Iaido) work too.
The red oak bokken comes in 42 inches or 101 cm, which is the standard katana (samurai sword) length which helps the transition when moving onto katana swords.
Good solid, reliable piece of kit and it won’t let you down.
Advice from the shop on Red Oak Bokken
“Let’s be honest, wood is not indestructible and even though these Red Oak Bokken will take a lot of punishment they are not toughened steel. Do your training and don’t make an effort to break the thing and it will last you a lifetime.”
Doug Swift, Owner of Enso Martial Arts Shop
Sizing of Red Oak Bokken
All Bokken at Enso Martial Arts Shop are the standard bokken length but there can be minor variations on thickness and weight.
- 101cm in Length
- 75cm blade length
- 7cm Tsuba diameter
- 26cm handle length
- 3.5cm x 2.5cm handle cross section
If you’re not sure on what is best for you, please contact us at our shop to discuss your best choice, call (0117) 9425832 or email [email protected]
Watch our video on our Bokken Selection
Shipping your Red Oak Bokken
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Europe: 2-3 working days
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USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand: 3-4 working days
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All other destinations: 4-7 working days
1. Delivery was fast, nicely bubble wrapped.
2. All the components above fit nicely together. A bit too nice though that the bokken is hard to pull out from the saya because it's snug but I find that if you force sheath the bokken with the "cutting edge" facing the non-cutting edge of the blade into the saya, when you pull it out the saya becomes loose (which is what you want). Leave it in there for a while and it will stay that way longer.
3. Price (affordable).
4. Bokken weight is good enough for me personally.
5. Sageo that comes with bokken a bit short but you can always extend it or use a different one.
I use it for kendo kata.
It's a little heavier than the more expensive white oak ones, but i like the feel of it.
It's straight where it should be with a perfect even curve.
The lacquer isn't annoying or too sticky and doesnt feel like it'll come off with use.
The rubber stopper that comes with it is a little tight but that can stretch out.
It's one star short because of the kinds of minor blemishes you would get with a cheaper bokken, but you won't beat this quality unless you're willing to pay over £50.
So if your budget is of any concern, go for this bokken with out blinking twice.
As well as modern, I also practice traditional Thai Martial Arts - Muay Boran (Old/Ancient Boxing) and Krabi Krabong (Thai sword & weapons).
It is hard, if not impossible, to find replica Thai Dhab (Swords) in the UK, so the next best thing is the Bokken with the tsuba removed. I then wrap the bokken handle area and a couple of inches into the blade area with a soft and durable fabric, to provide comfort of use and replicate the longer handle of a Thai sword.
Krabi Krabong requires the fighter to use of 2 swords simultaneously. So when practicing with replica swords they can get damaged easily. The red oak bokken is perfect for this, it is very durable in contact, and long lasting. The only down side is the weight and balance distribution, Thai swords are fairly light and perfectly balanced, making them easily maneuverable, especially when 2 a used together.
Will be back for more, but what would be even better, is if you could provide actual Thai Dha/Dhab!
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