Thanks to the modern computer-aided sewing machines, it has become very easy to have our name embroidered on our Gi or Hakama. It is decorative and useful (for example: it is certainly easier to retrieve our own stuff、 in case all our clothes get mixed up in a sudden tornado Read More
Basically, the difference between a standard and a deluxe white oak Bokken is the quality of the wood used to make it.The deluxe one is made of wood from the core part of a tree while a standard type is made using other parts of a tree. It will of Read More
“Jissengata” means “real combat”, these Shinai are mostly geared towards competition usage. Compared to a standard Shinai, the tip is slimmer. As a result of this the center of gravity is more towards the grip side of the shinai, making it easier to handle and adding a sense of speed when Read More
“Koto” literally means “old sword”. In Koto style Shinai the weight is more evenly distributed through-out the Shinai, while the center of the gravity is located closer to the tip, imitating the balance of a “real sword”. Because of this it’s said to be more difficult to master and preferred by high level practitioners.
The Keichiku bamboo species is mainly grown in Taiwan. Today, most of the standard Shinai on market is made of Keichiku, reflecting the fact that, due to the shortage of Madake and the work that’s needed to make traditional Shinai, most of the Shinai production has moved to Taiwan and Read More
‘Madake’ is also called Giant Timber Bamboo or Japanese Timber Bamboo, is a bamboo species in the genus Phyllostachys. This species is native to Japan and is often used for many different types Japanese traditional craftsmanship. This is the traditional bamboo used for making Shinai in Japan. Due to the Bamboo plant Read More
The Asian Ebony grows in South Eastern parts of Asia and can mostly be found in Indonesia. The beautiful characteristic grain of the wood, the smooth body and beautiful natural color brought forth without using any artificial coloring, could be said to be a piece of art in itself. The Asian Ebony Read More
Camellia is also know as ‘Tsubaki’ in Japanese. Camellia is probably mainly known for producing beautiful flowers during winter to early spring, but Kendo practitioners recognize the Camellia as a source of great wood for Bokken. The wood from the Camellia is know for it’s luxurious color and it’s fine grains Read More
The shaku is a traditional unit of measure used in Japan (and other country in Asia) with a length approximately equal to 30.3cm or 11.93in. As with other measurements, it was originally derived from nature: the average length between nodes on bamboo. The shaku may be divided into ten smaller units, known as sun in Japanese. Ten shaku are equal to a jō in Read More
Wipe the surface of your Bokken with a dry and soft cloth after each use. Once in a few month, you may apply a very small amount of natural oil such as camellia oil, walnut oil, or even vegetable oil, and wipe it off completely afterwards.
