How to Use a Bokken
Used in Japan for centuries, the bokken, a wooden practice sword, is a favorite exercise tool for many martial art students and is often used in simulated sword fighting. Though not as dangerous as a traditional sword, a bokken still requires care and skill when handled, so read on for tips on how to use this weapon.
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Instructions
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Hold the bokken firmly. Use both hands, one above the other, as you would hold a baseball bat, and extend it in front of you, vertically, toward your opponent. With the bokken held at this angle, you will be able to counter strike with a slight twist of the wrist and lower arm.
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Keep you knees slightly bent, and turn your body sideways, to provide your opponent with the smallest possible target and better protect yourself from being hit.
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Place one foot in front of the other. Space them apart and keep one foot facing the other person, with the other foot in line with your body. You are now in a position to respond more quickly to an attack from your opponent.
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Raise the bokken over your head. Bring it down in a straight line and strike your opponent's bokken with a firm stroke, then raise your bokken and then swing it sideways, and upward, as if you were going to hit a tennis ball with a racket.
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Repeat your moves and tactics until they become fluid. Take turns as attacker and as attacked, keeping hits firm, but not hard enough to hurt, and have fun with your bokken.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your bokken oiled to prevent the wood from drying out
Though a bokken is not a typical sword, it can still inflict damage. Be careful to not hit your opponent too hard, or in vulnerable areas, such as the head or chest.
