O Sensei's bokken

[Petar A]

Hello everyone,

After a long time, I decided to join you.
I'm person who is a big fan of Japanese sword, especially the wooden version, which we all know by name bokken.
I recently found some pictures on the net, (I put them on my blog)

http://aikido-buki.blogspot.com/

the reason is my lack of information.

I am making bokken's for a long time, but this bokken that used O Sensei because of one detail I was very intrigued for me,
so I would be very grateful if anyone of you have more information or pictures of this bokken.

Kind regards,

Petar

[Bennison N]

Hey mate.

I don't know if they're much help to you, but I DO have these three photos of O-Sensei with weapon in hand. I've never really taken a close look at them until now, and in two of them, the weapon might actually be a Jo.

I hope they're still helpful in some way.

[K. Rasmussen]

May I ask what this interesting detail is? That looks like any other bokken to me.

[Hrvoje Samija]

As far as I can see, although there is almost none to very small sori, there is some curvature to the tsuka, and that is unusual in bokuto as far as I can tell...

Hello Pero, nice to finally see you come out from the lurking mode...

[Petar A]

May I ask what this interesting detail is? That looks like any other bokken to me.

Hello,

like Mr. Samija said, the angle of the tsuka, relative to Ha, and is the same as on most of the old Japanese sword, most bokken's of today does not have this angle, the same as most production katana, PC, CS, and others.
I do not know whether the O Sensei himself worked bokken, but it is interesting that all the old Japanese bokken masters make that tsuka angle on bokken.

What I am trying to discover is whether this is due to the factory method of makeing bokken and why is this angle of the tsuka is important to some sensei's or some sword fighting schools.

Bokken on my pictures,which O Sensei use I never see before, anywhere, I also make many different Koryu bokkens, but this kind of bokuto I notice for the first time.

Petar

[Petar A]

Thanks for the pictures,
it is certainly bokken in the pictures,
the pictures that I found on the net, showing that O Sensei used several types of bokken, some were lighter and some, like the one the middle image are somewhat heavier almost like some kind suburito.

That picture from a museum that is on my blog, is really what interests me, I am still trying to get in touch with the person who recorded the bokken, but if someone you photographed the same bokken perhaps can help me,
Of course I'll reward him with one such bokken

here is where I find pics

http://www.fotolog.com/alexgart/73038489

[Petar A]

May I ask what this interesting detail is? That looks like any other bokken to me.

Since no new information and new year began (Happy New Year to you all ), a small gift for all of you who have never seen this

http://www2.saganet.ne.jp/hasuike-itou-s/bokutou.html

I appreciate all who are engaged in making bokken, but this is definitely the best "bokken master" to whom I came across on the internet, I hope that everyone here will agree with me.

The man is otherwise engaged in making racks and boxes for swords,
http://www2.saganet.ne.jp/hasuike-it...tanakake2.html

but bokkens are ...

What I'm talking about the tsuka angle, the best you'll see on this bokkens, he seems to know a tsuka secret

[Patrick De Block]

Why don't you contact Stanley Pranin at Aikido Journal Online?

[Petar A]

Why don't you contact Stanley Pranin at Aikido Journal Online?

Hello,

I am, I sent the mail before I opened this topic, but to date no response, maybe they are on holidays, or think I am a fool that attempt to provoke them.

My first plan was to contact crew at Aiki web, but their server is down, so my only chance is that one of them follows sword forum too.

Regards,

Petar

[Patrick De Block]

Hello,

Maybe he will still answer?

In fact I have an old bokken which I only use for solo drills since it has a crack. Compared to the standard bokken that is sold everywhere the 'blade' is straighter and the angle of the tsuka is bigger. It has a total length of 108 cm. I'm rather fond of it and since it has a crack I want to make a copy of it, but I still have to buy wood and I don't know if my skills are good enough.

The bokken was given to me by someone who practised akido more than thirty years ago, it would take some time to find out where it was purchased.

[K. Rasmussen]

I appreciate all who are engaged in making bokken, but this is definitely the best "bokken master" to whom I came across on the internet, I hope that everyone here will agree with me.

He does seem to have some pretty sweet woodwork going on there... I particularly like his racks and katanakake. I see what you're saying about the tsuka angle, but it looks awkward to me. I'd have to play around with one to see if I liked it; to see what advantage that configuration might give.

[Petar A]

Hello,

Maybe he will still answer?

In fact I have an old bokken which I only use for solo drills since it has a crack. Compared to the standard bokken that is sold everywhere the 'blade' is straighter and the angle of the tsuka is bigger. It has a total length of 108 cm. I'm rather fond of it and since it has a crack I want to make a copy of it, but I still have to buy wood and I don't know if my skills are good enough.

The bokken was given to me by someone who practised akido more than thirty years ago, it would take some time to find out where it was purchased.

Hello,
That's it, so my budo friend, if you're willing to send me some pictures of this bokken, and make the measurements, I will make you a new bokken, of wood that will not break, never

Here you will find information, to contact me

http://paart-budo-buki.blogspot.com/

Regards,

Petar

[Patrick De Block]

Hello,

My bokken looks a bit thinner than the one in your original post. But since you are interested in the depth of sori and the angle of the tsuka ... I've sent you the measurements. Still have to take pictures.

Regards,

Patrick

[Petar A]

Hello,

My bokken looks a bit thinner than the one in your original post. But since you are interested in the depth of sori and the angle of the tsuka ... I've sent you the measurements. Still have to take pictures.

Regards,

Patrick

Thank you for pictures, it will help in my research about tsuka angle,
but it is not similar to O Sensei's bokken, he had angle but blade is not like one on picture.

What I need for my project is maybe more picture from that city hall of Tanabe, I hope that Alex is not only guy who visit that hall and take a photo.

For me it is strange that none of true practitioner is never interested in this bokken.
I know that there are many directions in Aikido, but at least those who claim to practice genuine Aikido

[Bennison N]

Hi Petar.

I've sent you a PM.

I must admit that I've thought about O-Sensei's bokken before, what it would be like to hold it, if it would feel any different... But only in the same way I think about every past warrior's weapon. In the end it's just a tool, right?

[Petar A]

Hi Petar.

I've sent you a PM.

I must admit that I've thought about O-Sensei's bokken before, what it would be like to hold it, if it would feel any different... But only in the same way I think about every past warrior's weapon. In the end it's just a tool, right?

Hi N,

always depends from which perspective you look at things,
If you are an ordinary practitioner of Aikido it is irrelevant, bokken, branches, staff, whatever.

But I am now in serious years, and look at things differently, in making bokken I've reached a climax ,
and again I do it for pleasure


I was inspired also with this short film, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZKGzGqOt0

and like this genius, I am also trying to make something that was made long ago and almost disappeared.

Probably this is my nature, I am in the horoscope Sagittarius, for us say that our arrows shooting farther than the others can see

Maybe it was a strange that I am trying to make a bokken again similar to O Sensei's one

but just as Mr. Watanabe is trying to make a Koto sword, that no one will use in battle, yet he do it, a challenge or something else!?

ah yes this guy give answer at the end, listen carefully every word he say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8l1W...feature=relmfu

[Petar A]

Hello my forum friends,

after some time here you could se first result, still trying to get more information, any suggestions and ideas are welcome



http://aikido-buki.blogspot.com/2012...-bokken-2.html