Why train with the wooden sword, or bokken?
Training with a wooden sword (bokken) is a very important aspect of Aikido, and should not be overlooked. It comes from a long tradition of Martial Arts training in Japan, and is still practiced today in other sword schools and styles in Japan, as part of kenjutsu training. Although it seems inappropriate to train with a sword in our modern lifestyle, there are many training and physical benefits to be gained by continuing to practice daily with a sword. In the hands of an experienced kenjutsu practioner, a wooden sword can be just as deadly as a live blade. It is said that if you cannot kill someone with the wooden sword, you would be unable to do so with a live blade. In Aikido we regard a wooden sword with just as much care and importance as a live blade, so during training we bear in mind that we are training not just with a wooden sword, but with a deadly weapon. In this way, sword training can give us a more serious and careful approach to our training. Training only with empty h
