Iwama Aikido - Weapons Bokken (ken), Jo (wooden staff) & Tanto (knife)

Aiki Weapons

Weapons are an important part of Aikido training. A few of the techniques in Aikido derive from weapon based techniques. Also, after training with the weapons (Bokken and Jo) for a period of time, your body will learn certain movements and katas and this will help with the Taijitsu techniques.

Bokken
Tanto
Jo

Find out useful tips on how to look after your weapons! How you should apply oil to your ken? Should you sand it down first? How to add a kanji to your ken.

Want to Buy Aikido Weapons Online? To find details on where you can buy weapons online please visit the shop.

Aiki Ken / Bokken

Bokken

Iwama Bokken

Details of the Bokken

There are many different types of Bokken each with slightly different qualities.

The standard length of a bokken is 40 inches / 1016mm
There are three types of kissaki (tips to the bokken) Flat Tip, Medium Kissaki and 45/30
There are many types of wood that the Bokkens are made out of including white oak, red oak, Laminate, Lignum Vitae, Cocobolo, Jatoba, Purple Heart and Hickory.
The Bokken handle varies from 1/4 to 1/3rd of the length of the bokken.

Looking after your new Ken

Ok, you've just spent out on a new Ken, now what?

The Ken is going to see a lot of action and so it is important to give it one or two coats of oil. I use linseed oil (but you can use most oils including vegetable oil).
PLEASE NOTE: Some Kens come pre-oiled and so do not need to be oiled.

1. Apply the first coat of oil by pouring a small amount of oil into your hand and rubbing evenly over the whole of the ken, including the ends.
TipIt is important to apply the oil with your hands as you can then get an even coat of oil all over.

2. Let the oil soak in, an hour should do it but some people leave it overnight!

3. Take off all excess oil using a rag.

4. Do process again if you choose to apply a second coat.

Coming soon.. Details on how to add a Kanji to your ken.

There are seven Ken Suburi:
1. Shomen Uchi 2. Shomen Uchi Komi 3. The Sword of Universal Ki 4. Renzoku Shomen Uchi Komi	5. Renzoku Showmen Uchi Komi 6. Shomen Uchi Tsuki 7. Migi Shomen Uchi Hidari Tsuki

Aiki Jo

Details of Jo

The length of the Jo varies depending on the user's height. It should come up to underneath the armpit (with the shoulder down). Normally between 50 - 56 inches / 1270mm - 1420mm.
The thickness of a Jo can vary depending on the users preference. Normally between 3/4 to 1 inch.
There are many different types of wood the Jo is available in including white oak, red oak, laminate, lignum vitae, cocobolo, jatoba, purple heart or hickory.

There are twenty Jo Suburi:
Tsuki No Bu 1. Choku Zuki 2. Kaeshi Zuki 3. Ushiro Tsuki 4. Tsuki Gedan Gaeshi 5. Tsuki Jodan Gaeshi Uchi Shomen No Bu 6. Shomen Uchi Komi 7. Renzoku Uchi Komi 8. Menuchi Gedan Gaeshi 9. Menuchi Ushiro Tsuki 10. Gyakyu Yokomen Ushiro Tsuki	Katate No Bu 11. Katate Gedan Gaeshi 12. Katate Toma Uchi 13. Katate Hachi No Ni Gaeshi Hasso Gaeshi No Bu 14. Hasso Gaeshi Uchi 15. Hasso Gaeshi Tsuki 16. Hasso Gaeshi Ushiro Tsuki 17. Hasso Gaeshi Ushiro Uchi 18. Hasso Gaeshi Ushiro Barai Nagare Gaeshi No Bu 19. Hidari Nagare Gaeshi Uchi 20. Migi Nagare Gaeshi Tsuki

Tanto

Details on Tanto

The standard Tanto is 13 inches / 325mm long.

There are two main areas we use the tanto...
Gokyu and Tanto dori (knife taking).

History of Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo

O'Sensei created the weapon movements of the Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo. The Weapon movements derive from arts studied by O'Sensei such as Kenjitsu and Jojitsu. For more information on the history of Kenjitsu and Jojitsu please click on the following...

Kenjitsu.
Jojitsu.

AIKIDO INFO

Aikido Glossary
Learn about the Hakama
Learn about Gi Suits
How to tie an Aikdo Belt
Aikido Video Clips
Weapons Information
Taijutsu Information

History

History of Aikido
History of UK Aikido
History of Aiki-Jutsu
History of Jojitsu
History of Kenjutsu

Iwama