Swordsplay/Sparring - Kendo Sticks?

[Anthrax Invasion]

So, I've been sparring with my cousin. We started with wooden bokkens. Hurt too much when you get hit (no padding or anything), so we got foam rubber bokkens. I'm too aggressive, so I wound up snapping his clean in half.

My next idea was to grab us some shinai (kendo sticks) to spar with, but I'm afraid they'll just break or something anyway.

Anyone have any ideas as to what we can/should use to spar? We're looking for swords, by the by. Used staffs, but I wreck him with them and it's no fun.

 

[mr.october]

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[Djimbe]

look up Wasters ? Theyre like Bokken for EMA . Id try Shinai first , or just Toughen the hell up . I mean , Look up the Dog Brothers , they whack each other with Sticks all the time . Ive dont it plenty , its how you learn .

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Well the bokken we used shattered (solid wood). I think we come at one another too hard. We also tried chopping down bamboo and using it but it splinters, although his base was taped and it stayed, so I figure if we tape it up completely it should last.

The shinai I was looking at are kind've expensive at the moment, and when we clash there's a high amount of impact, so I could see the thing just snapping.

Wasters? What's EMA, anyway?

 

[Djimbe]

EUROPEAN Martial Arts .

there are Dozens of sword systems alone .

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

EUROPEAN Martial Arts .

there are Dozens of sword systems alone .

Yeah, I found www.purpleheartarmory.com

Lots of stuff.

I think we may just be contacting too hard, 'cause we've broken everything, save real swords.

Well, shinai are still on the list, but I'm hesitant to bother 'cause I don't want to blow my money on something that can't take hard, constant poundings.

Any experience with shinai, Djimbe?

 

[Djimbe]

Yeah , but I weigh 400 lbs and can break anything !

they tend to "Rebound" more than Bokken though , and mostly because theyre designed like the Springs on a Truck , the bamboo is bent to oppose another Bent piece of Bamboo , wich gives it a good deal more "Bounce" than you expect in the offing , but who knows if thats "Enough" ? I DO know that it effects HOW you swing the tool , because the Vibrations in your hands become Murder after a while if you go at them like a bat , ad nauseum .

I WILL say that Shinai are really designed to strike other Shinai , or Men (the Heagdear in Kendo) more than anything else . Im suprised that yorue breaking Bokken , but perhaps thyere too Brittle and Hard . Ive broken and seen broken Limbs with Bokken before and without as much as a scratch on the wood .

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Yeah, I never got to use a shinai yet, but I've seen the design and figured they were like that to be springy. They're also fairly long next to the bokken we used, so the swings would be slower and thus, less enjoyable.

We'd use the shinai against other shinai or one another, that's the plan. I just hope we wouldn't break them after one or two bouts of sparring - it'd be pointless to spend my money on 'em, then.

 

[Djimbe]

well , the other thing that comes to mind is the QUALITY of the Bokkens youre Using . I mean , If youre using a $12 bokken its GOING to Break ! Oak and Pine Bokken are doomed to Destruction , while Teak , Maple , Ironwood or Purple Heart ones will last a lifetime . you can also find Graphite Shinai . And remmeber , you can always glue a thin sheath of Foam to the outside of a Bokken to pad it .

http://bokkenshop.com/eng/index.html

http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_stdweapons.htm

http://www.bearwoodproducts.com/Training Weapons.htm

http://www.kingfisherwoodworks.com/

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Wow, nice links! Thanks a ton man!

By "Purple Heart" bokkens, did you mean the ones from that website, or is Purple Heart a type of material?

I figured it had to do with the quality, but I also thought that with the speed and force we're clashing at, they're gonna break anyway.

I'll definitely look for Teak, Maple or Ironwood though. Graphite shinai sounds good too.