Cold Steel Wakazashi Bokken, Training Sword with Improved Handle

Wakazashi Bokken, training sword made of polypropylene

Improved 2015 version with handle in cord-wrap look

The best swordsmen in the world knew centuries ago this simple truth: to become a reasonably good swordsman, you should strive to learn the appropriate fighting techniques, footwork and basic stances. To become a master of swordsmanship, however, you ultimately also need training with a sharp bladed weapon.

If your aim is to handle a razor-sharp blade safely and effectively, you should first practise with a sword that conveys roughly the size, weight and feel of a real, sharp weapon, but has the advantage that you can hardly injure yourself or your training partner seriously.

This idea was already practised by the ancient Romans, who used blunt wooden swords to train their gladiators and soldiers in swordsmanship. The Japanese samurai also used wooden practice swords, called bokken. The bokken was made from an extremely hard wood called kashi (white oak). These wooden swords are a clever solution to an annoying problem and so effective that they are still used today. Authentic bokken made of Japanese hardwood are, however, quite expensive. Another disadvantage is that a wooden sword can of course rot, crack, flake or splinter. Sooner or later it then becomes unusable.

Cold Steel's solution was to develop an adequate substitute from synthetic material - almost unbeatable in price and very resistant to the elements. All products of Cold Steel's training weapons collection are made from the highest-quality polypropylene. In length, weight and handling they correspond astonishingly well to their real models. These training weapons are not as rigid as wooden swords and also have the decisive advantage of being almost unbreakable, extraordinarily hard and cut-resistant.

The Japanese training swords from Cold Steel are modelled on the world-famous swords of the Warrior series . Their broad blades have the same flowing lines as the Warrior swords, but are made of extremely tough polypropylene and have neither sharp edges nor sharp points. With adequate protective equipment they are therefore ideal for sparring and training, as well as for conditioning drills and palus training.

Each model also has a handle that imitates the traditional cord wrap in detail and ensures excellent control even with thick gloves. These swords offer the modern martial artist above-average training potential.

Details:
- Wakizashi Bokken, 2015 model with improved handle
- Material: polypropylene
- Overall length: approx. 69.5 cm 
- Blade length: approx. 53.3 cm 
- Blade thickness: approx. 19 mm
- Handle length: approx. 16.2 cm
- Weight: approx. 346 g 
- Cold Steel article number: 92BKKB / 92BKKBZ