Hundreds of years ago, the Japanese discovered a simple truth; that to become a good swordsman you’ll have to practice, a great deal. To become a great swordsman you’ll have to practice with a "live blade". And during the period between "good" and "great", you should spend your time building your skills and confidence enough to wield a razor sharp Katana safely and effectively.
To accomplish this, the Japanese relied on a simple wooden sword called a “bokken” for much of their training. It was made from the super tough wood of the Japanese White Oak, a wood they called Kashi. The swords produced from this wood had the advantage of replicating the size, weight and feel of a steel sword, while minimizing the possibility of causing grievous or permanent injury to those who used it.
