●Tozando Online Shop | The shop I recommend you buy anything you need to train in Japanese martial arts tozandoshop.com/ ▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼ ruclips.net/video/nhEamHfzyyg/видео.html ▼Related videos in this channel▼ -The Truth about the Conflict of Iaido and Battodo ft. Warakiri Battosai ruclips.net/video/CAJ7dGVSCO0/видео.html -Iaitō, Dōgi, Obi... What Else? Find Everything You Need to Start IAIDO at Kyoto's Best Katana Shop ruclips.net/video/Odd9vxn1ZdY/видео.html -3 IAIDO Kata Demonstrations and What Each Movement Means | Introductory Katana Training for Starters ruclips.net/video/sAhfN0OCvVw/видео.html ▼MY DREAM▼ ruclips.net/video/EgowIV_kagA/видео.html “To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in” I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more. ▼Join our Membership▼ ruclips.net/channel/UCn7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVwjoin ●Membership benefits -Limited behind-the-scene videos ruclips.net/p/UUMOn7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVw -Weekly Zoom call or live stream -Priority reply to comments ▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼ ruclips.net/channel/UCZAe1VayWxp5NLO4Net78DA Please subscribe!! The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores. Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments. ▼[Listen to the real voices of the Japanese] "Voices from Japan series"▼ ruclips.net/p/PLpIWoYf9KNFXxLyeQa85jDudDKqkwPg-2 ▼[Places recommended to visit in Kyoto] "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼ ruclips.net/p/PLpIWoYf9KNFU7LIIFB0P_reDt_oMdkCOq ▼Instagram▼ instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/ *Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）
And would i need to buy an Hokkaido or Koryu Bokuto? And that are the differences between these much special names in the Tozandoshop? Is there anything i need to know about that?
@@tobiaswolf735 @Tobias Wolf Tozando is a legit dealer for dojo approved Japanese Katana. You don't want to practice with anything not approved by your sensei or swordmaster for safety and functionality of the equipment. I'd ask your instructor these questions before making purchases for products you don't know or understand. If you don't have an instructor, then I recommend joining a class before buying. If you want a wall decoration, then go for it.
@@tobiaswolf735 Different arts tend to prefer different bokutō weights and profiles. Most of the time, it's not that huge of a difference. However, if you are using one for iaidō practice with a plastic saya, it needs to fit inside the saya. For example, neither the Iwama-ryū bokutō nor the Tennen Rishin-ryū bokutō will come anywhere close to fitting. The standard plastic tsuba that will fit most of the other styles won't fit these two either. I made a custom oak tsuba for my own Iwama-style bokutō. The rubber tsuba stoppers will still fit the Iwama (but the fit is pretty tight and difficult to get on), but you'll need two to fit even a custom tsuba, rather than the usual single stopper. I'm pretty sure the stoppers won't fit the Tennen Rishin at all, as it's even thicker than the Iwama. The Hokkaido bokutō section on the Tozando website is new since I last checked, I believe those come from a new manufacturing shop up north. There used to be three notable shops based out of Kyūshū, but I believe one of those shops closed permanently during the early part of the pandemic. I don't know of the circumstances, but I do know Kyūshū shops were having supply difficulties in getting appropriate wood to make these (most of the oak forests there are now protected), which was driving up the purchase cost.
This is exactly what we tell our students, though we usually go the step further if requiring the bokuto when starting out. It is safer and preps their body for the movements they will make, and it's easier on the wallet. After a few months, then they are able to get their iaito, and we help size out the sword for them so they don't misorder and get what they need right away. Great video as always Shogo!
Oh, could you have some start advice to random person from internet who only start getting into? Like what beginning students usually do with bokudo in first months?
@@dicon108 Great question! It will depend on the school, but usually the best things to start with are body mechanic fundamentals, like stances, how to grip the sword, how to swing, noto, chiburi, etc... All of those are not always the most exciting things to practice, but they are huge to work on. Most people aren't used to their bodies moving in the ways they need to in order to be effective/efficient, but they make a huge impact. The trade-off is that unless you have already taken lessons and know what these moves look/feel like, it can be hard to simply watch videos or read books to learn how to perform them, as there isn't an instructor teaching you live with feedback tailored to you. Finding a teacher is huge for success.
I seriously respect European weapons, but I have to say that Japanese weapons (especially the katana) are the coolest. And the culture is extremely fascinating. (My only problem is how the Japanese are constantly sitting on their knees. I know that they have been doing this their entire lives, but I pray that it’s not a cultural thing. Because sitting on my knees 24/7 sounds extremely painful)
Regarding the expense, and if you're unsure of you will continue your training or not, both Bokuto and Iaito will have decent second hand market value if they've been well taken care of. So you should probably be able to sell a used Bokuto or Iaito while not losing a whole lot of money in the process if you found that Iaido is not for you. And the same goes for a beginner in this martial art: if you're unsure, look around for used equipment. You might be able to save some money by getting a used training sword.
Hello Shogo, I am writing to you from Uruguay, the antipodes of Japan. I have been practicing AIKIDO since 1996, but after seeing your videos I became so interested in IAIDO that I started practicing it after 16 classes. Thank you very much. Keep going.
I agree with you on all your points. Your about sheathing is very important. In my dojo, we start with the bokken (same thing), but we don’t use a saya. Noto isn’t the same as with an iaito. Also, for the first few months, beginners are busy concentrating on the details of the nukiutske. It’s also crucial to buy a bokken made out of oak, a dense wood which provides a feeling of some weight.
The timing of this video couldn't have been more perfect. I have been wanting to start Laido traning. But didn't have any knowledge about how to start with it. Thank you for what you are doing 🙏❤
Hello Shogo, Karateka here. I recently took an interest in Iaido from kobudo, the weapons part of karate, one of those weapons being the katana. I did some thinking about it and decided that I'd like to try it out. This channel has helped me a lot with this decision and I always like seeing more helpful tips and videos on Iaido from you. Keep up the amazing work! 👍
I just LOVE that he says "yeah" in between phrases! It gives such a confident vibe, and it's so cute! 😄 We love you Shogo! And thank you for doing this!
I started training about 3 months ago, the dojo I train at didn’t have an iaito I was comfortable with because I am very petite so I bought a shorter one. I am happy with the feel of it and we regularly use the iaito and bokken versions for training. Great video explaining the differences!
White Oak Bokken > Red Oak Bokken. Most clubs will have beginner/loaner gear for new students to use and will advise on what to get if you are keen to continue training in my experience.
i feel like the lighter weight could also be a bad point, since getting used too much to the weight of a bokuto would cause many problems when upgrading to a iaito. For example all the cuts done with a iaito use the weight of the sword itself to swing the sword, so using something very light such as a bokuto, often produces excessivly strong, round and fast cuts
Actually there is a variant to buy a real sword with blade, replaced by an wooden or bamboo one. They are light, thin and safe, so these swords are realistic as well as not being an actual weapon. I have one of this exact type and they're called Takemizu, I think.
Hello Shogo. I practice Nakamura Ryu, I don't practice Iaito. As a beginner everything you mentioned is true for me, especially for tameshigiri. First 3 months: I didn't know if my posture was right because everything was hurting learning how to swing a katana. When we do 500 cuts, that was a workout. After 3 months of training, I finally got my first bokken. Now after almost 9 months of training I finally got my first iaito sword. Today I do my first class with the new sword. Having only done tamishigiri a couple of times, I do feel nervous handling a live katana because I'm not used to it. Training with a bokken is great for beginners and the level of comfort is there with it. As you mentioned, I too strongly suggest upgrading to Iaito swords. Even though it doesn't have a sharpened edge, the dynamics are different, especially sheathing. I enjoyed this video. Great job as always. What does Te Nouchi actually translate to? Hand Grips? Te means hand right? ✋️ 4: Hyakuren Jitoku 🙏
I've been fascinated by Miyamoto Musashi ever since that PlayStation game "Brave Fencer Musashi." Got me interested in the man himself. Between both him and Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the romanticized style of dual wielding is too much for me to resist. Even moreso after a recent live stream, demonstrating the advantage a left handed draw has over someone who only knows how to right hand-dominantly draw and strike. At this point, my bokken is used to help me safely learn how to operate myself. I'll periodically switch, so my right hand has the bokken instead. Just to make sure I don't develop bad habits.
@@bravelilspidey I've also only heard it, but they were wondering why it didn't cut all the way through, and then looked at the blade and realised it was an iaito
Hi Shogo! Im a 13 year old Kenjutsu Trainee in the Philippines, and regarding that the “Bokuto is Lighter” i find that the bokuto is a bit light but also i bit heavy for me to handle in a sparring session especially when it comes to the size and thickness of the wooden material, so i would probably prefer the Iaito! This was a really great video and you should keep it up!
Iaidoka should be using both, iaitou and bokutou in regular training. Especially when visualizing the kata with a real opponent to practice maai (correct distance and timing) its essential to have a bokutou at your disposal. There are many advanced iaidouka who sometimes don't even know how the enemy attacks or where the cut goes exactly, so partner training in this regard helps a lot, not only beginners :)
Didn't Miyamoto Musashi allegedly use Bokuto often in batttles, in order to break bones rather than cut an opponent? In this fashion, Bokuto can be just as dangerous as Katana, but in a different way.
That'd imply it's literally less dangerous. Broken bones < disemboweled mf's. However, where did you read that? The only story I know is of him fashioning a bokuto out of an oar because he was hungover.
I would train with a real dull katana for awareness and treating it as if it were sharp. I really love the seriousness and grace of the Kata performed with the katana. Battles must have been like poetry or like a song played on the koto. It's just how I envision it. Thanks shogo for you helpful tips. You are very wise for being a student of so little time. ✌️😁
I have two types of wooden katana with different features. One is like the one in this video. The other has a realistic katana-like handle and a thinner, more realistic-looking blade. The latter is lighter than the former, but it also feels as if it isn't very strong. Which wooden katana would be preferable?
You are incredibly modest. Perhaps it’s the difference in culture between Japan and the US, but at least in the style of Shotokan Karate i trained in, 2nd Dan is instructor level and generally considered extremely skilled and knowledgeable
I'm honestly amazed by the sound of it out of everything. The moves are so delicate, but the sounds are amazing! It feels like listening to a movie... It's amazing!
Correctly swung katana would do a swoosh sound even without the bo-hi, but having a katana with it may help you learn to swing more easily thanks to the much more noticable sound it makes.
As always Shogo is lots of fun to watch and learn from! I have lived in Japan for over 30 years and I am still learning everyday! Shogo is increasing my knowledge all the time! Thanks Shogo! For anyone interested, not sure this is appropriate and if not, admin can remove. I am thinking to sell a 1 year old Seido purchased 2.55 shaku 9.5 sun iaito in perfect condition. Just purchasing another iaito and selling this one to do so! Please message me if you are interested
I repeat my comment that I did in your short, you're so brave swinging the katana over your head, you need a lot of confidence in your skills to do that! (I surely would cut my head doing that, xD)
This is great information. I have been self-training with weighted, self-made bokuto for years, with the actual combat-focused style in mind, so I am ready to defend that which I hold dear. This is valuable information to consider, and you have my gratitude. Thank you, Shogo.
I would like to know how you think about wooden or bamboo Iaito katanas. They look like real katanas (grip & tsuba) but the blade is made from palisander wood or bamboo. The blade is even as thick as a real blade and bit flexible so they are definetely not made for sparing. They can be bought at amazon (germany) for 70€ - 120€. They come with a (most often very beautiful) saya.
i really want to take the next step in my battojutsu. just did the unsheathing and single strikes for i find that to be more realistic than,, well you have a whole video about it i have been doing all of this training, on my own, with books and watching trainee's on youtube with close detail in order to mimick this . for here in my country there is only 1 school and its at the other side of country + heckin expensive
Keep being brutally honest with yourself during training. There are forms, styles and techniques to practice, but no two humans have the exact same muscle and bone structure. In time you will discover things only you can do. Do the best you can. Develop yourself.
Today is Tanabata I would love to see a video on this festival...I remember it being such a colorful festival and everyone wore traditional dress that day...
I have a video request/idea for you, Shogo. Ok, so, as someone who is fluent in English, I know that you're aware of its many, MANY different accents. Even more, with you having lived in the US for as long as you did, I'm certain you have firsthand experience with just how varied they can be even in the US alone. Even so, for us native English speakers, it's fairly easy to quickly get (at the very least) a rough idea of where another native speaker is from after hearing them speak a few words. I'd really love to know, is the same is true of Japanese speakers? I'd also really love to see a demonstration of the different accents. Like, showing how different the exact same sentence would sound if spoken by someone from Hokkaido, or Kyoto, or Okinawa, etc...
Another problem I think is that with a bokuto you're not aware of the potential danger of swinging a blade, even if it is an iaito, but especially with a shinken. So the zanshin aspect of it could be way shallower.
In beginning of my Iaido training I practised at home with a hanbo I made from Tasmanian oak. It is inscribed with kanji to so that I can better channel my ki energy through it to destroy my many opponents. Hand crafted bokken are of more value to me than inexpensive Iaito made by robots. Bokken & hand-forged shinken have the right spirit. Spirit is key to mastery of sword & the self.
My Iaito (made of steel) was only 99€. So there are Iaito out there that have a reasonable price. And I have never seen Bokken with a sheath. THe ones you can buy here in Germany are 99,9% without a sheath.
You usually have to buy the sheath separately. I ordered a sheath on amazon for about 20 US dollars not too long ago for a friend who was interested in getting started.
I am wanting to begin training and I got a bokuto but now that I saw this video I saw how lucky I was! My bokuto has the wrapping and it isn’t quite to thick.
While you won't get cut by a bokutō, getting hit by one certainly still hurts. I'm an aikidō student, and we have partner bokutō training as an auxiliary to the more commonly exhibited unarmed training. The while training is designed to be mostly safe, accidents occasionally happen - most often hands and fingers get smacked. But there is no way, in that bokutō training scene in the movie "The Last Samurai", that Tom Cruise's character should be getting back up from the ground anytime soon.
Welp..... The Bukoto and the shinai are My only training swords I have for now im afraid. But I would love to try out an Iaito just to Know what it's Like.
You can not safely spar with iaito. On the other hand, you can with bokuto. You also have the advantage of training bunkai with bokuto that have saya. In addition, having bokuto equipped with tsuba does reduce the amount of injuries that occur on your hands (since I prefer using the bokuto made for Aikido's Iwama-ryu, which also have blunted points, and they usually are too thick for tsuba). Furthermore, the iaito from Tozando are much lighter than some of the bokuto offered in Tozando's inventory. The ones that actually weigh like a katana cost extra. On the concept of Te no Uchi - wielding a bokuto (especially and well-shaped wooden sword) is not as different as wielding an iaito. It more difficult with shinai and polearms such as the jo and bo. (Of course, if you want to train with a metal weapon, it is best to use a shinken so that you are aware of the sharpness of the cutting edge of the katana.)
You look so natural with the swords, it's beautiful to watch. I'm a big fan of traditional Japanese music so that made this even more enjoyable, thank you! I also love noisey bands like the Boredoms and Electronicos Fantasticos (barcode music), also psychedelic bands like Flower Traveling Band. Japan has a lot of great music!
I always thought of buying a bokuto one day so I can both workout at home and have fun pretending to swing a katana. Watching this, now I'm having second thoughts before buying one.
Nah man dont qhesitate buy a bokuto it will be very much fun and ullvtrain and enjoy and later on u will buy a iaito and then eventually a nihon to, im tellin you this coz this is how i started myself 34 years ago
I trained with full metal katana for two years before buying a bokken. I don't recommend it. Unless you need broken bones, grinding off your knuckle skin and painful blisters, don't start with metal swords. Personally, I do feel even if you're just starting out, it's critical to swing a metal sword to understand the weight you need to control. But you'll build those muscles and muscle memory well with a wooden sword. I use a red oak bokken, and it's almost as-heavy as my tachi. If you want to capture the feel of metal swords, I suggest red oak.
I need an explanation of the different styles of sword mountings, as I see so many variations. For example, some tsuka have small kashira, while others have larger ones and may have a metal ring going through it. There are also different ways to wrap the handle. Then some saya are covered with fur. All the different mountings are so fascinating! So I’d love to find out what they were purposed for.
Kashira with a ring through it was used on tachi swords, the predecessor of katana as we know it today. Since tachi was used on horseback, I think that samurai back in the day used to tie their tachi to their belt (obi). Feel free to correct me on this, I'm not 100% sure about the actual use of it.
Thank you for offering these great points to those of us who do not have an easy method of learning them on our own! I love your videos and hope you are doing well! I do have a question, about kenjutsu - is that actually an art today, or is iaido the only way specific to katana training. I have no interest in kendo... But would like to begin to practice 'japanese swordsmanship' beyond drawing and sheathing. What should I search for?
Biggest issue I see with using a bokutoh w/saya for iai: the kurikata is located too far from the koi guchi on the plastic saya. Having the kurikata located in this way makes it much harder to do proper saya biki.
Ever see reproduction Roman practice/training gladius swords? Most are dull wooden swords, but I have seen some that are swords (perhaps with dull lead blades) wrapped in padded leather to bonk and poke sparring partners with more safety.
I've been able to obtain quality basic Iaito for my beginning students for less than $200 by going to a source in Japan that doesn't cater to overseas sales (website is all in Japanese) and you have to use Japan way of doing business - bank orders. But since the yen is currently so weak compared to the dollar, the price in yen is much cheaper. You are definitely paying a premium for the convenience when a distributor has english version or another language for their website and offers purchase by credit card.
any of those websites you would recommend? I am looking for an iaito soon to replace my bokuto. My Japanese is basic and I don't know many kanji, but I should be able to get by with google translate. My club's go-to is Tozando, but their iaito are very pricy, and i'd like to get something cheaper to use for a year or more until I decide to get a custom made. thanks.
I started to chop wood with iron axe, as a child to earn some pennies. No training, what so... So, training with a real thing is awesome (and more practical) I mean, you're not gonna chop wood with a wooden axe. But with a sword you gonna use wood when practice with partner... otherwise use a real metal one (you know, cut yourself once or two or you won't learn properly. Like with axe)
2:50 that's a bizarre option shown, you wouldn't use a suburi bokuto to practice iaido. There is at least two sources in the US where the plastic saya is only about $15. And it's possible plastic tsuba & tsubadome for $3 total that fit a standard thinner itto ryu style (or kendo style) bokuto that can be found for $50-60. Though recently some of the suppliers seem to have switched their sources and offered quite unsatisfactory bokuto that are completely different in quality in my 20+ year old bokuto I've gotten from them.
I brought one was about 450 pounds just because I love samurai stuff it's very very sharp it's like the sheath oils it n it's heavyish to took about 4 /5 months to come from Japan but after watching you making a knife I can understand why
Hey Shogo! What would you recommend for Tsuka shape? I’m contemplating between the Standard, Straight and Hour Glass shape Tsuka shape. I know what blade length I should get which is the. 2.50 shaku and a 9 sun (27.3cm) for a tsuka length. I hope you get this message soon coz I’m ordering my first Iaito sword from Tozando.
i think you should also consider plastic katanas. they arent common and when looking for one youll see alot of toys, but an actual none toy plastic katana will be the cheapest option, it will still be lighter then a iaito, and it get you more used to the shape and balance of a real sword also these plastic katana usually do have some form of wrapping on the handle. sometimes itll be like foam and sometimes its just hardplastic, so its not perfect, but its better then no wrapping if youre giving it to a child as a first step in training id still say you should go with the wooden sword though, because even though the plastic ones arent exactly sharp, theyll hurt more if you get stabbed or wacked with one when compared to a rounder thicker wooden blade edit: i also cant speak to the quality of these swords but you can get bokuto (in the uk atleast) for as little as 20$ that have better proportions and wrapping on the handle
At first I had this ABS plastic thing that made such a racket when sheathing or when I tried to put it on the floor in the hall that has an acoustics like a cathedral it was so embarrassing! All you could hear was loud clonk clonk. I find the bokken still quicker to draw than my iaito because of the weight but I do love my iaito now.
Hello I have a question about katana fighting styles. There are two types of katana in the game Shadow Fight 3. One is just 'Katana' and another is Iaido Katana. I want to know if there really exists a style like the Iaido Katana fighting style in Shadow Fight 3
I inherited a bokuto from a senior kenjutsu student when he moved away, saying I could keep it for form training. It doesn't and appears to have never had a saya or tsuba. If I were to begin training in Iaido, should I get a new one with those, or is it possible to buy those separately?
What are your thoughts on doing iaito stuff with a blunted steel katana? I know from looking at online stats that the weight and balance between the zinc alloy and full steel blade is indeed slightly different. Was asking because one of the guys I spar with frequently uses a blunt steel weapon modeled after a typical edo period katana and am almost tempted to pick one up. And have you considered doing a video sharing your thoughts on other forms of swordsmanship from a traditional Japanese perspective?
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Could you tell us any history about Shirasaya (the simple katana with only wooden scabbard)
And would i need to buy an Hokkaido or Koryu Bokuto? And that are the differences between these much special names in the Tozandoshop? Is there anything i need to know about that?
@@tobiaswolf735 @Tobias Wolf Tozando is a legit dealer for dojo approved Japanese Katana. You don't want to practice with anything not approved by your sensei or swordmaster for safety and functionality of the equipment. I'd ask your instructor these questions before making purchases for products you don't know or understand. If you don't have an instructor, then I recommend joining a class before buying. If you want a wall decoration, then go for it.
@@tobiaswolf735 Different arts tend to prefer different bokutō weights and profiles. Most of the time, it's not that huge of a difference. However, if you are using one for iaidō practice with a plastic saya, it needs to fit inside the saya. For example, neither the Iwama-ryū bokutō nor the Tennen Rishin-ryū bokutō will come anywhere close to fitting. The standard plastic tsuba that will fit most of the other styles won't fit these two either.
I made a custom oak tsuba for my own Iwama-style bokutō. The rubber tsuba stoppers will still fit the Iwama (but the fit is pretty tight and difficult to get on), but you'll need two to fit even a custom tsuba, rather than the usual single stopper. I'm pretty sure the stoppers won't fit the Tennen Rishin at all, as it's even thicker than the Iwama.
The Hokkaido bokutō section on the Tozando website is new since I last checked, I believe those come from a new manufacturing shop up north. There used to be three notable shops based out of Kyūshū, but I believe one of those shops closed permanently during the early part of the pandemic. I don't know of the circumstances, but I do know Kyūshū shops were having supply difficulties in getting appropriate wood to make these (most of the oak forests there are now protected), which was driving up the purchase cost.
This is exactly what we tell our students, though we usually go the step further if requiring the bokuto when starting out. It is safer and preps their body for the movements they will make, and it's easier on the wallet. After a few months, then they are able to get their iaito, and we help size out the sword for them so they don't misorder and get what they need right away. Great video as always Shogo!
Oh, could you have some start advice to random person from internet who only start getting into? Like what beginning students usually do with bokudo in first months?
@@dicon108 Great question! It will depend on the school, but usually the best things to start with are body mechanic fundamentals, like stances, how to grip the sword, how to swing, noto, chiburi, etc... All of those are not always the most exciting things to practice, but they are huge to work on. Most people aren't used to their bodies moving in the ways they need to in order to be effective/efficient, but they make a huge impact. The trade-off is that unless you have already taken lessons and know what these moves look/feel like, it can be hard to simply watch videos or read books to learn how to perform them, as there isn't an instructor teaching you live with feedback tailored to you. Finding a teacher is huge for success.
@@john_la_chapelle Thanks. I guess, with teacher you can make a mistake that he will find to solve it on the spot
I’m not really into weapons like this but I love learning more about Japanese culture and how these swords impact the culture. Super cool 🙏🏽
I'm definitely into the weapons myself 😁
It's nice that the channel has something for everyone.
@@sevenproxies4255 I’m of the same opinion when it comes to European weapons but there still really really cool
I love the katana. I’m in the process of “customizing” my own for purchase. And yes Japanese culture is very interesting
I seriously respect European weapons, but I have to say that Japanese weapons (especially the katana) are the coolest. And the culture is extremely fascinating. (My only problem is how the Japanese are constantly sitting on their knees. I know that they have been doing this their entire lives, but I pray that it’s not a cultural thing. Because sitting on my knees 24/7 sounds extremely painful)
Regarding the expense, and if you're unsure of you will continue your training or not, both Bokuto and Iaito will have decent second hand market value if they've been well taken care of.
So you should probably be able to sell a used Bokuto or Iaito while not losing a whole lot of money in the process if you found that Iaido is not for you.
And the same goes for a beginner in this martial art: if you're unsure, look around for used equipment. You might be able to save some money by getting a used training sword.
Hello Shogo, I am writing to you from Uruguay, the antipodes of Japan. I have been practicing AIKIDO since 1996, but after seeing your videos I became so interested in IAIDO that I started practicing it after 16 classes. Thank you very much. Keep going.
I agree with you on all your points. Your about sheathing is very important. In my dojo, we start with the bokken (same thing), but we don’t use a saya. Noto isn’t the same as with an iaito. Also, for the first few months, beginners are busy concentrating on the details of the nukiutske. It’s also crucial to buy a bokken made out of oak, a dense wood which provides a feeling of some weight.
The timing of this video couldn't have been more perfect. I have been wanting to start Laido traning. But didn't have any knowledge about how to start with it.
Thank you for what you are doing 🙏❤
I love everything about your channel including the knowledge and your opinions 😄🙏🏾
Hello Shogo, Karateka here. I recently took an interest in Iaido from kobudo, the weapons part of karate, one of those weapons being the katana. I did some thinking about it and decided that I'd like to try it out. This channel has helped me a lot with this decision and I always like seeing more helpful tips and videos on Iaido from you. Keep up the amazing work! 👍
I just LOVE that he says "yeah" in between phrases! It gives such a confident vibe, and it's so cute! 😄 We love you Shogo! And thank you for doing this!
I started training about 3 months ago, the dojo I train at didn’t have an iaito I was comfortable with because I am very petite so I bought a shorter one. I am happy with the feel of it and we regularly use the iaito and bokken versions for training. Great video explaining the differences!
I'm a 5' 2" female. If you are of comparable height, please let me know what worked for you. Thank you.
@@arm_613 hi, I’m 5’. Mine has an overall length (not just blade length) of 36inches.
This is pretty awesome. I've had iaido on the back of my mind, thinking about trying it out! These videos are amazing to watch.
White Oak Bokken > Red Oak Bokken. Most clubs will have beginner/loaner gear for new students to use and will advise on what to get if you are keen to continue training in my experience.
i feel like the lighter weight could also be a bad point, since getting used too much to the weight of a bokuto would cause many problems when upgrading to a iaito. For example all the cuts done with a iaito use the weight of the sword itself to swing the sword, so using something very light such as a bokuto, often produces excessivly strong, round and fast cuts
Actually there is a variant to buy a real sword with blade, replaced by an wooden or bamboo one. They are light, thin and safe, so these swords are realistic as well as not being an actual weapon. I have one of this exact type and they're called Takemizu, I think.
Thank you Shogo, after watching your channel for years - I finally started Iaido and I love it!
I’ve learned so much from this channel about Japanese swords. It’s a really amazing journey so far. Thank you so much!✌🏼💯💯👍🏼
Hello Shogo. I practice Nakamura Ryu, I don't practice Iaito. As a beginner everything you mentioned is true for me, especially for tameshigiri. First 3 months: I didn't know if my posture was right because everything was hurting learning how to swing a katana. When we do 500 cuts, that was a workout. After 3 months of training, I finally got my first bokken. Now after almost 9 months of training I finally got my first iaito sword. Today I do my first class with the new sword. Having only done tamishigiri a couple of times, I do feel nervous handling a live katana because I'm not used to it. Training with a bokken is great for beginners and the level of comfort is there with it. As you mentioned, I too strongly suggest upgrading to Iaito swords. Even though it doesn't have a sharpened edge, the dynamics are different, especially sheathing. I enjoyed this video. Great job as always. What does Te Nouchi actually translate to? Hand Grips? Te means hand right? ✋️
4: Hyakuren Jitoku 🙏
I've been fascinated by Miyamoto Musashi ever since that PlayStation game "Brave Fencer Musashi." Got me interested in the man himself. Between both him and Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the romanticized style of dual wielding is too much for me to resist. Even moreso after a recent live stream, demonstrating the advantage a left handed draw has over someone who only knows how to right hand-dominantly draw and strike.
At this point, my bokken is used to help me safely learn how to operate myself. I'll periodically switch, so my right hand has the bokken instead. Just to make sure I don't develop bad habits.
that game is amazing! steamwood is extremely difficult.
Shogo, words cannot express how awesome you are! I love this channel! You brighten up my busy and challeging week! ❤️🇯🇵✌️
I just started to train iaido :)
Thank you for the video Shogo
this one has been in post for quite some time, It is fun hearing Harume in the background thank you for a well balanced comparison
I use my bokuto as a warm up after my stretching exercises. One hundred cuts. It also has a tsukamaka which makes life easier.
I don't have any idea what he is talking about but I just enjoy watching Shogo explain the art he sounds so passionate. Worth a watch
I also do iaido, and we also do sometimes tameshigiri. So someone excitedly grabbed a iaito and stil cut about 75% of the mat.
Ooh, careful! How many swings did it take until this was realized? I haven't seen this happen in person yet but I have heard stories.
@@bravelilspidey I've also only heard it, but they were wondering why it didn't cut all the way through, and then looked at the blade and realised it was an iaito
Hi Shogo! Im a 13 year old Kenjutsu Trainee in the Philippines, and regarding that the “Bokuto is Lighter” i find that the bokuto is a bit light but also i bit heavy for me to handle in a sparring session especially when it comes to the size and thickness of the wooden material, so i would probably prefer the Iaito! This was a really great video and you should keep it up!
Iaidoka should be using both, iaitou and bokutou in regular training. Especially when visualizing the kata with a real opponent to practice maai (correct distance and timing) its essential to have a bokutou at your disposal. There are many advanced iaidouka who sometimes don't even know how the enemy attacks or where the cut goes exactly, so partner training in this regard helps a lot, not only beginners :)
Your literally my fave teacher
Didn't Miyamoto Musashi allegedly use Bokuto often in batttles, in order to break bones rather than cut an opponent? In this fashion, Bokuto can be just as dangerous as Katana, but in a different way.
Not battles, duels.
That'd imply it's literally less dangerous. Broken bones < disemboweled mf's.
However, where did you read that? The only story I know is of him fashioning a bokuto out of an oar because he was hungover.
If im not mistaken Ninten-ichi ryu is a form of kenjutsu not iaido.
I’d love to see a video re the sheathing close up, because your description here is a) right I’m sure but b) massively counterintuitive. ❤
I would train with a real dull katana for awareness and treating it as if it were sharp.
I really love the seriousness and grace of the Kata performed with the katana.
Battles must have been like poetry or like a song played on the koto. It's just how I envision it. Thanks shogo for you helpful tips. You are very wise for being a student of so little time. ✌️😁
I have two types of wooden katana with different features. One is like the one in this video. The other has a realistic katana-like handle and a thinner, more realistic-looking blade. The latter is lighter than the former, but it also feels as if it isn't very strong. Which wooden katana would be preferable?
You are incredibly modest. Perhaps it’s the difference in culture between Japan and the US, but at least in the style of Shotokan Karate i trained in, 2nd Dan is instructor level and generally considered extremely skilled and knowledgeable
I bought a white dragon wooden sword from Temu and it’s doing great! You inspired me to use katanas
I have just started learning Iaido, thank you very much for your advices!
Thank you. Been looking for information on this topic but didn't know how to ask
I'm honestly amazed by the sound of it out of everything. The moves are so delicate, but the sounds are amazing! It feels like listening to a movie... It's amazing!
The iaito has a groove along it's length, the boshi which makes the blade sing and indicates that your cut is correct.
@@johncartwright8154 Oh dude that's so cool! Thanks for telling me!
Correctly swung katana would do a swoosh sound even without the bo-hi, but having a katana with it may help you learn to swing more easily thanks to the much more noticable sound it makes.
I am learning a lot about handling katanas from you, thanks!
"arigato Domo guzaymashta" even tho i can't come to japan but i can somehow explore it throw your videos thank you very much
As always Shogo is lots of fun to watch and learn from! I have lived in Japan for over 30 years and I am still learning everyday! Shogo is increasing my knowledge all the time! Thanks Shogo! For anyone interested, not sure this is appropriate and if not, admin can remove. I am thinking to sell a 1 year old Seido purchased 2.55 shaku 9.5 sun iaito in perfect condition. Just purchasing another iaito and selling this one to do so! Please message me if you are interested
Thank you for the information and explanation!
Thank YOU for always watching and supporting😍
I repeat my comment that I did in your short, you're so brave swinging the katana over your head, you need a lot of confidence in your skills to do that! (I surely would cut my head doing that, xD)
Bukuto is where I am starting. It has its benefits, for slow movement and muscle memory
that sheathing motion you do is so smooth, well I guess it's a given cause you train iaido, but still it's somehow calming.
This is great information. I have been self-training with weighted, self-made bokuto for years, with the actual combat-focused style in mind, so I am ready to defend that which I hold dear. This is valuable information to consider, and you have my gratitude. Thank you, Shogo.
Thanks so much for sharing sensei
Thank you for sharing this video.
I would like to know how you think about wooden or bamboo Iaito katanas. They look like real katanas (grip & tsuba) but the blade is made from palisander wood or bamboo. The blade is even as thick as a real blade and bit flexible so they are definetely not made for sparing. They can be bought at amazon (germany) for 70€ - 120€. They come with a (most often very beautiful) saya.
i really want to take the next step in my battojutsu. just did the unsheathing and single strikes for i find that to be more realistic than,, well you have a whole video about it
i have been doing all of this training, on my own, with books and watching trainee's on youtube with close detail in order to mimick this . for here in my country there is only 1 school and its at the other side of country + heckin expensive
Keep being brutally honest with yourself during training. There are forms, styles and techniques to practice, but no two humans have the exact same muscle and bone structure. In time you will discover things only you can do.
Do the best you can. Develop yourself.
Today is Tanabata I would love to see a video on this festival...I remember it being such a colorful festival and everyone wore traditional dress that day...
i always love your explanations
I have a video request/idea for you, Shogo.
Ok, so, as someone who is fluent in English, I know that you're aware of its many, MANY different accents. Even more, with you having lived in the US for as long as you did, I'm certain you have firsthand experience with just how varied they can be even in the US alone. Even so, for us native English speakers, it's fairly easy to quickly get (at the very least) a rough idea of where another native speaker is from after hearing them speak a few words.
I'd really love to know, is the same is true of Japanese speakers? I'd also really love to see a demonstration of the different accents. Like, showing how different the exact same sentence would sound if spoken by someone from Hokkaido, or Kyoto, or Okinawa, etc...
Thank you for your videos.
Another problem I think is that with a bokuto you're not aware of the potential danger of swinging a blade, even if it is an iaito, but especially with a shinken. So the zanshin aspect of it could be way shallower.
In beginning of my Iaido training I practised at home with a hanbo I made from Tasmanian oak. It is inscribed with kanji to so that I can better channel my ki energy through it to destroy my many opponents. Hand crafted bokken are of more value to me than inexpensive Iaito made by robots. Bokken & hand-forged shinken have the right spirit. Spirit is key to mastery of sword & the self.
My Iaito (made of steel) was only 99€. So there are Iaito out there that have a reasonable price.
And I have never seen Bokken with a sheath. THe ones you can buy here in Germany are 99,9% without a sheath.
You usually have to buy the sheath separately. I ordered a sheath on amazon for about 20 US dollars not too long ago for a friend who was interested in getting started.
I am wanting to begin training and I got a bokuto but now that I saw this video I saw how lucky I was! My bokuto has the wrapping and it isn’t quite to thick.
While you won't get cut by a bokutō, getting hit by one certainly still hurts. I'm an aikidō student, and we have partner bokutō training as an auxiliary to the more commonly exhibited unarmed training. The while training is designed to be mostly safe, accidents occasionally happen - most often hands and fingers get smacked. But there is no way, in that bokutō training scene in the movie "The Last Samurai", that Tom Cruise's character should be getting back up from the ground anytime soon.
Yeah rewatched it recently and its ridiculous
very informative video yes. Thank you for your great videos
My friends i love this channel !
Welp..... The Bukoto and the shinai are My only training swords I have for now im afraid.
But I would love to try out an Iaito just to Know what it's Like.
same
I study Toyama Ryu. New folks use the bokken, then to an iaito, and our more senior students use a shinken.
What’s up Broski 🦋’
Stuff like this makes me love Japan's culture more and more
You can not safely spar with iaito. On the other hand, you can with bokuto. You also have the advantage of training bunkai with bokuto that have saya. In addition, having bokuto equipped with tsuba does reduce the amount of injuries that occur on your hands (since I prefer using the bokuto made for Aikido's Iwama-ryu, which also have blunted points, and they usually are too thick for tsuba).
Furthermore, the iaito from Tozando are much lighter than some of the bokuto offered in Tozando's inventory. The ones that actually weigh like a katana cost extra.
On the concept of Te no Uchi - wielding a bokuto (especially and well-shaped wooden sword) is not as different as wielding an iaito. It more difficult with shinai and polearms such as the jo and bo. (Of course, if you want to train with a metal weapon, it is best to use a shinken so that you are aware of the sharpness of the cutting edge of the katana.)
I'm this close to make an iaido order to start practicing 😅 when shogo started the kata it got me all hype 😂
You look so natural with the swords, it's beautiful to watch.
I'm a big fan of traditional Japanese music so that made this even more enjoyable, thank you! I also love noisey bands like the Boredoms and Electronicos Fantasticos (barcode music), also psychedelic bands like Flower Traveling Band. Japan has a lot of great music!
I always thought of buying a bokuto one day so I can both workout at home and have fun pretending to swing a katana.
Watching this, now I'm having second thoughts before buying one.
Nah man dont qhesitate buy a bokuto it will be very much fun and ullvtrain and enjoy and later on u will buy a iaito and then eventually a nihon to, im tellin you this coz this is how i started myself 34 years ago
I trained with full metal katana for two years before buying a bokken. I don't recommend it. Unless you need broken bones, grinding off your knuckle skin and painful blisters, don't start with metal swords.
Personally, I do feel even if you're just starting out, it's critical to swing a metal sword to understand the weight you need to control. But you'll build those muscles and muscle memory well with a wooden sword.
I use a red oak bokken, and it's almost as-heavy as my tachi. If you want to capture the feel of metal swords, I suggest red oak.
I need an explanation of the different styles of sword mountings, as I see so many variations.
For example, some tsuka have small kashira, while others have larger ones and may have a metal ring going through it. There are also different ways to wrap the handle. Then some saya are covered with fur.
All the different mountings are so fascinating! So I’d love to find out what they were purposed for.
Kashira with a ring through it was used on tachi swords, the predecessor of katana as we know it today. Since tachi was used on horseback, I think that samurai back in the day used to tie their tachi to their belt (obi). Feel free to correct me on this, I'm not 100% sure about the actual use of it.
Thank you for offering these great points to those of us who do not have an easy method of learning them on our own! I love your videos and hope you are doing well!
I do have a question, about kenjutsu - is that actually an art today, or is iaido the only way specific to katana training. I have no interest in kendo... But would like to begin to practice 'japanese swordsmanship' beyond drawing and sheathing. What should I search for?
I exually want to buy a bokuto with a tsukamaki but, the most are around 150usd and I'm wandering if that is the standard practice of one?
Iaido, poetry in motion.
cool training sword video. thanks shogo.
Biggest issue I see with using a bokutoh w/saya for iai: the kurikata is located too far from the koi guchi on the plastic saya. Having the kurikata located in this way makes it much harder to do proper saya biki.
Ever see reproduction Roman practice/training gladius swords? Most are dull wooden swords, but I have seen some that are swords (perhaps with dull lead blades) wrapped in padded leather to bonk and poke sparring partners with more safety.
For a training katana, do you think bamboo or wood would work better?
Very informative, thanks for sharing, love your channel brother 👍 🗡🔥😎❤️
How is your cold hands problem? Maybe a video about the heting systems in Japan?
I've been able to obtain quality basic Iaito for my beginning students for less than $200 by going to a source in Japan that doesn't cater to overseas sales (website is all in Japanese) and you have to use Japan way of doing business - bank orders. But since the yen is currently so weak compared to the dollar, the price in yen is much cheaper. You are definitely paying a premium for the convenience when a distributor has english version or another language for their website and offers purchase by credit card.
any of those websites you would recommend? I am looking for an iaito soon to replace my bokuto. My Japanese is basic and I don't know many kanji, but I should be able to get by with google translate. My club's go-to is Tozando, but their iaito are very pricy, and i'd like to get something cheaper to use for a year or more until I decide to get a custom made. thanks.
I started to chop wood with iron axe, as a child to earn some pennies. No training, what so... So, training with a real thing is awesome (and more practical)
I mean, you're not gonna chop wood with a wooden axe. But with a sword you gonna use wood when practice with partner... otherwise use a real metal one (you know, cut yourself once or two or you won't learn properly. Like with axe)
I bought the Cold Steel boken, close to the feel of my katana, same weight and balance, it’s polymer
2:50 that's a bizarre option shown, you wouldn't use a suburi bokuto to practice iaido. There is at least two sources in the US where the plastic saya is only about $15. And it's possible plastic tsuba & tsubadome for $3 total that fit a standard thinner itto ryu style (or kendo style) bokuto that can be found for $50-60. Though recently some of the suppliers seem to have switched their sources and offered quite unsatisfactory bokuto that are completely different in quality in my 20+ year old bokuto I've gotten from them.
Great points Shogo; not into the distracting mock solo audience sounds though.
I brought one was about 450 pounds just because I love samurai stuff it's very very sharp it's like the sheath oils it n it's heavyish to took about 4 /5 months to come from Japan but after watching you making a knife I can understand why
Hey Shogo! What would you recommend for Tsuka shape? I’m contemplating between the Standard, Straight and Hour Glass shape Tsuka shape. I know what blade length I should get which is the. 2.50 shaku and a 9 sun (27.3cm) for a tsuka length. I hope you get this message soon coz I’m ordering my first Iaito sword from Tozando.
Why is it important to hide the opening of the sheath with your hand? Is there a practical reason or is it more ceremonial?
In my school we always use Iaito and Bokuto are only used for partner exercises
i think you should also consider plastic katanas. they arent common and when looking for one youll see alot of toys, but an actual none toy plastic katana will be the cheapest option, it will still be lighter then a iaito, and it get you more used to the shape and balance of a real sword
also these plastic katana usually do have some form of wrapping on the handle. sometimes itll be like foam and sometimes its just hardplastic, so its not perfect, but its better then no wrapping
if youre giving it to a child as a first step in training id still say you should go with the wooden sword though, because even though the plastic ones arent exactly sharp, theyll hurt more if you get stabbed or wacked with one when compared to a rounder thicker wooden blade
edit: i also cant speak to the quality of these swords but you can get bokuto (in the uk atleast) for as little as 20$ that have better proportions and wrapping on the handle
At first I had this ABS plastic thing that made such a racket when sheathing or when I tried to put it on the floor in the hall that has an acoustics like a cathedral it was so embarrassing! All you could hear was loud clonk clonk. I find the bokken still quicker to draw than my iaito because of the weight but I do love my iaito now.
In kendo we use Bokuto for our Kata, occasionally we will use the Iaito for a demonstration. This is very rare. I have never done this.
The way to use the Katana was very interesting
I have a question. My sensei calls it bokken not bokuto. Please can you tell me whats the right way to call it?
Hello I have a question about katana fighting styles.
There are two types of katana in the game Shadow Fight 3. One is just 'Katana' and another is Iaido Katana.
I want to know if there really exists a style like the Iaido Katana fighting style in Shadow Fight 3
Hello Shogo, what does that scroll in the background say?
I inherited a bokuto from a senior kenjutsu student when he moved away, saying I could keep it for form training. It doesn't and appears to have never had a saya or tsuba. If I were to begin training in Iaido, should I get a new one with those, or is it possible to buy those separately?
Iado looks so cool. I wonder if it’s easy to find a dojo in America.
What are your thoughts on doing iaito stuff with a blunted steel katana? I know from looking at online stats that the weight and balance between the zinc alloy and full steel blade is indeed slightly different. Was asking because one of the guys I spar with frequently uses a blunt steel weapon modeled after a typical edo period katana and am almost tempted to pick one up. And have you considered doing a video sharing your thoughts on other forms of swordsmanship from a traditional Japanese perspective?
Steel iaito are available which are similar in weight to katana.
i only use wooden jo and bokken for training... its thicker and softer of course.
What is your opinion of polypropylene swords as a starting place, especially for kids?
Hi there Shogo, great video as always, quick question however.
What bokuto & saya are you using in this video?