Swords & knives
Katana & bokken
刀・木剣
Sword and training sword.
Form and name
Katana is a type of Japanese sword. Bokken is a wooden training sword. A training implement can reproduce the form of a sword without having a sharp blade.
Read more: terms and context
Sword → bikenjutsu
Tōryū uses bikenjutsu for sword practice in the Kukishin-ryū tradition. Bokken names the wooden practice sword, rather than a separate art.
Source for the word jutsu: Kanjipedia
Tradition and context
Hatsumi describes sword practice in Japanese Sword Fighting. In Bujinkan, the sword is discussed in relation to taijutsu, or body technique.
Sources and further reading
Further reading: Japanese Sword Fighting
Practitioner sources describe the tradition’s practice and terminology. They are not used alone as evidence for early historical claims.