Be well and be wise.
The bamboo sword (shinai) was invented for safety reasons and used in kendo classes. While you can get welts from being struck by it, it will not stop someone who is out to hurt or kill you. It is a practice weapon for bouts in kendo.
A wooden sword (bokken or bokuto) was both a weapon, used for sword training, and for "non-lethal" bout before the shinai was invented. It was used for sword practice instead of a live sword because a broken bone can be set and usually heal, but a severed limb or head is pretty much a done deal. So wooden sword was safe in the relative term.
If you are going to take kendo lessons, you will need a shinai. Some kendo schools might train you in the bokken, but that is usually reserved for more experienced students and is not really something you typically find in kendo.
Kendo is not sword practice. Kendo was invented AFTER the samurai social class was dissolved and it was created to preserve the mental discipline and spirit of the samurai, but NOT the actual sword fighting technique. For that, you will have to find a ko-ryu which are schools which has preserved the actual fighting methods and weapons training of the samurai. Some people confuse these ko-ryu with kenjitsu, but they are not the same although both do teach the use of swords and other archaic weapons.
Shinai for sparring and Bokken for practicing waza...WAZA!!!!-sorry just had to do that...... Anyways a shinai can be heavy or light. Some or maybe most kendo players oil their bamboo to make it lighter but I don't. I like the weight. It's not heavy but try making 20 cuts while you're trying to push your way against another guy twice your size and you'll feel the pain of making those cuts lol.
You still didn't give enough info because practice is vague. There are many forms of practice and ways to practice so it really depends on what you want to get out of it. So I'll just give suggestions based on my preference as a kendoka and how I would practice with a bokken.
To me everything starts with technique. After technique it's speed and after speed it's power.. The lighter the weapon the easier it is for me to make consecutive cuts and my waza...WAZA!!!! would be more proficient. In order to handle my shinai with ease I'll have to start using a bokken twice that weight. So I would choose a heavy bokken and practice making the basic cuts haya suburi and joge buri. Then do drills that emphasis on a specific waza.....WAZA!!!! to build muscle memory. Then when I have the time to spar in class I would apply what I practiced. It's totally different when I switch because the shinai is super light. The most important though is not actually the cut but rather the footwork. During my years as a kendo-ka I've researched on my own and found many useful sites. I'll also add in the the store where I bought my gears. You probably might of been there already but oh well. I'll put them on my sources area.
One more thing. DO NOT GO TWO HANDED. Unless you got crazy stamina. It's no joke. Don't be influenced by anime lol
Shinai (bamboo) tend to be pretty tough, so long as you get them from a decent place. As said, they are perfect for kendo.
I have seen a lot of boken (wooden swords) break in practice. Granted, some of it was from poor technique, but this is expected when you first start out.
I love my polypropylene practice katana from Cold Steel. They are kind of high, but unless you go sparing against a live blade they last forever. If you shop around, you can usually get a good deal on them.
Either the wooden or the polypropylene are great for other types of practice, like kenjutsu. If you plan on practecing iado/iajutsu (sword drawing) then you will need a sword with a well fit scabbard. A good sword is best for these, but you can make a scabbard with some practice out of a piece of PVC pipe. It won't be great, but it will do if you can't manage a real sword.
That's pretty much it. The "shinai" is a flexible, split-bamboo device that's analogous to the Western fencing foil. It's specifically meant for the competition of Kendo.
The "bokken" is a solid wood analog of the katana. It's used in the practice of kenjutsu... The actual art of Japanese sword fighting. The bokken can be a deadly weapon... The famous swordsman Musashi is said to have preferred it to the steel sword.
A bamboo Shinai is mostly used for sparring and in Kendo while the wooden Boken is used mostly in structured paired exercises like Kenjutsu and for strength exercises.
Shinai and Boken come in a range of lengths and weights, but Shinai do tend to be lighter and have less impact, but still enough to hurt. (I have the scars to prove that)
I would recommend you get both since most aspects of the Japanese sword arts require you to have them anyway. Use the Shinai to practice technique over power, it doesn't drain your stamina as quick when beginning.
Another cheap training tool is a wooden sword with sheath, it's a good starter before you move on to Iaito or even think of live blades.
http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/p-10259...
(You don't have to buy that one, it's just a visual aid for you to see)
I'd recommend the bokken. Very strong, durable (can take lots of hits). I've heard bamboo swords break easy against other weapons, I use mine against staffs sticks ex. Like someone said, Muyomoto Musashi killed a man in a duel with one (against a real sword). They were also used alot among ninjas because they were less likely to cut you, didn't need a scabbard, and could still knock someone out/break ribs or when used right, be lethal.
Before you buy anything... you should find some instruction. The instructor will tell you what you need.
I was thinking for awhile now .. What practice swords should I get for learning sword art techniques and styles ? Can bamboo sword break easily ? Should I use bamboo sword because I seek for Japanese sword styles or should I get wooden sword ? Is bamboo sword lighter than wooden ? Also which one would you suggest me the most ? And which one is the best for practice ? Would I be able to protect myself with bamboo sword ? Sorry , 8'm novice and I have lots of questions so also if it isn't to hard could you leave me your email so I could ask you right away if it wasn't pain for you ? Thanks ! I can't wait for your response :)
