Description
During the Edo era (1603 – 1868) many fencing schools used hard oak weapons for training which could inflict serious injuries. This was to more closely mimic sharp metal swords which were close to the weight of the wooden “bokken” and , of course, even more dangerous. Towards the end of this peaceful period in Japanese history and the beginning of the Meijin Era in 1868, as bujutsu for killing the enemy became Budo, martial arts for self improvement, more and more of the old schools of swordsmanship changed their training to conform with modern kendo practices including the use of armour and bamboo swords (shinai).
