I finished making two bokuto for myself out of spotted gum.
The larger one is only intended for suburi. I wanted it to resemble an oar, but still have the curve and balance of a sword. I have used other heavy long objects to simulate a sword and they never have the right weight distribution. This one nicely combines a challenging heft with a satisfying movement.
The proportions of my new training bokuto are more slender than last year, which hopefully translates to a weapon that is more responsive.
This year’s theme in my training is sensitivity. It is counter-intuitive to use a weighty suburito to get stronger in seeking sensitivity. But having reserve strength and plenty of control at my disposal, I can operate at a level where I am more open to receive.
The praxis of making weapons is never complete until I use it in training for a while. That is where intentions and hopes meet reality.
O’Brien Sensei