noun
- A wooden sword used in martial arts training, especially in kendo and aikido.
Usage: From Japanese; also spelled 'boken'; Used as a safer alternative to live blades during practice
Examples
- The kendo students practiced their strikes with bokken before advancing to real swords.
- A bokken is typically made from oak or other hardwood.
- During aikido class, beginners train with a bokken to learn proper technique safely.
- The instructor handed each student a bokken for the sparring drill.
- Unlike a katana, a bokken cannot cause serious cuts, making it ideal for training.