Bokken training tsuba or Paperweight?

[Spartancrest]

Well we can tell it is cast but what was it used for - https://www.jauce.com/auction/l1122381627  or  https://buyee.jp/ite.../auction/l1122381627

 

   Were the two loop holes used for a cord to strap to a practice sword or just a 'handle' for use as a paperweight? 

Now we might have evidence that "cast" tsuba were even used for practice purposes?

[OceanoNox]

I have no literature evidence on bokken tsuba, but some schools make them out of straw (Jigen Ryu) and there is also leather.

[Steves87]

That is very interesting. My vote is for a paper weight though.... the last thing you want is for a chunk of metal flying off during practice... they should have stoppers, but those things are useless for anything heavier than rubber or leather. 

On a side note, we used to try a whole range of different types for sparring applications. Solid 3d printed plastic worked well and was relatively safe for a clean sparring session, but one good hit and it shattered, so it was only good for a session or two. Metal was too dangerous for the reasons stated earlier, and leather/pigs hide was good until it deformed enough to not protect a miss-deflected bokken.

[Baka Gaijin]

Usual forms for a standard Bokuto used by many Gendai Budo schools

 

https://tozandoshop....ections/bokuto-tsuba

 

More 

 

https://www.ninecirc...uba-dome-for-bokken/

 

 

[Guest Simon R]

It's a paperweight for calligraphy.

 

Just an aside but bokuto are getting fancier tsuba nowadays.

This is an example on my own, ancient wooden sword.

[Baka Gaijin]

Then one could always adopt the  principle of the thumb and index finger replacing the Tsuba to enforce Maai 間合い and encourage Riai 理 合.

 

The operative Kiai being Ouch!!!, Tish!! or an Anglo Saxon Expletive using four letters, if Maai is mistaken. 

[Shugyosha]

理 合 - that's a new word! Thanks Malcolm.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon John

 

The late Donn F Draeger wrote about its complexities.

 

https://en.wikipedia...wiki/Donn_F._Draeger

 

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