The Bokkens are made with slightly longer handles to accommodate your training equipment. Here, the O Tanto trainer is shown being griped in a Hockey Glove. Hundreds of years ago, the Japanese discovered a simple truth; that to become a good swordsman you"ll have to practice, a great deal. To become a great swordsman you"ll have to practice with a "live blade". And during the period between "good" and "great", you should spend your time building your skills and confidence enough to wield a razor sharp Katana safely and effectively. To accomplish this, the Japanese relied on a simple wooden sword called a "bokken" for much of their training. It was made from the super tough wood of the Japanese White Oak, a wood they called Kashi. The swords produced from this wood had the advantage of replicating the size, weight and feel of a steel sword, while minimizing the possibility of causing grievous or permanent injury to those who used it. Authentic Kashi wood Bokkens are still used today, but are becoming quite costly. They also have the disadvantages, being made of wood, that they may rot, crack split or splinter. Cold Steel"s solution to these dilemmas was to design a synthetic substitute, low in price and impervious to the elements. Our Bokken is made of the heaviest grade polypropylene available. While they"re not quite as rigid as wood, they have the advantages of being virtually unbreakable and remarkably stiff and cut resistant.