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The weapons principally used in Aikido are:
- Bokken (wooden sword)
- Jo (staff)
- Tanto (wooden knife)
The basic steps and postures used in weapons practice are the same as those used in Aikido. Therefore, practicing weapons gives us an opportunity to focus on these parts of our movement. Practicing weapons is also an extremely useful way to study the notions of distance and timing.
Practicing with weapons adds to the depth and difficulty of practice in many senses. For example, you need to become familiar with the weapon, which is a learning process in itself. The intensity of encounters is amplified as being hit by a bokken or jo can be quite painful and intimidating. It is also an interesting way to recognize that physical strength and size do not necessarily give you an advantage in every martial encounter.
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