Kingfisher Iwama Bokken Detail   The area of the kashira, where the left hand holds the wooden sword, is shaped to be slightly domed (like that of a live blade mounting). It is cut with a cleanly delineated edge and formed by the action of many little cuts of a razor sharp knife. This wooden sword is not used with a guard (tsuba). The armed techniques in Takemusu Aikido are considered to be an extension of the movement of the body and the user relies on this principle alone, not on the protective value of a tsuba. The bokken blends smoothly from mitsumune blade section to tsuka (hilt) rather than having a step or relief transition at the position of the hand guard.   The Iwama bokken has a slightly raked blunt point - all of which fit into the principles of this viewpoint of an art where the sword work is not an independent discipline but integrated into shared body movements which form the basis of Aikido. For information on how these weapons are made, see this link About Kingfisher WoodWorks