Enhanced Bokken, Jo and Martial Art Staff Maintenance

Maintain your enhanced bokken, jo or martial art staff when necessary according to the following guidelines:

Routine Maintenance

1) Enhanced wood should not be finished with oil as the wood has been stabilized and oil will not soak in. To maintain the glossy finish of your enhanced bokken, jo or staff, it's best to use furniture paste wax or a similar wax finish.

Adjusting Straightness

2) Warp: enhanced wood is stabilized and movement should be very minimal. If there is any residual stress in the material, it can be straightened easily using the same method recommended for Appalachian hickory in its natural state.

First, sight down the wooden sword or staff for straightness

A tree branch structure is is handy for leverage

With a thinner staff, it's often possible to straighten the wood by hand alone as shown above, however, this may take quite a bit of strength.

Above, Benny straightens a thick Iwama bokken. We use the shop vise with softwood blocks to protect the surfaces. Notice in all of these photos that the wood is over-bent in the opposite direction of the warp. At first, try a bend, sight the weapon for straightness and repeat if necessary. If you've bent too much, simply bend it back.

If you have any trouble, send your enhanced bokken or jo back to us and we'll fix or replace the item if it can't be adjusted.