The Kashima bokken, shown above with optional inscription, is available in 2 quality grades. The design, unique to the Kashima Shinryū (鹿島神流) an old school (koryū) martial art dating to the early 16th century. The bokken is
straight, heavy and with little taper. While it may seem blocky and oddly balanced in comparison to other bokken, this is due to the unique method of wielding the Kashima sword: its shape emphasizes the use of power generated from the body and hips rather than the arms. The grip spacing is consequently rather close and the tsuka relatively short. Choose a bamboo or leather tsuba (hand guard) as a tsuba is always used in Kashima practice.
