Training Implements
Shinai
In Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu, there is a set of kata called to no kata, which are kata performed with fukuro shinai that teach tactics and strategy. Jikishinkage-ryū helped develop the modern bamboo training sword or shinai used by Kendo; the form of the implement used in Jiki is similar to a heavy kendo shinai, but it is slightly shorter and there is a leather cover extending over the first third of the weapon. These shinai are hard to find. Our dojo has a pair that our teacher brought back from Japan in the the 1980’s, and several of the more crafty students have made duplicates, but there is no good supply we are aware of to buy them. Several years ago I worked with a vendor to custom make a pair, but while the length overall was correct, they were too light. So, our practice will sometimes use the Jikishinai we have made or alternately, as not everyone has one, the fukuro shinai used in Yagyu Shinkage-ryū . The latter are more easily obtained, and the Hobyokan also teaches Yagyu. They work well, but do not have the heft of the Jiki shinai and flex under heavy load. The feeling is slightly different.
Looking around a bit, I recently found a vendor in the UK called Nine Circles that offers Maniwa Nen-ryū style fukuro shinai used by Kashima Shinryu and Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin-ryū for sale. I took a chance and ordered a pair and used them this weekend. They worked out quite well for to no kata practice. They were just a tad shorter than the shinai we are used to using, but have a full leather cover and are thicker than the Yagyu shinai -- they are quite solid and look as though they will last a long time. While some vendors in Japan have very high prices for the shinai (I believe possibly to discourage people who do not practice KSR from buying them), Nine Circles has a reasonable price.
Bokken
For wooden swords, I have typically travelled to Kiyota Company since I live in Baltimore and they have a wide selection. Jiki uses a specific bokken for hojo, but it is good to have tough bokken for kodachi as well. Jiki uses a very specific kodachi that is very difficult to impossible to find for sale. I have had good luck using what Kiyota calls Kashima Shindo-ryū bokken and cutting down one into kodachi length, based on measurements from the Jiki kodachi. The Kashima Shindo-ryū bokken are very similar to Maniwa Nen-ryū bokken, and have solid wooden tsuba, which are very useful.
Now that I am not regularly practicing Katori Shinto-ryū at a dojo, I find using a heavier Nen-ryū bokken or Kashima suburi bokken (without tsuba) feels better to me. It is very interesting, and I recommend to all kenshi who have sufficient skill in their practice, to practice kata solo using an actual sword or at least heavier bokken, so they can feel what the mass of the blade does to their practice. Additionally, the curvature of the blade will change the feeling of the kata. Bokken are often made straight so they do not break easily under contact.
I was able to obtain a 3kg furibo for suburi practice from Budo Export. It tooks some time to arrive, and their webpage is in French, but it was nice to find a 3kg version. Tozando is another good supplier, but they seem to top out at 2.5kg.
Furibo Practice
I've had good luck working with Kingfisher Woodworks for custom wooden swords. Their woodworking is of extremely high quality. I purchased a pair of odachi for paired Chinese long sabre (miao dao) practice with the idea that if I ever learned odachi at the Hobyokan, they would be of use. I made the mistake of asking for them in a Kashima style, which wound up very heavy. I recently contacted Kingfisher to get a new set made in a lighter cross section that will have better balance. I am going to cut down the first set into standard length tachi to use.
I also have had very good luck with the Chinese-style wooden weapons from Little Raven. They have specific blade designs such as Willow Leaf sabres and long sabres and jian that are very high quality. I've also obtained a spear from Little Raven that I really enjoy. It is very solid and heavy and excellent for my Taiji practice.
Bogu
In Jiki, a cognate practice is gekken, the predecessor to kendo. Many Jiki dojo would practice gekken after learning to no kata. This was not done regularly at Namiki's dojo, but some of my training colleagues have an interest in exploring gekken as a side practice, similar to how this group in Osaka works the practice:
Jikishinkage-ryū Gekken Practice
One already has Kendo armor (bogu), and I agreed to get a set in order to be able to practice with him. I already had gauntlets (kote) so needed several other pieces, but not the complete set. I was extremely fortunate. I started researching what to purchase, and asked a coworker who is a yondan kendoka for advice. It turned out he had an extra set he was willing to give me to use -- with the promise that I would actually use it, and it would not sit around. I look forward to exploring shiai with some of my colleagues when we meet. I am very grateful to my coworker, as the set he gave me is much nicer than I would normally be able to afford. It should last me a lifetime of practice.