Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Aiki-ken is aikido's wooden-sword method: 7 suburi, happo giri and 5 paired kumitachi. Grip (te-no-uchi) is the foundation — left hand powers from the pommel, right hand steers.

Starter program (from zero)

Weeks 1-4: only ichi no suburi — 30 cuts daily, in front of a mirror
Weeks 5-8: suburi 2-4 from video
Weeks 9-12: suburi 5-7 plus happo giri
Ongoing: one day a week only kamae (hold each stance 1 min)

Kata / Forms

Happo giri 八方切り

Beginner

Shomen cuts to eight directions; feet turn first, sword follows.

Kumitachi 1-5 (solo hali) 組太刀

Advanced

The five paired sword forms; practise the attacking side solo as shadow work, keeping the pauses.

Techniques & Strikes

The 7 suburi

Ichi no suburi: The full overhead cut; the other six build on it. Spending the first month on this alone is legitimate.
Ni — Nana no suburi: Suburi 2-7 add stepping, deflection, continuous cuts and thrusts on top of ichi. Learn their exact definitions from the videos in the library — written descriptions build bad habits.

Kamae (stances)

Seigan / Chudan no kamae: The basic guard — tip at the opponent's throat.
Jodan no kamae: Sword overhead, ready to strike.
Hasso no kamae: Vertical sword at the shoulder — an observing posture.
Waki gamae: Sword hidden behind — striking 'from nowhere'.
Gedan no kamae: Tip low — an inviting guard from which rising deflections grow.

Tips

Never strike bokken against bokken at full force outside controlled kumitachi practice — hard wood can splinter and cause serious injury.
Record yourself in slow motion weekly; line deviations are invisible at full speed.
Grip the tsuka firmly but not tight — over-gripping stiffens the cut and strains the wrist.

Turn this guide into a daily practice: log your sessions, keep your streak, earn belts.