Maitaining your wooden training weapons is important and easy to do. Just like the intricate movements and strikes you’ve been taught, your bokken and jo staff require mindful attention and upkeep. So, let’s dive in and explore how best to care for these wooden weapons, ensuring they last for years to come.
Our martial arts journey would not be complete without the bokken and jo staff. These wooden tools, deeply ingrained in the history and tradition of martial arts, are as much a part of the experience as the techniques themselves. They deserve the same dedication and respect that you give your training.
Preserving Your Wooden Weapons: The Basics
Wooden weapons, like bokken and jo staff, are typically made from dense, resilient hardwoods. However, despite their sturdiness, they are not immune to wear and tear. Here are some fundamental guidelines to keep them in top shape:
- Storage: Always store your wooden weapons in a dry, cool, and shaded area. Excessive sunlight, dampness, or temperature extremes can cause wood to warp, crack, or rot.
- Cleaning: After every training session, clean your bokken or jo staff to remove sweat and dirt. You can simply use a dry, soft cloth to wipe them down.
- Inspection: Regularly check your weapons for any splits, cracks, or other damage. If they’re showing signs of serious wear and tear, it may be time for a replacement. Remember, your safety is paramount.
The Power of Tung and Linseed Oil
Now, let’s dive deeper into the real heart of maintaining your wooden martial arts weapons: oiling. Regular application of oil is essential to keep your weapons resilient and lustrous. It helps to prevent drying out, cracking, and makes the wood more resistant to impacts.
Two of the most recommended oils for this purpose are tung oil and linseed oil. Both have a long history of use in wood preservation, each with its unique benefits.
- Tung Oil: Tung oil penetrates deep into the wood, creating a tough, flexible layer that enhances the wood’s natural grain and color. It’s water-resistant, and unlike some other oils, it does not darken much with time.
- Linseed Oil: Linseed oil offers a slightly glossy finish, protecting the wood while adding a warm, rich tone. Note that linseed oil can take a while to dry, so be prepared to give your weapons some rest after application.
Applying the Oil
Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying oil on your bokken and jo staff:
- Clean your weapon thoroughly to ensure no dust or dirt interferes with the oil application.
- Apply a small amount of oil (tung or linseed) onto a soft cloth.
- Rub the oil into the wood, going with the grain, not against it. Ensure every part of the weapon is covered.
- Allow the oil to soak in for a few minutes (up to 15 minutes for linseed oil).
- Wipe off any excess oil with a clean, dry cloth.
- Allow your weapon to dry fully before using it again. This could take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, depending on the oil used and the ambient conditions.
- Repeat this process every few months, or when the wood starts to look dry.
Conclusion
Like the martial arts themselves, caring for your bokken and jo staff requires patience, precision, and respect. By investing time into their upkeep, you honor not just your weapons, but your commitment to the path of martial arts.
Keep your wooden weapons well-oiled, clean, and safe. In doing so, you ensure they remain your reliable partners in practice, ready to accompany you on your martial arts journey for many years to come.
Train hard, maintain well!
4 Comments
Ironwally – May 30, 2023
Hi, thanks for the great article!
I’ve heard a lot about Japanese camellia oil and how it supposedly hat been used to treat wooden weapons for many years.
How does this compare to pure tung oil and why would you rather take tung oil then camellia oil?
Thank you!
Daniel Blizniak – May 30, 2023
Thanks for your question! Camellia oil (often called Tsubaki oil) is traditionally used in Japan for maintaining steel swords (preventing rust) and can also be applied to wood, but it behaves more like a light, non-drying oil. It soaks into the wood but doesn’t polymerize or harden much. If you apply camellia oil to wooden weapons, you’ll generally need to reapply it fairly often.
Tung oil, on the other hand, is a drying oil. That means it undergoes a chemical reaction (polymerization) after you apply it, forming a harder protective layer that helps resist moisture and wear. It penetrates the wood fibers, then cures to create a more durable finish. Because of that, you won’t need to reapply it as frequently, and it tends to offer better long-term protection for wooden weapons—especially for training tools that see a lot of handling and impact.
In short:
Camellia Oil: Good light protectant, but doesn’t harden; needs frequent reapplication.
Tung Oil: Dries into a tougher finish, offering longer-lasting protection and less frequent upkeep.
Daniel Thompson – May 30, 2023
How does tung oil and/or linseed oil treatment compare to coating with polyurethane or lacquer?
Daniel Blizniak – May 30, 2023
Great question! Tung oil and linseed oil penetrate deeply and harden within the wood fibers, providing a natural, breathable finish. This enhances the grain, maintains the natural texture, and is easy to refresh or repair as needed.
In contrast, polyurethane or lacquer forms a protective coating on top of the wood. While it offers excellent scratch and moisture resistance, it can feel less natural, and when your hands become sweaty during practice, it often becomes sticky or slippery, reducing your grip and control. Additionally, polyurethane coatings can chip or peel with heavy use, and repairs are more challenging.
For martial arts weapons and training tools, I typically recommend tung oil because it provides a balance of protection, easy maintenance, and preserves the natural feel and secure grip essential for effective training.