What is a Bokken?

A Bokken is a wooden Japanese sword that is used in martial arts training. Boku means wood and ken means sword, hence the name. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other Japanese swords such as the wakizashi and tanto. Bokken is really the term used in the west to describe the weapon, as the word is synonymous with bokuto in Japan, which is most often used to describe it there.