January 3, 2003
High praise for the Bugei Jutte: great value for the money!
Last night was the first training night of the year for Dale Seago's San Francisco Bujinkan Dojo. Jutte is one of this training year's theme weapons. I'd not known that - should have read Kutaki no Mura recently - so I borrowed one of Dale's own Bugei models... exactly like the one I left at home but will be throwing in my training bag from now on.
The Bugei jutte is the real thing - a real weapon - and an outrageous bargain 2 years running at US $37. It's perfectly suitable for training, if you bear in mind that A.) it's an 18.5 inch steel bar; B.) the hook grabs hands, fingers, and other body parts very well, and C.) the heart-shaped kashira ends in a point. Go slowly, with intent, remembering that this thing works. I'd train with this buki for most techniques. For techniques requiring specific sword-capture, when your uke is wielding a bokken, I'd supplement with a plastic practice jutte such those made by The Buki Company ($30).
The specs for the Bugei jutte, listed in the paper catalog but not on the website:
- Overall length: 18.5 inches
- Barrel length: 12 inches
- Handle length: 4.5 inches
I'd like to add that the average clearance between the barrel and the hook (I measured it) is 9/16th inch (0.5625in). No bokken I've seen will fit that space, but an iaito or mugito, which are dimensioned like shinken (real swords), will fit exactly as designed.
Bugei's paper catalog item number for the jutte, also not listed on the website, is S50134, in case you need it.
Posted by Russell Whitaker at January 3, 2003 5:37 PM | TrackBack