When I first started training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu http://www.bujinkan.com/ at the Ohoko Dojo http://www.ohoko.com/ I purchased some training tools from Ed Martin. http://www.pennsylvaniabujinkan.com/Equipment/Index.asp Very durable hickory boken and jo. We used these and other tools when we first started the training group. Part of my interest in the longsword is that it's about the same length of a jo. (48 inches) I probably won't be carrying a sword around that often but I use the jo as a walking stick and have it with me a lot.