Advanced Weapons: Bokken, Jo & Tanto
Friday nights at AikiDojo of Hickory belong to the Samurai weapons. Ranked students train the wooden sword, staff and knife in the Aiki Budo tradition — sharpening the timing, distance and posture that make the empty-hand art work.
The Advanced Weapons Class at AikiDojo of Hickory is a Friday-evening (7:00–8:30 PM) training session in the traditional Japanese weapons of Aiki Budo — bokken (wooden sword), jo (staff) and tanto (knife) — for ranked students by invitation of Kaicho Pete Nappier, 8th Dan. Weapons training is a core part of the path to black belt.
What Is Trained in the Advanced Weapons Class
Bokken — The Sword
Suburi (cutting practice), kumitachi (paired sword forms) and the sword principles underlying every Aikido throw.
Jo — The Staff
Thirty-one-count kata, strikes and thrusts, jo taking and paired jo forms. The most versatile weapon in the system.
Tanto — The Knife
Realistic knife-defense: disarms, controls and the sobering awareness of what a blade actually does.
Maai — Distance & Timing
Weapons make timing errors obvious. Students return to empty-hand class with noticeably sharper technique.
Weapons Taking
Tachi dori and jo dori: disarming an armed attacker with Aikido technique — the art at its most demanding.
Samurai Tradition
The etiquette, history and mindset that separate a martial art from a fitness class.
Advanced Weapons Schedule in Hickory, NC
All classes at 2364 Springs Rd NE, Hickory, NC 28601. Membership includes every Advanced Weapons class on the schedule.
| Day | Time | Class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Advanced Weapons ClassAdvanced Weapons | Book free trial → |
Why Weapons Are Essential to Real Aikido
Aikido’s founder said the art was the sword without the sword. Every Aikido throw is a cut; every entry is a sword entry. A dojo that skips weapons is teaching half the art — and its students plateau. At AikiDojo of Hickory, weapons training is where ranked students discover why the techniques they’ve drilled for years actually work.
Kaicho Pete Nappier’s weapons curriculum is one of the deepest in North Carolina, the product of 57 years of training. The Friday class is small by design and admission is by invitation once a student has demonstrated the ukemi, control and seriousness the training demands. If that’s your goal, it starts in Adult Aikido or Teen Samurai.
Advanced Weapons Questions, Answered
Can beginners join the Advanced Weapons Class?
Not directly — it is for ranked students by invitation. Beginners start in Adult Aikido or Teen Samurai, where weapons principles are introduced from the first weeks.
Are the weapons real?
Training weapons are wood: bokken (sword), jo (staff) and tanto (knife). Training is intense but safe, with strict etiquette.
Do I need my own weapons?
The dojo has training weapons available. Most ranked students eventually buy their own bokken and jo.
Is knife defense taught?
Yes. Tanto dori (knife taking) is part of the curriculum, taught realistically and with respect for how dangerous a blade is.
From Hickory Families
“Our 14 and 9 year old boys' first day at Aikido was amazing! The instructor is fantastic with the kids and very knowledgeable, and everyone there is so welcoming and helpful.”
More Ways to Train at AikiDojo of Hickory
Lil Samurai
A 30-minute preschool martial arts class that builds focus, balance, listening skills and confidence through Aikido games and drills.
Explore Lil SamuraiBeginner Kids
The on-ramp for new kids: falling safely, basic footwork, dojo etiquette and the first Aikido techniques in a small, patient class.
Explore Beginner KidsYoung Warriors
Our flagship kids program: real Aikido self-defense, character training and bully-proof confidence, four days a week.
Explore Young WarriorsYour Free Week of Advanced Weapons Starts When You Say So.
No contract, no uniform, no experience required. Pick a class time, walk in, and train with us for seven days on the house. Families from Hickory, Conover, Newton and across the Catawba Valley start exactly this way.
Hickory, NC
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