The  Iwama Short Bokken of Takemusu Aiki Aikido is 26" long. It has a moderate curvature and, with its fairly stout proportions, has a feeling of decisive to heavy balance. The defining feature of this weapon is its solidness and simplicity.

This design, the companion to the Iwama bokken is derived from patterns and dimensions studied over decades including personal insights from direct students of Morihiro Saito, the first headmaster of the Iwama school and most senior weapon's instructor of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. Despite its reputation for being heavy and thick, Saito preferred a bokken that was solid but restrained and not as blocky as is commonly thought. The original is similar to old school (koryu) bokken. The hand cut Iwama short bokken does not accept a hand guard (tsuba) as the principles of the Iwama style rely on the use of the bokken as instructive of open hand techniques and body positioning as the defensive method rather than the use of protective devices.