How long does kendo shinai last?
A good shinai can last as long as a year, even with heavy practice. OK, first, lets learn the basic parts and the terminology: The shinai is made from 4 staves of bamboo, held at both ends with a leather cover, and tensioned by a string.
How do you maintain a kendo shinai?
Coat them with light oil such as gun or sewing machine oil, and let soak for at least 3 days, preferably a week. While they are soaking, check them daily and recoat them if the oil has been absorbed. New shinai are dry and need quite alot of oil. Before reassembling, wipe away any excess oil.
How do you store shinai?
When your shinai isn’t being used, it should be stored either on the floor or placed upright against a wall. Of course, some kendo instructors have their own rules for storing the shinai. Some instructors, for instance, require the shinai’s handle to be placed on the floor and the tip leaning against the wall.
What size shinai should I use?
The first thing you need to know is what size of Shinai is suitable for you….A Beginners Guide To Shinai.
| Age Group | Shinai Size |
|---|---|
| Junior High School – 12-15 years | 114cm of less – Size 37 |
| Senior High School – 15-18 years | 117cm or less – Size 38 |
| University & Adults – 18 years + | 120cm or less – Size 39 |
How durable is a shinai?
Shinai aren’t meant for hitting on hard surfaces. For their intended use, most people go through anywhere from 2-6 per year.
What is shinai in Japanese?
A shinai (竹刀) is a Japanese sword typically made of bamboo used for practice and competition in kendo. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from kendo shinai, and represented with different characters.
How do you oil a shinai?
Spray the oil directly onto the back of the stave or on a cloth and rub it into the back and sides. The staves can also be soaked in a tube made from plastic pipe. Linseed oil works well but will add weight and may change the balance of the shinai.
How to choose a shinai?
When you choose a shinai, you have to know the length of shinai that you have to use. The length of shinai is decided by All Japan Kendo Federation (International Kendo Federation).
Should I buy a koban shinai?
A problem with using koban shinai is when you have to replace a side stave only another koban stave will fit because it is wider. The top and bottom stave can usually be replaced from a regular shinai. So there are tradeoffs when using koban shinai. A way around this is to buy a carbon shinai for lots of money. The feel is different but they last.
Which hand do you swing a shinai with?
But usually if a grip of a shinai is thick, that shinai is really heavy. If a shinai is too heavy for you, you will tend to use the right hand to swing the shinai. Your kendo becomes a right-handed kendo.