Selecting a shinai

Choosing the best and most suitable shinai for you is a matter of personal taste. However, there are some general guidelines to be followed:

*Length and weight numbers are measured without tsuba.

1. The shinai should feel comfortable and easy to hold, e.g. people with smaller hands may  prefer a slimmer handle
2. Look at both ends to see whether the four slats come together in a neat fashion – the closer the fit the better
3. Some people prefer more weight at the tip and some prefer more weight at the tsuba (guard) end. It is generally felt that the former is better for kihon and the latter is more suitable for shiai (competition)
4. Generally, the more joints (nodes) the better, particularly if they are close together as this means the bamboo was selected from closer to the ground

 

Parts of a shinai and comparison to its Japanese sword counterparts