Shinai FAQ

What if my training partner doesn't have a shinai?
When training with fukurojinai, you should be careful to use shinai against other shinai, as striking a blade or bokken against a shinai could lead to the shinai being damaged. A shinai may also be damaged if you or your training partner fail to use proper technique. If either swings his or her shinai in large, arcing blows, in a manner reminiscent of a Viking's two-handed sword, the receiving shinai might very well suffer a fracture or could even break. Whether training with a shinai or a bokken, one should stay true to the spirit of wielding a true Japanese katana.

How do I know where the blade is on a shinai?
With a katana, or sword, the cutting edge is obvious. With a shinai, of course there is no cutting edge, but for proper training, an imaginary one must be designated. In the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, the stitching that runs the entire length of the shinai conveniently serves as the cutting edge. Bu Jin Design shinai feature similar stitching, and it is advisable to personally designate a cutting edge, whether it be the stitching itself or the side opposite the stitching, and then to consistently use the given designation.

How should I go about varnishing my shinai, if I decide I want to?
With prolonged and heavy use, the leather on the fukurojinai may become abraded and wear down in places. To prevent this, you can apply a wood varnish, shellac, or polyurethane to the leather to protect it. This will, in turn, provide protection to the bamboo within the casing as well. Be aware that this process will significantly harden and darken the leather. The hardened leather will be less forgiving to a training partner than uncoated suede, so please train accordingly.

Simply brush a coat of the finishing agent onto the cylindrical leather casing, taking care not to coat the leather thong that wraps the hilt. If you prefer to coat the hilt wrapping, you must unwrap it, coat it, and then re-wrap it after it has dried. (The wrapping needs to remain supple in the event that the bamboo needs replacing.) Let the first coat dry completely, then use fine grit sandpaper to lightly scuff up the surface, so the next coat will adhere. With two or three repetitions of these steps, the fukurojinai will become very durable. It should be noted that this process is entirely optional.

Is there a "Shinai User Manual"?
Not exactly, since qualified instructors are your best source of help, but here is some useful information. The diameter of the bamboo determines the size of the hilt or grip area, and in general, there are two sizes, medium and large. A shinai is of approximate sword length, but each shinai varies somewhat, due to the locations of the joints in the bamboo. The proportions of a shinai are slightly different from the proportions of a katana, with the shinai's "blade" area being a little longer and the hilt a bit shorter than that of a sword. Therefore, when you grip a fukurojinai, you should grip the very end of the hilt with your left hand and place your right hand above it, leaving about a fist's distance between your hands. Your right hand will then most likely be gripping the lower part of the leather case itself.

There is no difference between the basic use of the shinai and that of a live blade or a bokken. Even a real sword or bokken may break or become bent if used with improper technique, so you should give the same attention to technique when training with a shinai. One of the best ways to improve your irimi and tenkan moves is to empty-handedly face a shinai attack. You can experiment with moving in a closely as possible, leaving the minimal space between your body and the shinai - a paper-thin space - without fear of serious injury. Of course, fukurojinai are substituted for bokken in various training applications, including kumitachi and tachi dori practices. As with bokken, the use of shinai results in heightened awareness of the moment at hand and provides new opportunities to study distance and timing.

If you would like to read an article by Hiroshi Ikeda sensei about Sword, Bokken and Shinai, click here.