oval grip shinai

[onitsuka]

Hi, I am a newbie in kendo. I sometimes see oval grip shinai for sale, but are there only oval grip for the left hand only? So the right hand handle is still round grip? Thank you very much

[JSchmidt]

It variest...some are oval most of the way up, some aren't, but it's not all that important as it's the left hand that should 'grip' the most.

Jakob

[Phlebas]

I have the oval grip shinai from eBogu.com and I'm very happy with it. It is feels more natural for my left hand because I have rather large hands with wide palms but not long fingers. It is supposed to be a "left hand oval grip" shinai, but even the part of the handle for the right hand is slightly oval too, but less so.

If you find that the grip of a regular shinai is somewhat uncomforatable, try the oval grip... it made all the difference for me. Only trouble is, they're expensive! If you find a good one at a better price, be sure to post and let me know! : )

[onitsuka]

I just order one from toranzo. I will let you know how it feels when I get it. I also have large hand, so I hope it will suit me. But I might not know too much differnce because I am new to kendo. Keep in touch

[Nishi]

I have an oval grip (koban, chokuto style) from nine circles. At first i didnt like it, but after re-ordering my usual shinai (standard grip dobari) and having some time to use this oval grip, i fell in love with it. It was far to heavy toward the kissaki, and only the left hand was oval (hasekawa calls this K-1, and when the entire tsuka is oval they call this K-2). But it is forcing me to cut bigger and more spirited. its a great shinai (chokuto koban 39)!!!

[Lukas]

What I am afraid in oval grip shinai (apart from price) is that when one bamboo slat becomes splitted its difficult to replace it with other from "normal" shinai. Or am I wrong? How do you guys deal with that?

Some threads ago someone suggested that one can make himself an oval grip by putting bigger tsukagawa over current one and stuffing it with something on upper and lower edges.

Apart from adjusting tsuba and tsubadome that would work for normal shinai.
Anyone tried this?
Is this "approvable" from shai regulations point of view?

I appreciate any remarks as I seriously think about that - hope to improve my shinai gripping and overall handling.

Regards
Lukas

[Nishi]

Good shinai care should see a shinai through six months easily, so if your rotating 2 or 3 shinai, you should alright for quite a while... shinai (IMHO), only break for 3 reasons, clubbing or misuse, not being looked after or maintained, deteriation(sp?). And acts of God of course(fine thats 4)...but you can really minimize the risk by learning shinai care, and practising it seriously. (shinaido:D)

If you are a beginner, i would buy the cheapest shiani you can for the first two years, because your gonna break some. Rule 1. clubbing and misuse.

[onitsuka]

so, if the oval grip shinai is not rated as dobari style, then is it a chokoto style automatically?

[Nishi]

Shinai, as far as i know, come in two family's...Dobari, which is fat and heavier above the tsuba...and Chokuto which is even(er) in thickness and has more weight toward the end of the shinai.

You can have these two style shinai in a variety of grips...Koban(oval grip), which can be oval only for the left hand or oval in shape right up the tsuka. There is wide grip, standard grip, and ive even seen a thin grip.

I think i got that right.....:D????

[onitsuka]

Nishi san, have you ordered from Tozando before? I placed an order for also a week, and they have not email me back to confirm my order or reply my email. But last time I asked them question and they reply me within two days. Which company do you recommend for buying shinai?

[Nishi]

Onitsuka, the longest i waited for shiani from Tozando was 9 weeks, so all i can say is good luck to you.....tozando just dont care!!!! You can try this e-mail address for update on your purchase, but i think tozando employee is sleeping on the job. order@tozando.com

A good company is bogubag, which is supplied heavily by KOEI. Mr Robert Stroud runs the place, he is 6thdan renshi in kendo and 5th dan iaido, so theres also a massive amount of experience there. I have been ordering from Robert Stroud for about 14 months now with no complaints, great service, high quality, blah blah blah.

[onitsuka]

Hi Nishi, the shinai is here. very unexpected, because no reply in email or order confirmation. but anyway, I am glad that it is here so early, and the grip feels excellent. both the right and left hand are oval grip. One thing is that the first node is very high comparing to the shinai that I am using at this moment. It feels like the hit is a lot stiffer and I think the opponent hurts more when I make a strike. So is it the node, or shinai before breaking in has this problem?

[Hyaku]

Cant get on with oval. I think I have sword in my hand and cut though more.

The Chakin shibori effect is pronounced with a round Tsuka and it also tends to lock the grip and take out some of the follow through.

With a sword like tsuka its more of a squeeze rather than wring out.

Hyaku

[Nishi]

Originally posted by onitsuka
So is it the node, or shinai before breaking in has this problem?

I think it may just be tenouchi onitsuki. I havnt heard of this problem before. When the shinai bamboo has a knuckle between the nakayui and sakigawa this shouldnt cause to much trouble, mabye some discomfort.....but there are things far worse in kendo than a bump on the head:confused2

Now that youve had the shiani for a while onitsuki, what is your opinion now?

[onitsuka]

hm.... it feels too powerful. The power is little bit hard to control, like other people said, it cuts deeper. But I think the oval grip is more comfortable to me. So I will try to get use to it. Oh, but the way, my sensei said I am ready for bogu now. I need to buy from him though, because he sells bogu and I don't want to make him mad by ordering from the web. and he hates people buying fancy bogu.

[Hai_hai]

Originally posted by onitsuka
.... it feels too powerful. The power is little bit hard to control...

A shinai has no power little grasshopper. It is you who holds the power, it is you who releases the power, it is you who must control your power. Now go... oh chosen one... and bring justice across the land.

[13th warrior]

Hi All,

I just received three shinais from Tozando. Problem is, I only ordered one... :-) As far as the topic is concerned, I think it's great to fence with an oval-shaped shinai.

[Nishi]

13th, check out this thread before you buy anything else......and be sure to add your experiences with all companies good and bad.

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1141&highlight=buyer+beware

You'll see why im weary of our Tozando freinds. :-0

[Andoru]

The Chakin shibori effect is pronounced with a round Tsuka and it also tends to lock the grip and take out some of the follow through.

Hyaku
Hyaku - about chakin shibori (wringing the tea-towel). Can you clarify your statement above better? Are you saying that this is a disadvantage of oval grip shinai?