Experienced Opinion Requested

[Gideon]

Howdy everyone. I'm looking into purchasing a new shinai for shiai and gradings that will be coming up in the future. I've done a search and haven't found anything regarding a particular shinai that I'm using.

I realize that picking a shinai is an individualized thing, but I was wondering if there was anyone out there using a Kokuyou shinai from Aoi-Budo.com? I'd post a direct link, but I'm at a public location who has apparently blocked the site as a dealer in weapons. :confused:

I suppose what I'm looking for is what your experience has been like with it and what 'style' of kendo yours is.

Anyway, many thanks in advance!

[Charlie]

I myself never use any special shinai. I buy the cheapest version available, sand and oil them lovingly, use them hard, weep for them when they break, recycle the spared parts into new shinai, weep for them when they break, repeat.

[Halcyon]

I myself never use any special shinai. I buy the cheapest version available, sand and oil them lovingly, use them hard, weep for them when they break, recycle the spared parts into new shinai, weep for them when they break, repeat.
Same here, except for one extra step -- laugh maniacally as I behold the frankenshinai and scream "It's alive!!!"

[Charlie]

Hahaha!

*sheds a small tear for "Old Vanilla," the shinai he accidentally waxed with a vanilla-scented candle and lived through many reincarnations*

[yoda-waza]

I myself never use any special shinai. I buy the cheapest version available, sand and oil them lovingly, use them hard, weep for them when they break, recycle the spared parts into new shinai, weep for them when they break, repeat.

Please tell me you treat your women better than that...
(Sorry if I offended someone! Not you, Charlie.)

[Charlie]

Haha!

To be sure, Gideon, some people prefer a more specialized shinai. Here's the model in question:

http://www.budo-aoi.com/kendo/shinai/14_kokuyou.html

Gotta tell you, I wouldn't mind having some of the shinai from this retailer's index!

[Gideon]

Interesting question... is this model even permitted under the IKF regulations?

It mentions that the regs for the tip diameter are a minimum of 25-26mm. Does this include the shinai tip only? (which is 21mm and therefore illegal for competitions). Or do the regulations cover the tip diameter plus the diameter added by the tip leather?

Anyone know?

[Charlie]

I dunno! I think it said somewhere on the page that all their shinai fit the regulations. Can't quite remember where I saw that...

[Neil Gendzwill]

The regulation measures the tip including leather.

[dwez]

Gotta tell you, I wouldn't mind having some of the shinai from this retailer's index!

And yet I've never seen anyone mention this beauty. (http://www.boguzen.com/b_sword_kunchiku.html) Pimp my shinai!

[yoda-waza]

"Lightly smoked" and "Well smoked"? Who is smoking their shinai and does it provide a high?