How many shinai shuld I own.

[A P]

I am a planning to go in to kendo very soon. (in three week.)

I am wondering... that......how many shinai should I buy. one or two shinai.

and how much should I spent. $20-$30.

And what type of matrial would be good for the uniform. Last long as well.

Cotton, or those other kind.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[samurai999]

You should have at least 2 shinai. If one breaks, you are doomed to watch the rest of practice unless you can borrow a shinai from somebody else. I'd say the cheapest bamboo shinai you can find is probably 22$ or so. The 30$ ones are mid-line ones.

Tim

[m_french]

I echo what tim says, you need at least 2 to avoid missing any time with out equipment, I would add however that you might want to learn proper maintenance from the start and have more than 2 if you live in a place where equipment has to be shipped in.
As for keiko gi and hakama.....cotton feels , well like cotton. Wouild yo wear polyester to the Gym? :beard:

[Andoy]

Tetron Hakama is a good for starters, they are easier to maintain than cotton and the pleats hold up pretty good. I've been using my tetron for 3yrs now and I've never had problems. It's also much cheaper too!

For Keikogi i think the most basic type is chemical dyed or something. Then it when it gets to double layered indigo dyed #(insert number here), you've pretty much hit the top.

I heard the top end kinds of uniforms have a medicine or something called 'aizome' that slows down bruising or something. I wonder if they still have that.

[Fraz]

I normally carry three shinai to class with me. One for myself plus another 3 spares just incase. I use a different ones each time and I rotate the staves on the one I've used after each use... This dramatically cuts down the wear on each of them...

I've also got enough bits to make up a few more If I wasn't bothered about the knuckles on the bamboo lining up..:)

As for cost.. Since your just beginning go for the cheaper ones until you've sure you're not going to break them..:D

Polyester / Terton Hakama are great. They are very forgiving of folding mistakes, and they last an awfully long time. My Bl;ack one's are coming up on three years old and are only just starting to discolour at the knees from all the kneeling.

The Keikogi depends first of all what the conditions are like, if it's very humid the last thing you want is a heavy weight double layer jacket...:)

I've actually got two, a single layer for summer and a double for winter.

Anyway, despite all that it's likely you wont have to worry about kendogi just yet...

Many dojo's won't let you wear them until you have completed the fundamentals to the sensei's satisfaction...

Just relax and enjoy it..:)

[chidokan]

you can never have enough shinai, they're like fishing rods... one for general use, one in case you break it, one for best, that nice looking dark one you bought at a kendo show, a carbon fibre one,and a spare in case it breaks, a handmade one you brought from Japan... :D
reminds me of a fly fishing saying regarding flies..one to use, one to lose, one to give away ( in this case- lend to a friend- they're too expensive..)

[A P]

I think I am just going to get two shinai for now as I start kendo. Then

I will buy maybe one or two more shinai, when I get to wear bogu..

So, that would mean three shinai for class pratice and one shinai parcificly

for a match (not use during pratice).


What do you think of these ideas???

Would there be anything wrong or disadvantage with using a new shinai in only

matches??

[Fraz]

That seems fine..:)
Although make sure your competition Shinai is is Tip-Top condition... Nothing worse than being told to retie nakayui or tighten Tsuru's when your supoosed to be warming up..:)

[A P]

Hummmmm...

Thank you for reminding me

(taking you advice seriourly) :angry: :angry: :angry:

[Hai_hai]

One million thousand hundred shinai

[samurai999]

I think I am just going to get two shinai for now as I start kendo. Then

I will buy maybe one or two more shinai, when I get to wear bogu..

So, that would mean three shinai for class pratice and one shinai parcificly

for a match (not use during pratice).


What do you think of these ideas???

Would there be anything wrong or disadvantage with using a new shinai in only

matches??

Perfect. 3 shinai for practice and 1 for tourney. Thats what I usually do. But remember that each shinai has it's own balance and "feel" to it. If you designate one shinai as a tourney one, do sets of suburi with it the night before practice so you can get yourself accustomed to the shinai. For now though, since you are starting, 2 is enough.

Tim

[A P]

That sounds good... :rambo: :rambo:

[Neil Gendzwill]

If you're just starting, one is actually sufficient. Once you start hitting things in earnest where there is a danger of breaking a shinai, you need at least two.

[Bayushi-Shoju]

The way i look at the Material for the Hakama and Keiko-gi is, Its your last defense against a hit. So decide acordingly :smiley: