Which side is a shinai supposed to be?

[culage]

I read a book "Joukyuusha no kendo" by Hironobu Sato (a 8th-dan hanshi). According to his book, when he was chosen as the captain of the Japan national team at the 3rd WKC, only two of the team members, including him, put their shinais on the right sides as kendo-kata when they sat. The way was how they had been taught at Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, so he asked the main coach to identify the way to put a shinai. However, he had to follow to the other way at the last. Furthermore, the upper class of kendo organization decided to put a shinai on the left side by majority soon after. Sato-sensei has been concerned about it because his masters; such as Moriji Mochida sensei, Goro Simura sensei, and etc, taught him so. Sato-sensei says it shows one's respect and peace to put a shinai on the right side when you don't fight (like a handshake by right hands). When a samurai fights, he wear the sword on this left side of his hakama. Therefore, the sinai is supposed to be on the right side when you don't fight a duel as the principal forms of kendo-kata. I think his saying does make more sense and want to follow the right way of kendo and the grand masters. Consequently, I wonder which side you would think is a shinai supposed to be right or left when you are not in the field of a duel. :confused:

[D'Artagnan]

I have never seen anyone put their shinai on their right... though I know a few people who put their Bokuto down on their left (on the rare occasion they do seiza with a bokuto), it seems to be mutually understood by everyone that nobody is being challenged to a duel to the death...

Personally I put my shinai on the left, as that's what everyone else does... Though if I visited a Dojo where they put it on the right, I would naturally do the same... like Sato sensei was told, I think it is best to do the same as everyone else.

[Oroshi]

At my regular dojo, when we just sit down we normally put the shinai on the left for convenience. However when performing reishiki or interacting with another person it gets moved to the right. Bokuto and swords meanwhile always go on the right.

However as stated this isn't the case in every dojo, so when I visit somewhere new I always copy other people.

[b8amack]

Sounds like the issue was settled a long time ago, reading into the lines:


"the upper class of kendo organization decided to put a shinai on the left side by majority soon after"

[The great I AM]

The best side for a shinai is the one that's facing the other guy.

[rfoxmich]

The peaceful intent of shinai on the left is captured by facing the tsuru out.
I know of one dojo in the midwest that puts their shinai on the right because their founding sensei taught them to do it that way.
The standard is left. I think the original poster is asking a deeper question that I can't answer without knowing more about the origin of 'shinai on the right vs. shinai on the left'.

There are however two rules of thumb:
- When in a dojo do as the dojo does.
- When asked to teach follow the standard so that dojo will not have minimal problems/surprises interacting with other dojos.

[Hisham]

As others have already stated, follow what is customary in the dojo, for instance with my first sensei, i used to draw my shinai at the third step when i sonkyo, now with my new sensei, it's half drawn by the second step then totally at sonkyo. Same thing as with tenugui unfolded on the back of the men or folded inside it....etc.

[Moonrise]

I think this is one of those questions where the ultimate answer is "talk to your sensei about it."

[Tsuki]

I had been taught to put a shinai on the right and bogu on the left when I was a child. I didn't know the reason though. I don't remember when it changed, but the reason clage gave makes sense to me. I would have to follow the way of dojo, but I like to keep samurai spirit in my mind. :)

[skilled]

Depends if you use a lefty shinai..