Naming a Shinai?

[IronWarrior]

Is it ok for me to name a Shinai by ingraving the sides by cutting or using a pen to write it on one of the sides?

Does anyone else does that?

[verissimus]

If you mean naming a shinai for identification purposes, then that's typically done on the tsuka, although it should be possible to write on the bamboo too - after all there's a high probability that your shinai's manufacturer has already done so.

But if you mean naming your shinai something like Darth Vader - well that's just odd, and I haven't met anyone who refers to their shinai as something animate. Besides, what will you do once the shinai has to be replaced (and it will)?

[braxtonhicks]

"What's this weapon's name?"
"Sir, the Private's shinai is called Charlene, Sir!"

[b8amack]

I don't think there's a rule against it, though, unless you engrave sloppily, and the shinai becomes unsafe. People will like to come down on you, "well, that's just not done" which is true, but kendo is your time, and you can enjoy it how you please. In the end, though, you'll find yourself going through a lot of shinai.

[Kendoka]

I sometimes call my shinai a "dirty f@#$ b%*&d" when it misses a good cut.

[UnimportantHero]

I am thinking about naming my bokuto "Smurfette"

[IronWarrior]

Lol @ Full Metal Jacket, one of my favorite flims.

I was thinking of just writing on the Tsuba since I could move that around and no, not calling it silly names.

I understand that the Shinai get's replaced often, I was told they roughly last about 6 or so months, is that the same for most of you?

[verissimus]

Mine tend to last longer than that (although I do rotate between 3 shinai). I guess I just need to do more kendo.

[rfoxmich]

The naming of shinai is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games,
You may think that I'm mad as a hatter
When I say a shinai must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

-- with absolutely no apologies to T.S. Eliot

[verissimus]

One would first have to establish what the gender of a shinai is.

[Neil Gendzwill]

The naming isn't so bad, it's the cost of all those obituary ads that's killing me...

[ShinKenshi]

Lol @ Full Metal Jacket, one of my favorite flims.

I was thinking of just writing on the Tsuba since I could move that around and no, not calling it silly names.

I understand that the Shinai get's replaced often, I was told they roughly last about 6 or so months, is that the same for most of you?I had one last for a couple of years before a catastrophic failure. It tends to be hit or miss though in terms of longevity. As long as you don't let it dry out they tend to be ok for at least 6 months depending on other mitigating factors.

[MiddleEarthNet]

Is it ok for me to name a Shinai by ingraving the sides by cutting or using a pen to write it on one of the sides?

Does anyone else does that?

I wrote my initials (for indification purposes) in the little gap between where the tsukigawa opens into the loops for the tsuru and the tsuba. Discreet but simple to check at an event. I just used a permanent marker.

As for how long they last, my two bamboo ones are about a year old.

[SanguineKendoka]

After working in a pub, I took to calling my suburi bokken the Customer Appreciation Bat.

[Welshy]

The suburi shinai that belongs to the club is affectionately known as "The happy paddle".

I don't usually bother writing anything on my own shinai (can usually pick it out amongst a crowd), but after bad shiai I do occasionally call it "Sir F***in Piece of S**t". We have a bit of a love-hate thing.

[Missingno.]

I had a shinai for a while that I called "sign of the dragon," and I had another one that was super light (probably under regulation) that I called "white lightning." I never wrote it on them though.

[Arthur7474]

I named mine Wakai Kishi (Young Knight) Though I havn't marked it... Well to be fair the original wakai kishi was my first shinai but that got a crack in it a week after I named it so I had to get a new one, but I liked the name too much to throw it out so... I think you should name it like samurai would name their swords to build a bond with your weapon and if you wanna mark it then just don't do it on the bamboo.

[KawazoeTamaki]

This is my shinai. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My shinai is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my shinai is useless. Without my shinai, I am useless. I must swing my shinai true. I must strike straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must strike him before he strikes me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my shinai and myself are defenders of my country, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.

[Gideon]

This is my shinai. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My shinai is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my shinai is useless. Without my shinai, I am useless. I must swing my shinai true. I must strike straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must strike him before he strikes me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my shinai and myself are defenders of my country, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.

Which then turns into this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh2F5H3q-rU - not sure what language the subtitles are in, but they're irrelevant anyway.

[katana1080]

There's 2 words "Autumn water" engraved on mines when I got it, is that the name the creator gave it?

[mickeyb73]

I call mine "The Beater"

[ben]

Frequently "Tomato Stakes" and "Frankenstein". b