Longest Tsuka you can have.

[johnjonathanseo]

I like my tsuka to be longest it can be, but shinai sellers never specify the length of Tsuka.

so my questions are,

what is the limit for the lenth of tsuka?

and

what brand has the longest tsuka?

thank you.

[ben]

Tsuka are generally made in sizes to match shinai sizes, e.g. 37, 38 and 39. You can mix and match these sizes, e.g. put a 38 tsuka on a 39 shinai if you like a shorter handle. I don't think there is a longer size than a tsuka made for a 39 shinai. Tsuka are also sometimes made with a narrow or wide (太口) opening.

So you can specify 39 tsuka but I'm not aware of any longer than that.

The limit of the tsuka length is generally the distance from end of shinai to somewhere under the dobari (fat part) of the shinai. This is largely for practical reasons as the tsuba won't fit over the dobari. Also it is a requirement that the tsuba rests against the rim (?) of the tsuka (dunno the name for it, sometimes it has nice cherry blossom patterns printed on it if it's a fancy one). IOW you can't have the tsuba stuck half way down the tsuka.

b

[Anorymous]

Wellllll... all I can think of is, try to find the oldest tsukagawa you can, as they tend to stretch with time. I've seen one that was some fifteen centimetres longer than a new one. Then again, old tsukagawa are slippery, so you might dislike that.

The shinai have a specified maximum length that includes the tsuka, if you were confused about that, so you can only change the leather at the bottom.

Anyway, in my experience, people with odd complaints (such as "I want a longer tsuka" or "my arm hits my breasts as it moves") usually aren't gripping the shinai correctly, so ask someone to check that for you.

[AndreiB]

I ordered the longest shinai my supplier provided, and was pretty nonplussed when an average 39 inch handle came in the mail. It was the same size as what had been deemed 'too short' for my arm length by a kendo sempai. I am hoping it'll stretch a lot.

[Pizzamancer]

I like my tsuka to be longest it can be, but shinai sellers never specify the length of Tsuka.

A better question is why reduce your reach with a longer tsuka?

[johnjonathanseo]

A better question is why reduce your reach with a longer tsuka?

well, I am a Jodan player and I haven't had a problem with a longer tsuka. And why would longer tsuka be any problem even when I am not doing Jodan?

[JSchmidt]

well, I am a Jodan player and I haven't had a problem with a longer tsuka. And why would longer tsuka be any problem even when I am not doing Jodan?

What you really want, is a longer tsukagawa. A regular 39 tsukagawa will feel too short for me, but they stretch quickly.
If you really want a longer tsuka (which wont change the length of the tsukagawa), E-mudo have this:
http://www.e-mudo.com/Dobali_Type_Shinai_39_Size_Hinkaku_p/hinkaku-blue.htm

Miyako have custom shinais for reasonable money:
http://www.kendo-bogu.com/product_p/124-tbc.htm

Sankei has a million and one types of shinai and worth talking to:
http://www.zen-sankei.com.au/onlineshopping/index.php?cPath=21_22&region=australia?&refid=99XvxjCm3iRhs8uIMq25m7UfElprpEpv&osCsid=b6db20fed6746fcc182f2ff6aac6fec0

[johnjonathanseo]

What you really want, is a longer tsukagawa. A regular 39 tsukagawa will feel too short for me, but they stretch quickly.
If you really want a longer tsuka (which wont change the length of the tsukagawa), E-mudo have this:
http://www.e-mudo.com/Dobali_Type_Shinai_39_Size_Hinkaku_p/hinkaku-blue.htm

Miyako have custom shinais for reasonable money:
http://www.kendo-bogu.com/product_p/124-tbc.htm

Sankei has a million and one types of shinai and worth talking to:
http://www.zen-sankei.com.au/onlineshopping/index.php?cPath=21_22&region=australia?&refid=99XvxjCm3iRhs8uIMq25m7UfElprpEpv&osCsid=b6db20fed6746fcc182f2ff6aac6fec0

wow, thank you! these links are very useful. (Kunchiku shinai looks so sexy, but hella expensive. I wonder how they feel.)