red string around shinai

[indigo0086]

I've noticed that there are three red stirngs wrapped several times around the shinai. I was wondering hwat exactly they are there for? I know the white string is needed there, but what about the red ones.

[bossgvr4]

I was told to cut them off by my sensei. He said that they were just there to hold the staves together during shipping.

DaveC

[Inouye02]

I've noticed that there are three red stirngs wrapped several times around the shinai. I was wondering hwat exactly they are there for? I know the white string is needed there, but what about the red ones.

are you serious ? they're depth gauges to let you know exactly where to strike and not to strike, the lowest string means you are cutting to deep....just kidding.... anyways they're there to hold the shinai together until you use it for keiko ....just cut them off

[indigo0086]

*snip snip*

[Neil Gendzwill]

Their most useful function is as a gauge of how knowledgeable the stunt people are in a given movie or TV show - if you see the shipping ties still on the shinai, you know they haven't done their research.

[Masahiro]

hahahahaha. aren't we all just bunch of serious kendokas with a humorous side.

[mystic_kendoka]

they make sure that your opponents do not survive geiko against you... the red string holds the take's together and prevents it from bending in and out, making it effectively as painful as a bokuto.. i recommend you leave it on until your arms are strong enough to do enough damage without the aid of these strings..

[Swissv2]

those strings are supposed to ward off evil spirits and you need to tie them various places around on your uniform and bogu to give you luck.

I suggest tie them in little bows so they make you look particularly intimidating :D

[mystic_kendoka]

dont be ridiculous they dont ward the spirits off, they attract them, demons are known for their red string fetishes...

[regularyojimbo]

You gotta leave them them on they make the shinai go faster, they're special go faster strings.

[mystic_kendoka]

horny demons chasing you has that sort of effect...

[Odachi]

Where can I buy some more of the red strings? my old ones have fallen off.

[misterkurukuru]

to take them off just tug on the end of one of the strings and they come right off, you dont need to cut anything.

[AlexM]

Where can I buy some more of the red strings? my old ones have fallen off.

I'll sell you some of mine for 10$ per cm.

[Nanbanjin]

Where can I buy some more of the red strings? my old ones have fallen off.
Just use a permanent marker to draw red lines around where the red strings were. This is sanctioned by the IKF as acceptible outside of Japan, as supplies of the correct string can be hard to come by.

[Andoru]

I use purple fishing lines....those work better! The chicks also like them very much!

[kenshin13]

Hmmm....thats odd. Mine never came with redstring. Must be extra ;)

[gsx1100s]

I don't have red string or a red magic marker to draw the line back........I only have a glitter pen ....is that acceptable??:) ...oh it also glows in the dark.....the pen I mean ....:wink:

cheers Michael

[psywarblade]

The red strings are reminders taken from the legend of the string around the finger. But because we have Kote on we cant see our fingers. So to adapt it we tie them around the Shinai.

String 1 - is to remind you to check your stance and spacing

String 2 - is to remind you to raise your hands to the right position above your head

String 3 - is to remind you that while you are worrying about strings 1 and 2 your opponent is gonna beat the hell out of you and this is really going to hurt.


Hope that cleared that mess up.

[D'Artagnan]

Those strings are RED???!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought they were Blue!!!!!

OH MY GOD!! I'M COLOURBLIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[LNGUYEN]

The red strings are the trick from ancient Japan, around 5000 year ago. They were special die in the virgin blood so when the swordmen killed their enemy, the spirits were chasing away from the virgin blood. Also, with red color, when they moved their sword, it had the effective like hypnotize toward the enemy. The faster they move, the red string would make beautiful illusion until the enemy said: "Wow, that is so cool Dude". At that point, the swordmen knew the time was right to strike for instant kill. Today, for the shinai, we just use the regular die but if you look hard, you still can get the red string die by virgin blood for quite a price. :smiley:

[DCPan]

The red strings are the trick from ancient Japan, around 5000 year ago. They were special die in the virgin blood so when the swordmen killed their enemy, the spirits were chasing away from the virgin blood. :smiley:

You rookie... :wink:

My uber-madake made in Emperial Japan by the 18th soke of seibu-ha shinai-kesuri-ryu comes with black-string made from dragon tendons and gold string made from the finest gold interwined with blond hair of the fairest princesses from far and wide....

FWIW.

[psywarblade]

The red strings are the trick from ancient Japan, around 5000 year ago. They were special die in the virgin blood so when the swordmen killed their enemy, the spirits were chasing away from the virgin blood. Also, with red color, when they moved their sword, it had the effective like hypnotize toward the enemy. The faster they move, the red string would make beautiful illusion until the enemy said: "Wow, that is so cool Dude". At that point, the swordmen knew the time was right to strike for instant kill. Today, for the shinai, we just use the regular die but if you look hard, you still can get the red string die by virgin blood for quite a price. :smiley:
If i could find a virgin at the right time of the month I can sell you some cheap ....

all together now ... EWWWW!!

[Hai_hai]

My shinai was made during the Tokugawa era and comes complete with an "invisible shield" protecting it from harmful elements of rain, snow, and mud. The invisible shield allows the hand-cut leather grip tanned from an ostrich to remain untouched by mortals. The three red ties symbolize the three points of Okinawa: ocean, peace, & development... the only way to achieve ki-ken-tai-ichi. The invisible shield is fastened with a white string, representing the key to peace. If I recall correctly, gaijin seem to think the mokuteki or purpose of these items is for "packaging and shipping".

[Masahiro]

hahahahahahaha. .. ...is someone keeping count of just how many purpose the red strings can serve? I personally lost count from laughing too hard.

[indigo0086]

I just cut off the strings and...long story short, any Onmyou here?

[mystic_kendoka]

Hai Hai you are a stupid git!

what do you mean invisible shield? if you open the shinai and look at the bottom of the tsukagawa, there is a little chip there, its a personal shield generator, it doesnt protect against rain snow or mud, it protects you against laser blasts, you dont think laser blasts exist? thats becuz u have the shield generator!

[Hai_hai]

...what do you mean invisible shield?..
You know, the plastic bag it comes wrapped in.

[Swissv2]

my shinai has +5 to mana, um...

[Mr.Tvola]

:laugh: :laugh:

this forum is cool :smiley:

[not-I]

Kendoka are all a bunch of goofballs at heart.

And don't forget that the red thread used to be the one that held your hakama's crotch together.

To wit:

Ten days in the temple and my mind is reeling!
Between my legs the red thread stretches and stretches.
If you come some other day and ask for me,
Better look in a fish stall, a sake shop, or a brothel.

- Ikkyû Sôjun.