Carbon Graphite

[KhawMengLee]

Okay, here's the lowdown. My Carbon shinai just arrived and I was wondering if there was any preperations I should make. Do I need to season it (eg. like run a bottle over the hitting edges to toughen it) or is it kote's-ahoy right away?

MENG

[Neil Gendzwill]

No preparation required, unless you need to add the leather bits. Wack away to your heart's content.

[David J]

You mean after spending all that cash, it doesnt come with a little booklet saying "Congratulations on buying the only shinai you will ever need... etc" ? ;)

<rei>

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

well, theres some paper but its all in this funny scratchy scritchee writing...heh

Yeh, theres a bit of instruction but unfortunately its in japanese. Heehee, its whacking time!

CHEERS
MENG

[David J]

Yep, you can go around marking peoples Do's and making yourself unpopular....;)

[KhawMengLee]

yup...just you wait till I get to limey-land...ooo....hiki dou fer you, buddy..heh, just kids ;)

[Neil Gendzwill]

The funny scritchy writing comes with a bunch of warranty type stuff, all void if the shinai is exported out of Japan. The two main important things it says is: 1. The plastic tip under the sakigawa is a special design for the carbon shinai, don't replace it with one used for bamboo shinai 2. If the outer skin wears away and exposes the black carbon layer underneath or delaminates, that stave is toast, replace it.

[KhawMengLee]

Thanks dude. Hopefully it will be a while before step 2 happens, neh?