what is bio shinai??

[jasmine]

Hi,All

I found a bio shinai on the web.It is smoken and looks black.It is said this shinai is hader than other shinai.I'm a little confused by it.What is it on earth and who shuold use it?

[Hisham]

Can you post the link where you found that kina shinai?

[jasmine]

there 's aone on chiba bogu.
www.chibabogu.com
the keeper explan but I 'm still confused.

[Nanbanjin]

there 's aone on chiba bogu.
www.chibabogu.com
the keeper explan but I 'm still confused.

The bio-shinai is a shinai that has been specially treated (I think smoked) for some reason or another. Sorry I can't provide a better answer right now, I'm seriously impeded when I don't have immediate access to a Japanese input system. I'll try again tomorrow.
I've heard mixed reports.

[mkomoto]

The Bio-shinai is a bamboo shinai that has been low-temperature "cooked" in resin. The process cause the greater portion of the moisture in the intercellular spaces of the bamboo to be displaced by the resin in which it is cooked in. The resin solidifies and becomes integral to the substance of the shinai.

The process produces a shinai that is not as affected by humidity changes as a normal untreated shinai, and one that is much stronger.

The Bio shinai is still, a bamboo shinai, therefore, it is not indestructible; however, for most kenshi, it will last longer than an untreated shinai, and for the advance expert with good technique, the Bio shinai will last a long time.

Athough the Bio shinai may not be as durable as synthetic shinai, it provides an excellent alternative to those who prefer a bamboo shinai, one which the dry climate in their country will not render fragile and easily broken in day or weeks.

The Bio shinai is also ideal for the serious kenshi who has a daily kendo lifestyle. Multiple practices per week, and the accumulation of small damage inflicted upon one's shinai, result in constant shinai repair and replacement. There is also the practical problem of how many shinai one can keep and carry at one time. The Bio shinai is a good alternative with its durability and long life. No need to carry several shinai to every practice, or keep a stock at home, a stock that is constantly drying out.

Based on your inquiry, I will provide a more extensive explanation about the shinai in our online-store.

In any case, thank you for your interest, and comment about this item. In the coming days we will be introducing a "koto" or 'old sword' version of the Bio shinai, a straight-bodied shinai in the fashion of the earliest bamboo shinai used in kendo.

Kind regards,

mkomoto

For, Chiba Budougu, Ltd.
www.chibabogu.com
info@chibabogu.com

[Nanbanjin]

Thank you for the detailed explanation.

[Kirin]

Also since it has been cooked, it is amber color.
just like shinai made from 'susu-take'

[Lloromannic]

Thank you for the explanation. I have one doubt though. None of the shinai specificate whether they have round or oval tsuka. I imagine they are all round. Is that correct?

[dnakase]

Here in SoCal people have been soaking shinai in oil (vegtable or linseed) since time imemorial. Same idea as soaking a Luisvill Slugger in motor oil. Less likely to splinter & break.

[JSchmidt]

Mr. Komoto, would it be possible to provide the weights for your shinais on your webpage?

Cheers,

Jakob

[mkomoto]

Dear Mr. Schmidt,

As a matter of fact, I was just in today to shoot photos, take measurements and the weights of the various shinai we are offering.

Today, we added another variation, the "Koto" or 'old sword' model of Bio shinai. It has a straight body, almost like a tube. This is representive of the first shinai developed in the early days of shinai-kendo development.

I'll be adding these details of the Bio shinai as an "Information" page, separate from the ordering portion of the online-store ("Information" pages are listed in the upper right-hand column of the top page.)

Thanks for you inquiry, and request for more information.

Cheers to all,

MK

[Masahiro]

Thank you for your detailed replies mkomoto-san. I wonder, I only see "dobari" styled bio shinais on the chibabogu website, does chibabogu make a kanto/chokuto version of the bioshinai?

[Masahiro]

My apologies, I just visited chibabogu's webpage. And I saw the koto style under the "weapon/shinai" page.

[jasmine]

The Bio-shinai is a bamboo shinai that has been low-temperature "cooked" in resin. The process cause the greater portion of the moisture in the intercellular spaces of the bamboo to be displaced by the resin in which it is cooked in. The resin solidifies and becomes integral to the substance of the shinai.

The process produces a shinai that is not as affected by humidity changes as a normal untreated shinai, and one that is much stronger.

The Bio shinai is still, a bamboo shinai, therefore, it is not indestructible; however, for most kenshi, it will last longer than an untreated shinai, and for the advance expert with good technique, the Bio shinai will last a long time.

Athough the Bio shinai may not be as durable as synthetic shinai, it provides an excellent alternative to those who prefer a bamboo shinai, one which the dry climate in their country will not render fragile and easily broken in day or weeks.

The Bio shinai is also ideal for the serious kenshi who has a daily kendo lifestyle. Multiple practices per week, and the accumulation of small damage inflicted upon one's shinai, result in constant shinai repair and replacement. There is also the practical problem of how many shinai one can keep and carry at one time. The Bio shinai is a good alternative with its durability and long life. No need to carry several shinai to every practice, or keep a stock at home, a stock that is constantly drying out.

Based on your inquiry, I will provide a more extensive explanation about the shinai in our online-store.

In any case, thank you for your interest, and comment about this item. In the coming days we will be introducing a "koto" or 'old sword' version of the Bio shinai, a straight-bodied shinai in the fashion of the earliest bamboo shinai used in kendo.

Kind regards,

mkomoto

For, Chiba Budougu, Ltd.
www.chibabogu.com
info@chibabogu.com



Thanks for the reply!

[Himura. Kenshin]

jasmine, u getting the bio shinai then ?

let us know how it is when u get it :)

I'm new to Kendo too ! been playing for 2 months now.

[jasmine]

jasmine, u getting the bio shinai then ?

let us know how it is when u get it :)

I'm new to Kendo too ! been playing for 2 months now.


OH,sorry.I haven't bought the bio shinai.I feel it's a little expensive to me.
Well,I think the bio shinai must be a good shinai.I havent found someone who use this kind of shinai in my dojo.So I hope kendoka who use bio shinai give us his feeling...

[hyuna]

The Bio shinai is still, a bamboo shinai, therefore, it is not indestructible; however, for most kenshi, it will last longer than an untreated shinai, and for the advance expert with good technique, the Bio shinai will last a long time.
I am interested in what kind of maintenance the bio shinai requires. With bamboo shinai we must oil, inspect, shave splinters, and so forth. Does bio shinai splinter and crack the same way as untreated bamboo? Does it require any care that is different from bamboo shinai?

Also, in what way does it tend to fail when it breaks? Will a take just snap in half or will it shatter?

I find the idea of the bio shinai very interesting and am very curious about how it feels and holds up in class.

[jasmine]

I am interested in what kind of maintenance the bio shinai requires. With bamboo shinai we must oil, inspect, shave splinters, and so forth. Does bio shinai splinter and crack the same way as untreated bamboo? Does it require any care that is different from bamboo shinai?

Also, in what way does it tend to fail when it breaks? Will a take just snap in half or will it shatter?

I find the idea of the bio shinai very interesting and am very curious about how it feels and holds up in class.


I dont think you need take much care of bio shinai,because it is bio shinai.

[Himura. Kenshin]

I am a materials engineer, from my knowledge, I believe that the bioshinai has a matrix of resin within the structure of the bamboo which gives it strength.

I do not think it'll break as easily as normal bamboo, maybe similar in durability to carbon with the pro of being more flexible ! due to resin !

i believe little care is needed as Jasmine has said. It is basically a resin reinforced bamboo and would probably be VERY strong !

[nalogg]

When i first heard the term "bio" shinai, i thought of 2 things...

1) a biodegradable shinai (which bamboo already are.. but maybe they meant the tsuba and strings and handle covering)

2) a shinai made of BONE or something... for some reason i'm picturing an HR geiger shinai of some sort.

before you all go and flame me i saw and understand what a real bio shinai is
frankly i'd rather just buy a cheapo shinai that i can replace anytime... after all i'd throw it away long before it splinters over somebody's head.

[hyuna]

Hmmmm. Ok, maybe I will have to be more direct.....

I am concerned about the safety of bio shinai. It is not that I believe them to be unsafe, I just assume they are "differently" safe. For example, the little rubber stopper (sakigomu) in a carbon shinai is different because there are different safety issues, right? The point is not that one is safer or not, it is just that there are differences.

Along those lines, I am interested in the failure modes of the take. Of course it has been said many times that the take are "strong" but there are many kinds of "strong" -- tensile, ductile, etc. What does "strong" mean when it comes to these take? I am not a materials enginner so I do not really understand what "resin matrix" means in terms of strength. What I do know is that there are some materials that are "strong" but will shatter into bits when they fail. For those without eye protection, that is a very bad thing. Of course dry bamboo shinai can be dangerous in the same way if it sprays splinters into someone's face. The point is that a take that snaps cleanly is safer than one that shatters. But, if it snaps cleanly, it is essential that the fragments stay in place or else someone could be impaled, so it is more important to make sure the nakaue is tied properly. Do you see what I am getting at?

Also, there is the question of wear. How does one know if it is wearing out and coming close to the time it will break? Obviously it is better for everyone if we can ignore the question of failure modes and replace things before they break. But if the shinai shows few dents or fraying or microfractures, how will one know when to replace the take? It is difficult to tell by visual inspection of a graphite shinai, and I, personally, feel that is a problem and potential danger with them. But even the leather parts and the tsuru of a shinai need reguar maintenance in this sense -- they need to be checked regularly for wear, along with proper positioning and tension.

Also, there are maintenance steps that people take to prolong the life of their shinai. For example, many people round the sharp edges of the take on new bamboo shinai. Do you do this on a bio shinai? Do you just shave down the corners and edges the same way, first with a knife, then sandpaper, then oil? Maybe oil or wax on the edges is bad for the bio shinai? Maybe it is bad to shave the take on the bio shinai. I don't see why any of these things would be true, but I don't know... Obviously, we do not shave carbon shinai.

I am sure that bio shinai require less maintenance, but parts that are suffering impacts on a regular basis certainly still must require some maintenance.

I probably worry too much. These are probably things that the manufacturer thought of. I am sure that the manufacturer and distributers are honest and ethical people who would not knowingly distribute an unsafe product. However, it is my responsibility (as it is everyone's at practice), to make sure practice is safe, so I would still like to know the answers.

[Himura. Kenshin]

well, I have not seen the actual bio shinai, but from what I'm read and as a materials engineer, all I can tell you in response to your answer would be:

1) Resin matrix = the flexibility/ductility of the bamboo reinforced by the strength and hardness of the resin - basically plastic -

2) This means that the flexibility of the actual material will be slightly less than that of the natural bamboo but this also means the shinai is less easy to break apart due to the resin holding it all in.

3) The mode of failure would probably be a snap without splinter. Should not be a sudden snap and bits should not be flying off since it'll all be held on by the resin !

4) as for its maintenance , I'm only a beginner in Kendo so I don't even have my own shinai. But I'll assume that very little filing and maintenance is needed if any. The Resin will form a surface layer on the surface of the inner shinai which should require little if any, sanding.

I hope that has answered your question ! Basically its a very strong shinai which would proabbly not have any sudden break, its like breaking a wire ! it'll end up just bent rather than breaking !

[kanyil]

Has anyone used a bio-shina yet? I would be interested to hear how it handles in practice and how it is in terms of balance.

Given that it's infused with resin, it's probably likely that the bio-shina would be a bit heavier than comparable normal shinais.

[streetcleaner]

why do you all so curiuous about this shiani? it is a just high end 100$ shinai by a reputable maker, so of course it is good as any other hi end shinais

[ratdeau]

Has anyone used a bio-shina yet? I would be interested to hear how it handles in practice and how it is in terms of balance.

Given that it's infused with resin, it's probably likely that the bio-shina would be a bit heavier than comparable normal shinais.I own a Koto style bio shinai. The balance is good, and it's not heavier than my others shinai. I'm still testing it but the feeling is more like a very well oiled shinai than a reinforced shinai.

[steliosk]

I own a Koto style bio shinai. The balance is good, and it's not heavier than my others shinai. I'm still testing it but the feeling is more like a very well oiled shinai than a reinforced shinai.
I know this is an old post, but how has the bio shinai fared so far?
Is the tsuka thicker than typical shinai?

[Ralutin]

Hi,

I've been using Eguchi's BAIO (bio) shinai for a few months now for regular practice (2-4 nights a week) and just bought a another one. A couple of thoughts/observations:

1) It's more expensive (+$15 to +$25 USD) than their standard shinai.

2) Seems a bit more rigid than a standard shinai, but flexes much better than a carbon one. Overall feel is the same as standard shinai and the tsuka doesn't feel thicker than standard shinai, although I'm sure Eguchi can provide ones with thicker tsuka.

3) After the first sanding and oiling, it took longer for splinters to appear, i.e. a few weeks more than the standard shinai would under the same conditions. Obviously, the BAIO is not splinter-proof nor indestructable, but will last longer than standard shinai.

Overall, I think Eguchi's BAIO shinai is a good buy, especially if they're on sale or if you'll just be using it just for tournaments or shiai geiko. Don't waste it on regular kihon.

Just my two cents and your mileage may vary...

[Nicker100]

Just to add some thoughts around the BIO shinai :-) I purchased one last December and have been using it 3-4 times a week in summer for a month. It hasnt even looked like splintering! Usually by now I would have sanded and re-oiled at least twice. BIO shinai might be a little bit more expensive but if you are training in hot dry climates it really seems to be worth it!

[ratdeau]

I've recived my bio shinai in december and I didn't need to sand it or oil it because the take had no sharp edges and were already oiled.
After one month of use (and some really rough fights), I can see small maks where I hit the central bar of the mengane, but nothing serious.
I also bought dobari bio shinai for competition and the balance is good.
I'm really pleased with these shinai and with chibabogu.

[jasmine]

Just to add some thoughts around the BIO shinai :-) I purchased one last December and have been using it 3-4 times a week in summer for a month. It hasnt even looked like splintering! Usually by now I would have sanded and re-oiled at least twice. BIO shinai might be a little bit more expensive but if you are training in hot dry climates it really seems to be worth it!

nice.I use bio shinai now.It pretty good and beautiful too. :rolleyes:

[steliosk]

I've recived my bio shinai in december and I didn't need to sand it or oil it because the take had no sharp edges and were already oiled.
After one month of use (and some really rough fights), I can see small maks where I hit the central bar of the mengane, but nothing serious.
I also bought dobari bio shinai for competition and the balance is good.
I'm really pleased with these shinai and with chibabogu.
Is the tsuka thicker than the typical practrice shinai?

[jasmine]

Is the tsuka thicker than the typical practrice shinai?


I think so.because it's easy to put the tsukagawa on its tsuka.The bio shinai is smoked and less water.so it shrink ,hehe...

[ratdeau]

Is the tsuka thicker than the typical practrice shinai?No noticeable difference for me.