cleaning the handle

[Lazken]

after a couple of months of kendo, my shinai handle gets all dark and dirty.
Any tips on how to wash this? a friend of mine tried washing it by hand in the sink with warm water and washing powder, but it wast that effective, and the risk of it shrinking or losing its shape is too great, (I think)
so any tips on getting the piece of leather fresh white again? (and soft :p, my friends' got all rough after washing it)

[hamish]

Some kind of leather cleaner would be best, I guess. Ive never tried to clean one. How clean are your kote palms?

[Lazken]

I dont have bogu yet, they just got dirty from my dirty hands :)

[Neil Gendzwill]

If you have a good tsukagawa (handle leather), the oil and wear from your hands breaks it in so that it is better than new. I have a couple old ones that I just keep moving onto new bamboo, I only replace them when I have to. They're almost completely blue from my kote.

In short, don't wash it, you'll wreck it like your friend did. I wouldn't worry about it looking dirty.

[streetcleaner]

They're almost completely blue from my kote.
blue? why blue?

[Neil Gendzwill]

The indigo dye on the kote rubs off onto the tsukagawa.

[streetcleaner]

yeah, i can suppose this :) i just never see kote with indigo dyed kote palm. mine is brown deerskin, so my tsukagawa it nearly black and entirely not blue

[Lazken]

its a very dark grey ...
but I used a little brush and some water with washing product for leather(and some wash softener, just so it stays soft, and smells nice :p)

its not sparkly white, but it doesnt look as dark, and feels quite soft :D

[jasmine]

I agree with Neil.We needn't wash shinai handle.It's is made of leather.I think we never wash leather clothes in water :ko: ,so we shouldn't wet it ,either.
I prefer dark handle.hehe...

[Old Warrior]

I agree with Neil.We needn't wash shinai handle.It's is made of leather.I think we never wash leather clothes in water :ko: ,so we shouldn't wet it ,either.
I prefer dark handle.hehe...

For me, it's not a matter of looks. The tsuka picks up all the oils from your hand and becomes slippery. When you only hold the shinai in one hand, the slightest weakness in grip is significant as stopping the cut is the most difficult task. One thing I do is use a key to rough up the surface before each practice. It also scrapes off any surface grit.

[JSchmidt]

For me, it's not a matter of looks. The tsuka picks up all the oils from your hand and becomes slippery. When you only hold the shinai in one hand, the slightest weakness in grip is significant as stopping the cut is the most difficult task.

Never had that problem..my favourite tsukagawas (who have survived several shinais) are more or less completly slick. (and very very blue)

Jakob

[DCPan]

IMHO, just wash your hands before class.

If it is the slipperyness you are worried about, try one of the new micro-punched tsukagawa with adhension bumps....

FWIW.

[delphideo]

You know I have a question about that. I've noticed that all most everyone in my dojo have their tsukas died blue, but mine is an ugly blackish color. I don't know why, I clean my kote palms after every practice.

[crabbi]

For me, it's not a matter of looks. The tsuka picks up all the oils from your hand and becomes slippery. When you only hold the shinai in one hand, the slightest weakness in grip is significant as stopping the cut is the most difficult task. One thing I do is use a key to rough up the surface before each practice. It also scrapes off any surface grit.
Hi Old Warrior-San

I find this as well... I use a fine wire brush to bring the 'nap' back on the suede... works just fine...

cheers

[Vortex]

I honestly love the blue/black color ... Shows that it gets used. And when it gets used that means your also putting in the time to learn instead of just looking good on the dojo floor.... However I am told I look good in indigo blue so that works too... or something....