Light shinai better for shiai ??

[rainmaker]

What do you prefer ?? Do you think light shinai is better at the shiai ?? I have bought a $60 shinai is from e-bogu which is very good quality but heavier than other cheaper shinai. But I found light shinai is easier to control during geiko and practice. What do you think ??

[Nameless]

It's all based on personal preference. As long as the weight is not below the minimum regulation weight, it should be fine. I personally like my koto style bio-shinai over any of the others I've tried.

[Nameless]

You may want to use a heavier shinai during practice and switch to a light one during competition. I have a friend that practices with 700g and competes with 510g.

[vyung]

I do everyday training with a heavier shinai. I only use my beloved lighter shinai for competition use. Using the lighter shinai in shiai makes my swings so much quicker.

The only minor concern is that the cut with the lighter shinai doesn't carry as much momentum as the the heavier shinai in the swing. So I really have to get a snappy cut to make the same BAMM sound as using a heavier shinai.

[Nameless]

Getting the loud CRACK of a shinai is all it the wrists. When properly executed it shouldn't matter what weight or style shinai you use. Just be sure to keep your wrists in line with the tsuru and squeeze with your right hand on impact. It will crack like a whip.

[Lloromannic]

While I have limited experience in Shiai (and even less in the winning side of it) I find that, rather than lighter shinai the difference is in the balance of it. Most Shiai shinai are dobari type. In a shiai everyone will be using shinai of pretty much the same weight.

[Miravil]

Lighter shinai used for shiai has good and bad. The good part is where you will be able to handle it easier in terms of moving and swinging it and you may feel that it is faster. But do bare in mind that your muscles may not get used to it and the end result of the hit may not be accurate or firm. Maybe practicing with the lighter shinai once a while (or before shiai) so your muscle can adapt to it.

Since I'm already posting here, here's a question. Does lighter shinai break easier than normal practice shinai? Mine seems to break faster. Thanks.

[Lloromannic]

Since I'm already posting here, here's a question. Does lighter shinai break easier than normal practice shinai? Mine seems to break faster. Thanks.

I guess that they use thinner and less bamboo, so yes. Mine do break easier too.

[Miravil]

It hurts my pocket when they break as they cost more than the normal shinai.

[rainmaker]

I guess both lighter or heavier shinai breaks when you using too much right hand. If you break too often, you might wonder about this. Ask your sensei if you are using too much right hand. sometimes, lighter shinai can last longer. I am saying this because I used to break $60 shinai after one or two months, even though they are really high end quality with nice bamboo.. My sensei pointed out that I was using my right hand too much....




It hurts my pocket when they break as they cost more than the normal shinai.

[Nameless]

Your shinai shouldn't break so long as you take good care of it. (i.e: oil and sand it)

It should bend but not break. If you are breaking shinai often, you are probably letting the bamboo get too dry or hitting too hard or both.

[Miravil]

I guess both lighter or heavier shinai breaks when you using too much right hand. If you break too often, you might wonder about this. Ask your sensei if you are using too much right hand. sometimes, lighter shinai can last longer. I am saying this because I used to break $60 shinai after one or two months, even though they are really high end quality with nice bamboo.. My sensei pointed out that I was using my right hand too much....

Woaw...! $60 shinai! The highest price light shinai that I ever bought is around $30 (after conversion). My shinai do last me around 3 to 6 months, but that is short time period for me. Yeah, sometimes I use too much right hand, especially when I get too excited in keiko. :p

[Nakaleen]

I perfer heavier ones for shai's. Makes my kote cuts faster for some resaon, maybe it is the balance. But during normal training I use a Carbon fiber which is lighter, mainly so I don't to through too many shinai's hehehe.

[Nameless]

Woaw...! $60 shinai! The highest price light shinai that I ever bought is around $30 (after conversion). My shinai do last me around 3 to 6 months, but that is short time period for me. Yeah, sometimes I use too much right hand, especially when I get too excited in keiko. :p


What about carbon? They usually run about $250

[Paburo]

Light shinai better for shiai ?? light saber better for shiai :D

competition shinai MUST have a minimum weight. so like 99% of the people who will go into shiai and are willing to win will try to be just on weight and not too much above. it's about common sense...

[dotnet]

You may want to use a heavier shinai during practice and switch to a light one during competition. I have a friend that practices with 700g and competes with 510g.

I haven't tried a 700g shinai. I presume for suburi a heavier shinai is a good idea. I am not sure about keiko. Does the switch from heavy to light cause any problems with your friends ki-ken-tai-ichi ?

Cheers,
dotnet

[Hai_hai]

What do you prefer ?? Do you think light shinai is better at the shiai ?? I have bought a $60 shinai is from e-bogu which is very good quality but heavier than other cheaper shinai. But I found light shinai is easier to control during geiko and practice. What do you think ??
Because I am super strong, I cannot use a light shinai because if I lose grip, it gets sent off into outer space... possibly knocking a satellite off course or something.

[Musashisson]

I find it strange that some of you menton "too much right hand". I was taught to use no right hand at all and bring the shinai down with left only, using the right ONLY as a guide to the target. Using the right hand when cutting a target with Shinken will send it flying like a baseball. Instead of drawing the blade through the target as if it wasn't even there with the left hand.
'

[tantadi]

The only minor concern is that the cut with the lighter shinai doesn't carry as much momentum as the the heavier shinai in the swing. So I really have to get a snappy cut to make the same BAMM sound as using a heavier shinai.

I agree with that. I like to use the lighter dobari lady shinai from time to time, because then I really have to use the wrist to get a snappy cut. Which is good for me because I tend to use too little wrist.

I also have to work the kamae more with the lightweight, because the tip is easier to move out of the way.

Generally I think balance is more important than weight, I tried a really fat, expensive shinai that weighed 200 g more than mine, and it felt light.