Iaito or shinken?

**Nukitsuke** · 4th October 2006, 05:55 PM

So, what's in your obi? Are you using a dull iaito, or an actual shinken for your regular iaido practices?

If it's a shinken, is it a "new" blade, or something older?

Just curious!
Brad

**Andy_Watson** · 4th October 2006, 06:11 PM

A new shinken. I wouldn't dare risk damaging an old blade with my clumsy fumblings and circus-tentpeg-hammering-in-cutting-technique-thingy.

Apart from that I sweat quite a lot and am sure there is a small compost heap of sword oil, sweat and saya shreddings down inside the saya gradually rotting my kissaki.

Maybe I should go back to a bokken. Or even a green balloon on a stick.

**rottunpunk** · 4th October 2006, 07:47 PM

i use my iaito until my shoulder aches too much, then go back to bokken.
buy me a shinken (and maybe some spare fingers-just incase) and i will use a shinken.

**Mr. T.** · 4th October 2006, 08:07 PM

Iaito all the way. I'm still way to clumsy (with my noto) to use a shinken.

At the moment I have 10 fingers and I intent on keeping it that way

**Lounge** · 4th October 2006, 08:37 PM

I use an iaito too, no where near ready for a shinken yet in my mind. In fact I'm looking to get a new iaito as my current (and still my precious first) is nearing retirement age!!! to many kyu grade errors of old have affected the saya and blade plus the fact that like Andy_Watson I sweat like Audley Harrison and the ito is becoming a dull gummy mess!!!

**Newbie** · 4th October 2006, 08:45 PM

Umm.. excuse me for my ignorance but I didn't think you were meant to/allowed to use a shinken till you were like fourth dan or something? Or is it to go for your fourth dan test? I did hear of one girl who was using a shinken a grade before she was meant to and took off one of her fingers.

**shred_lord** · 4th October 2006, 08:55 PM

You have to use a shinken for your grading for 4th(?) dan and above, but no rules state that you can't use one before (that I know of).

It is however common sense to leave it till later and dojo rules are free to stipulate this.

**rottunpunk** · 4th October 2006, 09:06 PM

theres plenty of kyu grades that get a semi-sharp, by mistake or whatever.
i bet that girl was a bit more careful not to loose any more fingers eh?
perhaps dependant upon the dojo, but i guess anyone who is competent enough to use a shinken before 4th dan and have the money for one, can use a shinken. after all what is a grade? (see other threads)
if i get to having to do a 4th dan grading, id want to have used my shinken long enough to be comfortable with it, especially when nerves are likely.

**kendokawannabe** · 4th October 2006, 09:22 PM

I am unfamiliar with any rule requireing the use of shinken myself

I was always under the impression that use of shinken was looked down upon before 3rd Dan. Regardless, I'm nowhere near ready for shinken yet

**I_am_Cthulhu** · 4th October 2006, 09:23 PM

70% of my time is now spent practicing with a shinken. It is a new one, as I couldn't find a Masamune blade on eBay...

Oh, and BKA rules state a shinken is required for rokudan.

**rottunpunk** · 4th October 2006, 09:29 PM

i thought you were kendoka not iaidoka.
so you do seite?

**I_am_Cthulhu** · 4th October 2006, 09:32 PM

No, I practice seitei

iai, MJER, and other sword arts... and you act much more dignified in person.

**kendokawannabe** · 4th October 2006, 09:34 PM

I try to be both, but I have more iaido experiance.
Yes I do seite. My koryu is MJER.

**Mr. T.** · 4th October 2006, 10:25 PM

You can use a shinken as soon you, but more inportant, your sensei thinks you ready. In my dojo it's after getting sandan. Last time I heard, you need to use a shinken from godan and up at gradings.

**Budo Angel** · 4th October 2006, 11:07 PM

You have to use a shinken for your grading for 4th(?) dan and above

In my dojo it's after getting sandan. Last time I heard, you need to use a shinken from godan and up at gradings.

We keep going round this old chestnut... yes we've heard for 4 dan you need shinken, but then people ARE taking 4 dan & passing, with an iaito. So hardly compulsory.

BKA rules state a shinken is required for rokudan

Interesting...stories of some panelists saying they fail those taking 4-5 dan if that individual isn't using a shinken abound.

But come on...good iai even with a lump of wood shines through...

Safety wise I think 3 dan above for shinken, its disconcerting to be in a shodan group which is mixed up with shinken & iaito...

From 3 dan, I was recommended to have shinken "in prep" amongst other things for the 4 dan...it wasn't the sole reason, for buying one, but one reason on the list.