is there anythin u can use instead of a shinai that u might just find lying about the place that u can use in a smallish room. Im pretty lucky cos i live at a uni college with a couple of guys that do kendo too, and i can have a whack with my mates in an abandoned squash court, but it does gets tough trying to swing a shinai in a college dorm. Also, would swingin somethin that is about the same length but heavier than a shinai help or hinder your training efforts?