Shinai Maintenance

**meow** · 19th February 2004, 06:00 AM

Hi,

I have two newbie-shinai-questions:

1. I bought a shinai from a local weapon store. The bamboo splits (take?) do not connect - there is about 1 mm space between them. Is this a sign that the shinai is dried out? (I already disassebmled it and oiled it and put it together again) Is it better not to use this shinai in class (when hitting) due to safety reasons?

2. After disassembling and reassembling the shinai, the tsuru is a bit slackly/loose. Should the tsuru be exchanged when reassembling the shinai? (I have two spare tsuru and nakayui) How often can the same tsuru be used again, when disassembling and reassembling a shinai?

greetings

meow

**souljah** · 20th February 2004, 12:24 AM

A small gap between the bamboo staves is ok.

You should be able to tighten up the tsuru.

**Eldritch Knight** · 20th February 2004, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by meow

Hi,

I have two newbie-shinai-questions:

1. I bought a shinai from a local weapon store. The bamboo splits (take?) do not connect - there is about 1 mm space between them. Is this a sign that the shinai is dried out? (I already disassebmled it and oiled it and put it together again) Is it better not to use this shinai in class (when hitting) due to safety reasons?

2. After disassembling and reassembling the shinai, the tsuru is a bit slackly/loose. Should the tsuru be exchanged when reassembling the shinai? (I have two spare tsuru and nakayui) How often can the same tsuru be used again, when disassembling and reassembling a shinai?

greetings

meow

Souljah covered it well. The gap is there so that the shinai compresses in on itself instead of taking the full force of the blow and breaking. As long as its not so wide that another shinai could go between the gaps (with a bit of force), it should be fine. The tsuru should last at least as long as your tsukagawa - they're fairly durable. Just pull it tight when reassembling the shinai. It should be about as tight as a guitar string, and should make a lovely sound when you pluck it (that's when you know its tight enough).

**Hai_hai** · 20th February 2004, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by meow

... I have two newbie-shinai-questions:...

If you plan on starting kendo, let an experienced kendoka look over your shinai before you use it.

**meow** · 20th February 2004, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by Eldritch Knight

Souljah covered it well. The gap is there so that the shinai compresses in on itself instead of taking the full force of the blow and breaking. As long as its not so wide that another shinai could go between the gaps (with a bit of force), it should be fine. The tsuru should last at least as long as your tsukagawa - they're fairly durable. Just pull it tight when reassembling the shinai. It should be about as tight as a guitar string, and should make a lovely sound when you pluck it (that's when you know its tight enough).

Ok, I will retie the tsuru during the weekend. (I think I will disassemble and reassemble the shinai a few times, to get a little practice. I must also learn to tie the nakayui.) I think, this is a good exercise in keeping calm and patient. ;-) ("Don´t throw that *&%$§# Shinai out of the window!!!")

Maybe I will make this shinai my "practice how to maintain a shinai"-shinai.