twisting tsuka

[taganahan]

i have a problem with my shinai. just bought it and everytime i use it, the tsuka(don't know if this is the leather handle) twists around. anyone have a similar problem? how did you solve it?

~taganahan

[hamish]

Try wetting it, it should shrink a bit.

[Kirin]

Tsuka gawa does stretch after several months.
Best way is use hot steam out of a kettle, this way you can moisture tsuka evenly. .. becareful dont wet tsuka too much :P

[Paburo]

also, having the tsuru well tensed and well knotted prevents the tsuka from twisting around.

[taganahan]

well, the shinai is still quite new. thanks for the help!

~taganahan

[mystic_kendoka]

do the above mentioned techniques work for a tsukagawa that slides down a bit,?(when receiving blows to the tsuba..)

[Halcyon]

i have a problem with my shinai. just bought it and everytime i use it, the tsuka(don't know if this is the leather handle) twists around. anyone have a similar problem? how did you solve it?

this also happened to me quite frequently a few years ago, but it stopped happening naturally. one of my sempai told me it sometimes happens as you adjust your grip to achieve proper tenouchi.

[mystic_kendoka]

ive been wanting to ask, wat is tenouchi?

[Halcyon]

ive been wanting to ask, wat is tenouchi?

tenouchi is the quick tightening of the grip at the moment that you strike the target. ideally, you want to keep your grip relaxed until that moment because any extra tension in your muscles will only slow you down. a nice tenouchi is critical in achieving that nice sharp hit without using bone-crushing force. also, when you use tenouchi, as opposed to the inertia of the shinai, you can stop the shinai within inches even when you miss the target.

[mystic_kendoka]

oh.. tht...

been straining my wrist muscles trying to do katate properly..

[William Orbase]

tenouchi is the quick tightening of the grip at the moment that you strike the target.

I think it is best described as "wringing a towel" at the moment you hit the target. It really helps if you find that your hit to the men is sliding off to the left or right.

[Haowen]

do the above mentioned techniques work for a tsukagawa that slides down a bit,?(when receiving blows to the tsuba..)

Maybe your tsuru is too loose?

[mystic_kendoka]

tsuru as tight as possible..the thing is, i have a tsuba with 2 tsuba domes, one normal, one stitched leather, so instead of the tsuba giving way, the whole tsuka moves...

[Kirin]

tsuru as tight as possible..the thing is, i have a tsuba with 2 tsuba domes, one normal, one stitched leather, so instead of the tsuba giving way, the whole tsuka moves...

Maybe you have wrong size tuska gawa.
You know there are diffrent sizes for tsuka(39 shinai has regular and large depending on fatness/circumference of tsuka)

...or try to use 38 tsuka-gawa if you are using 39 shinai. (37 if using 38)

...or if you really want to use current tsuka, wrap vynl tape around tsuaka then one layer of paper tape(where your right hand left hand) and then put tsuka-gawa.

also be careful about too tight tsuru. It can make hole in saki-gawa.
You dont want bare bamboo sticking out from tip of your shinai :P

[mystic_kendoka]

You dont want bare bamboo sticking out from tip of your shinai :P

i saw that happen once.. he thought the red plastic was blood or something..

i use a size 38 for a 38 shinai..
ill try the tape method
thnx