who uses a 38 shinai?

[Alison2805]

Ive been advised by several people to change from using a 39 (regulation size) shinai to a 38 girls one. I find with the 39 that when I extend my arms for a men cut, my left elbow is still bent - my palms are too far apart. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if using a smaller shinai helped, or did it cause you to be disadvantaged because it shortened your reach?

[tantadi]

The 38 has a shorther tsukagawa (handle leather) so that you can not grip that wide. But what is right for you, depends on your size and strength. Ask your sensei. (And get a ladies 38, much better than standard 38)

For women the male 39 usually is too heavy. If you want a 39 to keep the reach, get a ladies 39.

The bendy left elbow: Let the power come from the left arm. If it comes from the right, the left elbow is more inclined to bend.

[andrew_kumdo]

Ive been advised by several people to change from using a 39 (regulation size) shinai to a 38 girls one. I find with the 39 that when I extend my arms for a men cut, my left elbow is still bent - my palms are too far apart. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if using a smaller shinai helped, or did it cause you to be disadvantaged because it shortened your reach?

hmm now that i think about it i believe when i make a strike my left elbow is still bent..(i use 38 btw) maybe its cause im short? 5'5 anyways tell a sensie or something i really cant give u any advice

[tantadi]

Your elbow doesn't bend because you are short!..it bends (too much) because your grip is too wide (or just plain incorrect like holding a club) and/or you are using too much right hand.

[fighting mochi]

one of our kendoist is about 5' 1" and he uses a 39 shinai. he also had a problem with holding the shinai properly until we had him change his tsukagawa to 38.

[fighting mochi]

he still uses a 39 shinai, the weight distribution is slightly changed because of the shorter tsukagawa.

[tantadi]

Sure she can buy a shorther tsukgawa or shorten it, but if she is using a 39 for men it still will be too much for most women..in fact it will feel even more difficult since she will move her right hand back and change the balance point of the shinai more forward.

[h2o]

my left elbow is still bent

Depending on the grade of "bentiness" (yay, english is not my first language ) that wouldn't be an error. My left elbow is also bent during a men cut, and I believe it should be so. The important thing is that the right arm is extended (without being overextended==locking elbows, ofcourse, since that would damage your elbowjoint).

[Newbie]

I didn't know there were "men's" and "women's" shinai! I feel so ignorant. I just use a standard 39. Not that I'm gonna change but what's the difference between mens and womens shinai?

[mingshi]

I didn't know there were "men's" and "women's" shinai! I feel so ignorant. I just use a standard 39. Not that I'm gonna change but what's the difference between mens and womens shinai?

It's not reaaaally about "men's" and "women's"... But more about the IKF standard... You'll see guys using 38, mainly because they are high school students, etc.

I've a female kohai holding a heavy 38 (480 grams) - okay for a high school boy, but 40gram overweight for a grown-up female.

... And then I have one of my 38 shinai on a 37 tsukagawa... It was 437grams - going 3 grams underweight...

I might need to invest on a eletronic balance later on...

[Ignatz]

For elbow, when you practice imagine that the tsukagawa is a wet washrag and at the moment of contact you re trying to wring the water out of it (right hat turns left and left hand turns right) Once it is ingrained into muscle memory you will do it all of the time and your left elbow will be straight.

For mens/womens shinai, I don't think there is any "overweight. The weights given are minimum. You won't be in trouble with shinai being overweight, except for maybe being slow, but if it is underweight you will not be allowed to use it in competition.

[Lloromannic]

I'd also like to point ot that many people (in my experience) forget that they don't need to put the right hand right next to the tsuba but they can move it up and down.
I have both 38 and 39 tsukagawa on different 39 shinai, generally, even with the 39 I grip it the same way as with the 38.

[h2o]

I'd also like to point ot that many people (in my experience) forget that they don't need to put the right hand right next to the tsuba but they can move it up and down.

Hmm, is that really ok? I've had the impression that if you need to do that, your shinai is the wrong size. But I can't remember actually having gotten specific instructions about it.

[tantadi]

I've gotten specific instructions to keep the right hand pretty close to the tsuba at all time, or shorten the tsukagawa. Sometimes you can cheat to get greater reach, but it is not quite "right".

[Neil Gendzwill]

Depending on the grade of "bentiness" (yay, english is not my first language ) that wouldn't be an error. My left elbow is also bent during a men cut, and I believe it should be so. The important thing is that the right arm is extended (without being overextended==locking elbows, ofcourse, since that would damage your elbowjoint).

The important thing is that both arms are straight. A bent left arm is a sign of a right-handed cut. You're going to have some problems with slipping off the target, making the cut sharp and also not making the most of your distance, among other things, if you continue with this bad habit.

If you make sure the left is straight, the right will follow. One good check is to make sure that at extension, there is a gap between your left fist and your right forearm. If they are touching or if there is only a little gap, your left arm is probably bent. If this is a consistent problem for someone, it is a showstopper for even being allowed in bogu in our dojo.

Allison, I suggest you listen to your sensei and use a 38. But don't let the tsuka length dictate your grip width - you need to use the width that is correct for you. If that's a little tighter than with your right hand up against the tsuba, that's just fine.