Shinai - Care of Shinai

Care of Shinai

A shinai must be properly taken care of or it can pose a danger to both the user and the people around it. Shinai should be inspected for splinters and breaks before and after use, and maintained in a manner considered most appropriate by one's style, dōjō, or sensei.

Many people believe that oiling and sanding a shinai prior to its first use, and then periodically during use, can greatly extend its life. However, some disagreement exists on what is considered proper shinai care.

To properly inspect a shinai, one first examines the area around the datotsu-bu, inspecting all sides of the shinai for splinters. This is very important, as bamboo splinters can easily cause injury. The saki-gawa should be intact and the tsuru should be tight so that the saki-gawa does not slip off the end of the shinai during use. In addition, the nakayui should be tight enough as not to rotate easily.

When not in use, shinai used in kendo practice, should be either laid on the floor, or leant vertically against a wall, with the (kashira) base of the (tsuka) handle on the floor and the (kissaki) tip leaning against the wall. This is because in kendo, the shinai is treated as a substitute for a real sword and should be treated as if real.

When a shinai is placed on the floor, it is considered very poor etiquette to step over it.