Shinai

For other uses, seeShinai (disambiguation).

Ashinai(Trúc đao)is a Japaneseswordtypically made ofbambooused for practice and competition inkendō.Shinaiare also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently fromkendō shinai,and represented with differentcharacters.The light, soft wood used in ashinaidistinguishes it from other wooden swords such as abokuto ( mộc đao ),usually called a bokken ( mộc kiếm ) outside Japan, which is generally made of heavier, sturdier wood.

Ashinaimade ofbamboo

History

The earliest use of a bamboo weapon to train with instead of a sword is credited toKamiizumi Nobutsuna(1508–1572?) of theShinkage-ryū.The modernshinai,with four slats of bamboo, is generally credited to Nakanishi Chuzo Tsugutate (died 1801) ofNakanishi-ha Ittō-ryū.Theshinaiwas developed in an effort to reduce the number of practitioners being seriously injured during practice, making a practice weapon that was less dangerous thanbokutō(Mộc đao),the hard wooden swords they were previously using. This is also the motivation behind the development ofbōgu(Phòng cụ),the armour that protects thekendoka.

Due to its lighter weight compared to abokkenor a metalkatana,ashinaican be wielded in a fashion that allows quicker strikes than would be practicable with a heavier sword. This also makesshinaipopular in producing movies and television shows; a propshinaiwith a thin metal covering can look similar to a metal sword, while allowing cinematic, showy strikes that are nevertheless fairly safe to perform.

Etymology

The word "shinai"is derived from the verbshinau(Cào う),meaning "to bend, to flex", and was originally short forshinai-take(flexible bamboo).Shinaiis written with thekanjiTrúc đao,meaning "bamboo sword", and is anirregular kanji reading.

Inkendo,it is most common to use a singleshinai,sometimes calledittō( một đao ) style. Somekendōkachoose to use twoshinai.Thiskendōstyle is usually calledni-tō(Nhị đao),a style that has its roots in the two-sword schools of swordsmanship such asHyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.Ani-tōcombatant uses a longshinaicalled thedaitō(Đại đao),which is usually held in the right hand, and a shortershinai,called theshōtō(Tiểu đao),which is usually held in the left hand. The holding position can be switched, however, with the daitō in the left hand and the shōtō in the right. Thedaitōis shorter and lighter than ashinaiused in theittōstyle ofkendō.Specifications forshinaiused inkendōcompetitions that follow theInternational Kendo Federation(FIK) rules are below.

Construction

The shinai components

Sizes and style ofshinaivary. For example, an adult may be able to use ashinaithat is too heavy for a younger person, soshinaiwith different sizes and characteristics are made.Shinaiare available in many styles and balances. Ashinaishould not be confused with abokutō,which has a much more similar shape and length to a Japanese sword and is made from a single piece of wood. However, bothshinaiandbokkenare used inkendo.

The slats of ashinaiare usually made from driedbamboo.Some may also be treated by smoking them, or soaking them inresin.Shinaislats are also made ofcarbon fibre,reinforced resin, or other approved alternative materials.

Theshinaicomprises four slats known astake(Trúc),which are held together by threeleatherfittings: a hilt (tsuka), or handle wrapping (tsuka-gawa(Bính da)); a fitting at the tip (saki-gawa(Trước da)) and a leather strip (naka-yui(Trung kết)) that binds the four slats. The parts are all secured with a string (tsuru(Huyền)).

Thenakayuiis tied about one-third of the length of the exposed bamboo from the tip. This holds the slats together and also marks the properkendostriking portion of theshinai,ordatotsu-bu(Đánh đột bộ).

Inserted between the ends of the slats, under thesaki-gawa,is aplasticplugsaki-gomu(Trước ゴム),and under thetsuka-gawathere is a small square of metalchigiri(ちぎり),that holds the slats in place.

A hand-guardtsuba(Ngạc)is then fitted on thetsuka-gawabefore it ends and the bamboo slats show. This is held in place by a rubber ringtsuba-dome(Ngạc ngăn め).

Safety

Theshinaiis useful as a practice sword to simulate the weight and feel of a katana orbokkenwithout injuring the user or the target. Upon impact the bundled slats dissipate the force of the strike by fle xing /bending along the length of the blade, and expanding slightly, along its cross-sectional area (stress = force/unit area). As a result of this lack of rigidity, along with the relative innocuous nature of bamboo vs razor-sharp steel, the impacted area is less damaged and may experience only bruising, rather than life-threatening deep cuts or puncture wounds, even with strong and forceful strikes.

Proper care

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

Many people believethat oiling and sanding ashinaiprior to its first use, and then periodically during use, can greatly extend its life. However, some disagreement exists on what is considered propershinaicare.

To properly inspect ashinai,one first examines the area around thedatotsu-bu,inspecting all sides of theshinaifor splinters. This is very important, as bamboo splinters can easily cause injury. Thesaki-gawashould be intact and thetsurushould be tight so that thesaki-gawadoes not slip off the end of theshinaiduring use. In addition, thenakayuishould be tight enough as not to rotate easily.

When not in use,shinaiused inkendopractice should be either laid on the floor or leaned vertically against a wall. Some instructors require the base (kashira) of the handle (tsuka) on the floor and the tip (kissaki) leaning against the wall. In kendo, theshinaiis treated in the same way as aedged or bladed weapon,like an actual metal sword, and competitors are trained to think of it as a dangerous instrument if misused.

When ashinaiis placed on the floor, it is considered poor etiquette to step over it.

Regulations

Inkendocompetitions that follow the FIK rules, there are regulated weights and lengths for the use ofshinai.

Table A. FIK Specifications for competition use of one Shinai (Itto).

Specification	Gender	Junior High School (12–15 yrs)	Senior High School (15–18 yrs)	University students and Adults (18 yrs+)
Maximum length	Male & Female	114 cm (45 in)	117 cm (46 in)	120 cm (47 in)
Minimum weight	Male	440 g (16 oz)	480 g (17 oz)	510 g (18 oz)
	Female	400 g (14 oz)	420 g (15 oz)	440 g (16 oz)
Minimum diameter of sakigawa	Male	25 mm (0.98 in)	26 mm (1.0 in)	26 mm (1.0 in)
	Female	24 mm (0.94 in)	25 mm (0.98 in)	25 mm (0.98 in)
Minimum length of sakigawa	Male & Female	50 mm (2.0 in)	50 mm (2.0 in)	50 mm (2.0 in)

Shinaiare weighed complete with leather fittings, but withouttsubaortsuba-dome.The full length is measured. Maximum diameter of thetsubais 9cm.

Table B. FIK Specifications for competition use of two Shinai (Nito).

Specification	Gender	Daito (long shinai)	Shoto (short shinai)
Maximum length	Male & female	114 cm (45 in)	62 cm (24 in)
Weight	Male	440 g (16 oz) minimum	280–300 g (9.9–10.6 oz) maximum
	Female	400 g (14 oz) minimum	250–280 g (8.8–9.9 oz) maximum
Minimum diameter of sakigawa	Male	25 mm (0.98 in)	24 mm (0.94 in)
	Female	24 mm (0.94 in)	24 mm (0.94 in)

Shinaiare weighed complete with leather fittings, but withouttsubaortsuba-dome.The full length is measured. Maximum diameter of thetsubais 9cm.

Commercial Shinai Sizing

Size	Length			Size	Length
28	36 in	92 cm		36	44 in	112 cm
30	38 in	97 cm		37	45 in	114 cm
32	40 in	102 cm		38	46 in	117 cm
34	42 in	107 cm		39	47 in	120 cm

Fukuro-shinai

The ancestor of the modern kendoshinaiis thefukuro-shinai(Túi trúc đao),which is still in use inkoryūkenjutsu.This is a length of bamboo, split multiple times on one end, and covered by a leather sleeve. This explains the namefukuro,which means bag, sack or pouch. Sometimes the older and rarer kanji tō ( thao ) is used, but has the same meaning as fukuro.

Some schools cover the entire bamboo in the sleeve and add atsuba,likeKashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryūdoes. InShinkage-ryū,the sleeve islacqueredKamakura Red, and rather than covering the entire length, is tied off at the non-split end. This particular kind offukuro-shinaiis also called ahikihada(Mạc cơ),or toad-skinshinai.The name comes from how the leather looks after lacquering; the sleeves are actually made of cow or horse-hide.

Other uses

Johnny Devine(left) uses a kendo stick on Buck Gunderson during a match.

Shinaiare commonly used as aweaponinprofessional wrestling,where they are often referred to askendo sticksorSingapore canes.Wrestlers are typically struck across the back, stomach, legs and arms, though some are struck in the head or face, sometimes depending upon the wrestling promotion where the match is taking place.

See also

• Waster

External links

• Media related toKendo shinaiat Wikimedia Commons