countries. It is sometimes possible to tell the source of bamboo by the number of ridges on the shinai as cold climate bamboo grows slower.
Unfortunately there is no guarantee that an expensive shinai will last longer than a cheap one.
If, on the other hand, you need a long lasting shinai, you can always purchase a carbon fiber version. These are comparatively expensive but seldom break or go out of shape. The potential disadvantages are that they are less flexible and responsive than bamboo.
Shinai Maintenance
Shinai should be regularly examined for splinters and sanded if they appear. You should also check the inside of the take for cracks and splits. If a take is damaged it should be replaced. For this reason many people buy shinai in pairs of the same size and configuration so that they can marry the take. In my experience though, these “Frankenshinai” seldom last long.
There are a variety of views on oiling and waxing shinai to prolong their life. I believe that it helps to keep the shinai for a few months before use, as this gives it time to adjust to the local humidity. As mentioned, you can buy shinai with or without the leather fittings. There are pros and cons to buying them with or without. If you buy with fittings, a professional shinai maker or bogu shop will use a machine to ensure a good fit for the tsukagawa. Buying the bamboo only, allows you to examine the shinai for uniformity of thickness. If you buy the bamboo and parts separately or take the shinai apart to make repairs, here is what you need to do to tie or retie the parts.
Tying the Sakigawa
Pull the tsuru through the left hole and loop over the top of the sakigawa passing through the right hole.
Make a loop with the long part of the Tsuru.
Pull the other end through the loop then over and under the descending string
Take back though the loop and pull tight.
Tying the Nakayui
It should be tied one quarter of the total shinai length from the kisaki.
Loop nakayui over taut tsuru by pulling through the slot cut in the end. (In version 2 you can change the nakayui without untying the tsuru by pulling the end of the nakayui through the slot in the other end.)
Wind three times around the take and pull back under the last turn.
Take backwards and forwards in a figure of eight (2 or 3 times).
Secure by tucking under the top of the tied nakayui and cut off excess.
Tying the Tsukagawa (one of several ways depending on fitting)
Make a loop in the tsuru and pull through a second loop pulling tight.
Pass loose end through “v” of leather fitting on tsukagawa. Take back through loop in tsuru taking over and under straight part of leather fitting and pulling tight.
Take under tsuru, pull up to top of leather “v,” compressing it by winding string around and continue to do so, so that it is covered.
Pull end through taught tsuru and tie in a knot, cutting surplus string and pushing the end under the wound string.
Reigi
“Kendo begins and ends with rei.”
The above statement works on two levels; we begin and finish each practice with a bow and kendo is built on the ethos of respect and courtesy.
You will hear the term reigi continually throughout your kendo career, but to clarify terminology, reigi refers to the spirit of respect and courtesy and reiho or reigi saho, its physical expression. Reigi does not just apply to our behavior in the dojo, but should be part of our day to day interaction with others. I, like many other kendo students, was taught that washing the dojo floor and packing and carrying sensei’s equipment are an integral part of learning kendo.
In order to understand kendo etiquette, it is necessary to acknowledge two principles: first is the concept of sempai and kohai (senior and junior). Sempai is responsible for the safety and well being of kohai and kohai defers to sempai by sitting in a lower position in the dojo. The relationship is one of mutual respect that must be earned.
Second is the premise that the dojo itself is a sacred place. In the past, a dojo may have been attached to a daimyos’ castle or a religious shrine; in some cases they were extensions to the home of the head of the fencing school. In Japan, many of these traditional dojo still exist, although some have been replaced by halls in sports-centers or floors of high rise buildings. In all cases they retain the spirit and the trappings of a traditional dojo. Most have a small kamidana (Shinto shrine) and many have a taiko drum to signal the beginning and end of practice. For western kendoka, it is sometimes difficult to treat an unadorned school or civic hall with the same level of respect, but floors should be swept and ideally washed before each practice session.
Dojo layout
Dojo layout and the positions where people sit in the dojo can be quite complex. While kendo is practiced around the world in a variety of sports or civic halls, layout is based on traditional Japanese dojo rules where Kamiza faces south and is often located at the furthest point from the door. Members line up in level of seniority on the shimoza side, with the most senior students closest to joseki at the eastern end of the dojo. If there is more than one instructor present, they will also line up in the same pattern on the kamiza side or in some cases with the most senior person in the center and the next highest grade to his right and the next to his left and so on.
Dojo terminology too can be confusing, with some people avoiding the use of the word “kamiza” in the belief that it means god seat. In most cases the meaning is high seat, the same as the translation of joseki. Nevertheless you will often hear the high side of the dojo referred to as shomen or shinzen, both terms refer to “straight ahead.”
There are no rules for which grades sit on which side of the dojo. This depends on who teaches and the respective seniority of members and may change from session to session. For example, in my dojo individuals leading the adult practice change with those who taught the earlier children’s practice. Sometimes more senior students are placed in joseki. In the Shudokan dojo of Osaka Castle, 8th dan and above only sit in kamiza with 7th dan placed at the far end at a right angle.
Kendo grades
Like many other martial arts and martial sports, kendo uses a system of kyu and dan grades to measure progress. Kyu grades start at 6th kyu and count-down to 1st kyu. In the UK 6th to 2nd kyu are awarded by the students’ own dojo. 1st kyu is a national grade and examinations take place under the national federation.
Dan grades start at 1st dan and rise to 8th dan. Formerly kendo used a system of 1st to 10th dan which was then modified so that 9th dan became the highest grade awarded, subsequently the ceiling stopped at 8th dan. While under the current system 9th dan is no longer awarded, there are
