Shinai Specifications
Shinai Weights and Dimensions
Weights:
All the shinai we offer are crafted to be in accordance with the rules of the International Kendo Federation with regard to minimum weights, and maximum lenghts; however, some shinai, such as the premium Naomitsu hand-made shinai, and the "Bio" treated shinai vary a bit more, from normal to the heavier side by + 10 or 20 grams, than machine cut and finished shinai.
* NOTE: Shinai weight may diminish slightly due to dry conditions during shipment or storage upon receipt. Chiba Budougu checks all shinai for regulations weight upon dispatch, and cannot be held liable for shinai drying/weight change following delivery. We recommend storing shinai in high-humidty areas, or by resealing shinai in their plastic shipping bags along with a 5 cm x 5 cm piece of lettuce (to provide for moisture) in cases where a suitable moist environment is not available.
In general, adult shinai weights are as follow:
Men's 39 510 grams without tsuba, maxium length 120 cm
Women's 39 440 grams without tsuba, maximum length 120 cm
(Women's 38 follow the 440 gm minimum weight, but are 117 cm long.)
Dimensions:
At the advice of our friends, we realized we should include dimensions of the shinai diameter so you could have a better idea of the proportions of the shinai.
I list the raw measurements (without leather parts, bare bamboo) here in millimeters, the order of*:
Kensen (tip) - Fattest Portion Mid-Section - Base of the tsuka (handle)
Chibu Men's 39: 22 - 42 - 25
Chibu Men's 38: 22 - 42 - 23
Chibu Women's 38: 21 - 38 - 23
Chibu 37: 22 - 40 - 23
Kunimitsu Men's 39: 22 - 45 - 25
Kunimitsu Men's 38: 22 - 45 - 25
Bio-Dobari Men's 39: 22 - 46 - 26
Bio-Koto Men's 39: 25 - 42 - 26
Naomitsu Hand-made Men's 39: (22-25) - (44-46) - 25
* A random sampling of a number of shinai we have on hand in our store now. Typical; however, the shinai you may receive may differ slightly.
Measure: Shaku/Sun
Shaku-Sun System
The old Japanese system of measurement was based on the “Shaku” and “Sun” (pronounced like “soon.”) All manner of objects were measured with this system, including swords, kendo armor and shinai, and clothing.
For ordinary objects, in architecture and constructed products, the “Kane-jaku” is employed. (“kane” in Japanese is 'metal,' its meaning is “the metal-shaku.”)
One kanejaku is approximately equal to 30.3 centimeters.
A sun being one-tenth of a shaku, is approximately 3.03 centimeters.
To convert centimeters to shaku/sun, divide your measurement by 30.3.
For example 120 cm divided by 30.3 equals 3.9+, or 3 shaku, 9 sun (a “39” shinai.)
A special case for cloth, such as in keiko-gi and hakama, the “Kujira-shaku” is used. Interestingly enough, in pre-modern times, whale whiskers were used for measuring cloth. The word for whale is kujira.
One kujira-shaku is approximately equal to 37.9 centimeters.
A sun being one-tenth of a kujira-shaku, is approximately 3.79 centimeters.
To convert centimeters to kujira-shaku, divide your measurement by 37.9.
For example, 91 centimeters divided by 37.9 equals 2.4, or 2 shaku, 4 sun, the same as a “24” hakama.
What Does "Bio Shinai" Mean?
The Bio shinai is a bamboo shinai in which the bamboo staves have been slow cooked in resin. This process causes the resin to replace the water in the cellular spaces of the bamboo. Upon solidifying, it produces a shinai that is much less suseptable to dry climates, or changes in humidity.
This shinai is highly recommended for dry climates, such as regions far from the ocean, mountainous regions, and anywhere where snow falls.
The shinai are shaped and crafted in such a way as to comply to minimum weight specifications mandated by the All Japan and International Kendo Federations. However, they may vary from ten to 20 grams over the minimum weight specifications. More details may be found in our "Information Page" titled "Shinai specifications."
Please keep in mind: the four component pieces for a single shinai that are taken from one pice of bamboo, must be matched to provide for the ideal shinai in which the "fushi," the nodes, or "knots," of the bamboo are matched exactly. Therfore during the extensive process of treating the individual pieces, the ha, or slats, which are then finished, careful attention to tracking, and re-assembling the matched-pieces must be done without error.
Our Bio shinai are shaped, sanded, and polished before shipping, resulting in a beautiful shinai. Fitted with premium heavyweigth tsukagawa, the leather handle, and other leather fittings to comply with the All-Japan and International Kendo Federations Rules, we also include a plastic tsuba and tsuba-dome, for a complete shinai, ready to use upon receipt.
Tsukagawa, the leather handle: If you include any special instructions in the comment-section of the final order page, we can equip your shinai with tsukagawa length to your specifications. Standard tsukagawa are catagorized by the shinai length, for example: a 3-9 tsukagawa for a 39 shinai, and so forth. If you have any questions, please contact us.
We recommend that the shinai be wipped down with a moist cloth occasionally, (not a wet tenegui, or face-towel, due to sweaty salt content,) and that soaps and detergents also be avoided, in the care and maintenance of the Bio shinai.
The particular Bio shinai that Chiba Budougu, Ltd. has selected are the two premium models of the Bio line. The treatment of the bamboo is most effective on high quality bamboo, the bamboo with the best properties for use in shinai.
Also, other versions of the two types we offer, the koto and dobari styles, in which the bevel-angle of the edges of the ha, or slats are cut at a lower angle, resulting in a shinai with a narrower striking surface, the portion of outer-skin of the bamboo, are also available; however, these shinai, although being slightly lighter than the models we offer, are incrementally weaker.
As Bio shinai users select these shinai for their long-life and durability, we have chosen the models that offer best cost-and-performance. Less expensive models of the Bio line which employ lesser grades of bamboo are also manufactured, so please keep this in mind when looking at other sources.
Although the Bio shinai is more durable than a bamboo shinai in the hands of a skillful kendo practitioner, it is still in fact a bamboo-based object and may break: Due to its role as a striking instrument, neither Chiba Budougu, Ltd., nor the manufacuters of the Bio shinai can be held liable for any failure of the shinai, or personal injury resulting from use of these shinai.
For more details about shinai, please see our information page titled: "Shinai Warranty."
For further inquiry, please contact our Customer Service Department at info@chibabogu.com
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