Revision 104465874 of "Shinai" on enwiki

[[Image:Shinai.jpg|thumb|300px|A Shinai made from [[Bamboo]]]]
A '''shinai''' ({{lang-ja|竹刀}}) is a practice weapon used primarily in [[Kendo]]. In kendo, the shinai is used as if it were a [[sword]]. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, but these are styled differently than kendo shinai and are represented with different [[kanji|characters]].

==Construction==
The Shinai is made of four [[bamboo]] slats (''take'') held together by two pieces of [[leather]], ''tsuka-gawa'' (handle) and ''saki-gawa'' (tip), and a string (''tsuru''). Placed under the ''saki-gawa'' is a [[plastic]] plug ''saki-gomu''. To prevent the four ''take'' from getting misplaced there is a small square of metal, ''chigiri'', placed between them inside the ''tsuka-gawa''.  A leather thong (''nakayui'') is wrapped around the ''take'' and tied to the ''tsuru'' about one-third of the way down the ''shinai'' from the tip (''kensen''); this holds ''take'' together in the event of a break and marks the proper striking portion of the blade (''datosubu''). Shinai are available in many styles and balances, and some may be treated (smoked or resin soaked) or made from [[carbon fiber]] alternative materials.

==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 taken care of in the manner considered most appropriate by one's style, dojo, or sensei.

Many people believe that oiling and sanding a shinai prior to use, and periodically during use can greatly extend its life. However, even in Japan, people disagree on what is considered proper shinai care and there is much lore and myth surrounding various methods.

To properly inspect a shinai, one first examines the area around the datosubu, looking on all sides of the shinai for splinters. Bamboo splinters infect easily, so care should be taken by either using a glove or rag while sanding the splinters down. The saki-gawa should be intact and the tsuru should be tight so that the saki-gawa cannot slip off the end of the shinai while in use. In addition, the nakayui should be tight enough as to not rotate easily.

==Regulations==
In competition there are regulated weights and lengths of the ''Shinai''.

*Adult females: maximum length 120 cm, weight minimum 440 grams
*Adult males: maximum length 120 cm, weight minimum 510 grams.

==Trivia==
*Like many weapons, it can also be used as an implement for [[corporal punishment]], notably in [[paddle (spanking)|spanking]], more common in Japan than the [[paddle (spanking)|paddle]] in the US.
*The Shinai has become a popular tool/weapon in [[Professional wrestling]], due to its intimidating look and the loud cracking sound it makes once it strikes someone. It is frequently called Singapore Cane or Kendo Stick. It is especially identified with the professional wrestler [[Jim Fullington|The Sandman]]. It was also identified with wrestlers [[Steve Blackman]], [[Tommy Dreamer]], and [[Peter Polaco|Justin Credible]], as well as wrestling executive [[Shane McMahon]] during his occasional appearances as a wrestler.
*In manga, [[Rurouni Kenshin]] by [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]], [[Myojin Yahiko]] uses a shinai.

==See also==
*[[Kendo]]
*[[Bokken]]
*[[Waster]]

[[Category:Japanese swords]]
[[Category:Corporal punishments]]

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