Shinai
In Kendo we fence using a bamboo sword called a SHINAI (shin-eye). This is a sword made from 4 slats of bamboo held together by a leather sleeve on the bottom which also acts as the handle and a leather cap on the top.
Underneath the cap is a plastic spacer that keeps the slats apart and holds them in position.
A string runs the entire length connecting the cap and sleeve.
There is an additional length of leather binding the 4 slats together, and this is about a quarter of the length down the shinai.
There is a plastic ring that acts as a handguard, to protect your hands from stray cuts.
There is a ruber ring underneath the handguard to keep it in place
| Piece | Name | Pronounced |
| Slats | Take | Ta-Kay |
| Handle | Tsukagawa | Ts-ka-ga-wa |
| CapTip | Sakigawa | Sa-key-ga-wa |
| Cap Spacer | Sakigomu | Sa-key-go-moo |
| String | Tsuru | Ts-oo-roo |
| Leather wrap | Nakayui | Na-ka-you-ee |
| hand guard | Tsuba | Ts-oo-ba |
| hand guard holder | Tsuba-dome | Ts-oo-ba Doh-may |
| Slat spacer | Chigiri | Chi-gee-ree |
The Shinai we have available at the club are a variety of sizes and we will ensure that you have the right size for you. We use the International Kendo Federation guidelines to issue your shinai for use. To give you an idea of the size differences have a look at the following chart.
Shinai Size
| Gender | Jr. High School | High School | Adult |
| Length | M+F | less than 114 cm | less than 117 cm | less than 120 cm |
| Weight | M | more than 440g (Size 37) | more than 480g (Size 38 for Men) | more than 520g |
| F | more than 400g (Size 37) | more than 420g (Size 38 for women) | more than 440g (Size 39 for Women or Size 38 for Women) | |
Diameter at the tip of the shinai | M | more than 25 mm | more than 26 mm | more than 26 mm |
| F | more than 24 mm | more than 25 mm | more than 25 mm |
Younger ages
| Ages | Size |
| 4-6 years old | Size 32 |
| 7-9 years old | Size 34 |
| 10-12 years old | Size 36 |
| 13-15 years old | Size 37 |
| Gender | Long Shinai | Short Shinai |
| Length | Male & Female | less than 114 cm | less than 62 cm |
| Weight | Male | more than 440g | between 280g and 300g |
| Female | more than 400g | between 250g and 280g | |
Diameter at the tip pf the shinai | Male | more than 25 mm | more than 24 mm |
| Female | more than 24 mm | more than 24 mm |