Especially in tournaments, the Shinais are to be checked to ensure that the Shinais are not damaged and are safe to be used. We advise you to check your shinais before training to ensure you won’t damage your partners.
For competitions, the shinai regulation is as follows:
Gender | Children** | Teenagers** | Adults | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Length | Both | Shorter than 114 cm | Shorter than 117 cm | Shorter than 120 cm |
Weight | Men | At least 440 g | At least 480 g | At least 510 g |
Women | At least 400 g | At least 420 g | At least 440 g | |
Circumference* | Men | At least 25 mm | At least 26 mm | At least 26 mm |
Women | At least 24 mm | At least 25 mm | At least 25 mm |
* Measure of the circumference of the Sakigawa, the end tip of the shinai.
** Age regulation as stated in the DKenB, German Kendo Federation:
Age | 6 and Below | 7 or 9 | 10 or 12 | 13 or 15 | 16 or 17 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shinai | optional | 36 | 36 / 37 | 37 | 38 |
Weight | optional | optional | optional | optional | Refer above |
Many female Kendokas prefer a Shinai length of 38, but it is permitted for women to compete with a 39 Shinai. The most important thing is that the Shinai’s weight is above 440 g as per regulation.
The most basic Shinai we offer is "Ishin A Shinai, Size 38" which we recommend to beginners. (click here).
We also offer Shinais designed specifically for women, such as the Tomo AA Shinais for women, in size 39. (click here) This Shinai weighs around 450 g, which is significantly lighter than men’s size 39 Shinais.
The 38 Tomo Shinais can be used by boys and men competing in the teenagers’ categories. (click here) Another alternative for size 38 Shinai would be the Oval Shinais (click here).
For women with shorter arms or smaller hands, we also provide AA Shinais for women with shortened grip (click here), This nevertheless meets the required minimum length for a conventional 38 shinais. However, unlike other size 38 shinais, this shinai has a Tsukagawa (grip) length of a size 37 Shinais.
All of our 39 Shinais meet the necessary requirements for tournaments. To find the wide range of size 39 Shinais we offer, (click here)
We have a range of Shinais with varying thicknesses of the Tsukagawa, which includes the Tomo Shinais (click here) Seiken Shinais (click here) Shinai-AA-Nito-37-round-grip (click here), used for Nito competitors.
Customers with larger hands can also check out our AA Shinais with an extra-thick grip (click here), which has a Tsukagawa circumference of 30 mm. The thickness of the tsukagawa is available in the description for all of the Shinais on offer.
Recommended for Beginners. This Shinai is a solid and well prepared standard basic Shinai.
An ideal option for tournaments. The Tomo Shinais are built with AA quality bamboo and has a slight Dobari structure, making quick and swift techniques to be done easily.
This Shinai is recommended to children trying out Kendo for the first time, as well as their first participation in a tournament. Available in different sizes.
This Shinai is recommended to children trying out Kendo for the first time, as well as their first participation in a tournament. Available in different sizes.
This Shinai is recommended to children trying out Kendo for the first time, as well as their first participation in a tournament. Available in different sizes.
This Shinai is recommended to children trying out Kendo for the first time, as well as their first participation in a tournament. Available in different sizes.
This Shinai is recommended to children trying out Kendo for the first time, as well as their first participation in a tournament. Available in different sizes.