kendomain

Easy Shinai Maintenance

Your Shinai is an alternate of your sword. It is important that you check your shinai carefully before and after every practices and keep it in good condition.

1. Shinai Parts
2. Check your Shinai
3. How to set Accessories (Saki-gawa, Komono, Tsukagawa, Nakayui)
3. Help Kit

1. Shinai Parts

1. Tsuka-gawa, 2. Nakayui, 3. Saki-gawa, 4. Saki-gum, 5. Tsuru, 6. Komono, 7. Chigiri

Saki-gum.

Chigiri

2. Check your Shinai

Above: shinai blades
Left: 2 broken blades

Check your shinai before and after every practice.

Maintenance - if you find splinters on your shinai
1. Take all accessories off and open shinai.
2. Scrape splinters off with knife.
3. Smooth the surface with sandpaper.
4. Rub in a little oil or wax on both inside and outside of blades.
5. Wipe blades with clean cloth, put accssories back and done!

Replace blade(s) if you find major damage (see photo). Don't forget to apply oil on inside of the blade but do not apply too much.
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3. How to set Accessories
Let put all accessories on your shinai and make it ready to use.
How to tie Saki-gawa and Tsuru

1	2	3
4 Top	5	6

How to set Komono on Tsuru

1
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How to tie Tsuka-gawa

Tsuru and its tension holding 4 shinai blades together with other accessories. Loose tsuru is dangerous. You should pull tsuru tight.

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How to tie Nakayui
Nakayui shold be tied tightly at about 1/3 of blade length from shinai's tip. To avoid Nakayui slide during practice, make a knot on Tsuru.

1. Make knot	2	3	4
5	6	7	8. Cut tail

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4. Shinai Maintenance Help Kit

They aren't special tool, but make your shinai maintenance easier. From left: Baby powder, sandpaper and sand block, utility knife, small plier. If Tsuka-gawa is too tight, sprinkle small amount of baby powderon your shinai. It save your time and energy.
Using sandblosk is much safer than just using sandpaper.Small plier is a real help tool to tie/untie nakayui.

Now your shinai is in good condition and ready to use. Enjoy good practice!

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