A shinai (Japanese:竹刀) is a practice sword used in Kendo.

Construction of the Shinai

Practice sword made of four bamboo slats (take) held together by two leather caps, tsuka-gawa (handle) and saki-gawa (tip), and a string (tsuru). Placed under the saki-gawa is a rubber plug saki-gomu. To prevent the four take from getting misplaced there is a small piece of metal, chigiri, placed between them inside the tsuka-gawa. A thin strip of leather (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 stabilizes the take and marks the limits of the striking area of the blade (monouchi).

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.