MKA Basic Shinai Maintenance Tips 101

Your shinai is the most consumable product when you start kendo.
They all wear out, inevitably.
Shinai maintenance can help prolong your shinai to save money. Take care of your shinai and they will last MUCH longer with these maintenance tips.
Proper shinai maintenance can also help reduce injuries caused when a substandard shinai fails and splinters during Keiko.
Tips:
1. Sand and Shinai Oil (Walnut Oil).
2. Keep the Tsuru (top string) tight.
3. Keep the Nakayui tight to keep the slats together properly.
4. Try Burning off the oil from your hands and sweat with a Butane torch. This also helps with a proper tactile grip and feel on your Tsukagawa. You can also straighten the part of the tsuru that has coiled when tied to make it easier to retire. Heat the coiled/untied end of the tsuru to straighten.
5. Store your shinai’s indoors between practices.
Quality Shinai’s available from California Budogu available here:
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(This is not a paid advertisement for California Budogu. It’s my personal endorsement and suggestion to ensure quality and excellent customer service unparalleled with in the United States.)
GAMBATTE!
Memphis Kendo Association practices at the Cordova Family YMCA three days per week.
Come join us, please.