Tips for how to choose items

How to choose Kendo Shinai

Kendo Shinai sizes and style may vary. For example, an adult may be able to use a standardrized shinai but it is too long and heavy for the younger adults.
This is why we have kendo shinai with different sizes and styles. Now we have more lighter and slimmer styles for female kenshi. Matsu Budogu Kendo shinai are available in many styles and different balances. The slats of a shinai are usually made from dried bamboo, some are smoked as of a style. Kendo shinai slats are also made of carbon fiber, reinforced resin, or other approved alternative materials.
Most of our Shinai are made by Kendo production experts of a small factory in Niigata, Japan.
Our Matsu Budogu Kendo Shinai are examined one by one so that we only offer the highest and finest quality shinai to our customers.

GRADE	ELEMENTARY SCHOOL					JUNIOR HIGH	HIGH SCHOOL	COLLEGE ADULT
SHINAI REGULATION SIZE
SHINAI SIZE	28	30	32	34	36	37-38	38-39	39
LENGTH	87cm 34in	94cm 36.5in	99cm 39in	105cm 41.5in	111cm 43.5in	114cm-117cm 45in-46in	117cm-120cm 46in-47in	120cm 47in
WEIGHT	233g (min)	260g (min)	260g (min)	280g (min)	370g (min)	440g-480g (min)	480g-510g (min)	510g (min)
WEIGHT	233g (min)	260g (min)	260g (min)	280g (min)	370g (min)	400g-420g (Female)	420g-440g (Female)	440g (min) (Female)
Diameter of Sakigawa	Standard Size	Standard Size	Standard Size	Standard Size	Standard Size	25-26mm (min)	26mm (min)	26mm (min)
Diameter of Sakigawa	Standard Size	Standard Size	Standard Size	Standard Size	Standard Size	24-25mm (Female)	25mm (Female)	25mm (Female)

SAMPLE
AGE	SHINAI SIZE
4 to 6 years old	28 - 32
7 to 9 years old	34
10 to 12 years old	36
13 to 15 years old	37 - 38
16 to 18 years old	38 - 39
18 years and older	39

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Types of Shinai Handle

Do-bari (Fat body)

Do-bari - the shinai style which has a fat body and thin tip which able you to use technique and waza. This shinai is more tournament based and more commonly used by kenshis and senseis world wide. This shinai is also used for kihon (basic) practices. Matsu Budogu provides Do-bari shinai that is tip heavy and tip light for our customers.

Koto (Old Handle)

Kotou - Kotou Gata or Old Handle Shinai means Old Sword Style in Japanese, which is made by slim and straight shape. Compare to Do-bari, it is well balance through out entire shinai. Not so much of weight difference on the tip of the shinai like Do-bari. Rarely you see kenshi using Kotou Gata (Old handle) shinai because they rather use Do-bari (Fat body) shinai for practice and tournaments. Mostly the higher level Sensei (Instructurs) would use Kotou Gata (Old handle) shinais.

Ordinary Handle

Ordinary Handle Shinai is circular shaped and most commonly used shinai during practice and tournaments. We (Matsu Budogu), also have different grip sizes for our customers. Available grips sizes in 25 GRIP, 26 GRIP, 27 GRIP, 28 GRIP, 29 GRIP, and 30 GRIP (only available in 3.9 shinai).

Koban Gata (Oval Handle)

Koban Gata Handle Shinai is Oval shaped shinai. It is a shaped of a oval so that you could feel it like you are holding a Katana. The difference between Ordinary Shinai and Koban Gata Shinai is only the gripping part. Koban Gata Shinai is usually for people who has a hard time holding the Ordinary Shinai correctly.

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Kendo Shinai Specifications

Gender	Name Brand Bamboo	Bamboo Length	Bamboo Weight	Bamboo Grip Size	Bamboo Style

MEN	BIZAN (Do-bari)	39	varies	25 Grip	Do-bari

MEN	BIZAN (Kotou)	39	varies	25 Grip	Koto

MEN	BIZAN (Do-bari)	39	varies	26 Grip	Do-bari

MEN	BIZAN (Kotou)	39	varies	26 Grip	Koto

MEN	BIZAN (Do-bari)	39	varies	27 Grip	Do-bari

MEN	BIZAN (Kotou)	39	varies	27 Grip	Kotou

MEN	BIZAN (Do-bari)	39	varies	28 Grip	Do-bari

MEN	BIZAN (Kotou)	39	varies	28 Grip	Koto

MEN	BIZAN (Do-bari)	39	varies	29 Grip	Do-bari

MEN	BIZAN (Kotou)	39	varies	29 Grip	Kotou

MEN	BIZAN (Do-bari)	39	varies	30 Grip	Do-bari

MEN	BIZAN (Kotou)	39	varies	30 Grip	Koto

MEN	FUDOSHIN (Ordinary or Smoked)	38	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	FUDOSHIN (Ordinary or Smoked)	38	varies	Ordinary	Koto

MEN	FUDOSHIN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	FUDOSHIN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Koto

MEN	SAEMURAGATA (Ordinary)	39	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	SHIUN (Ordinary or Smoked)	38	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	SHIUN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	SHIUN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Koto

MEN	TETSUZAN (Ordinary or Smoked)	37	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

WOMEN	TETSUZAN (Ordinary or Smoked)	37	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	TETSUZAN (Ordinary or Smoked)	38	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

WOMEN	TETSUZAN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	TETSUZAN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

WOMEN	TETSUZAN (Ordinary or Smoked)	39	varies	Ordinary	Do-bari

MEN	TESSAI (Ordinary)	39	varies	Ordinary	Koto

MEN	TESSHIN (Ordinary)	39	varies	Ordinary	Koto

MEN	TOROKUTESSHIN (Ordinary)	39	varies	Ordinary	Koto

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Shoden Iaito For Men

Shoden Iaito is for beginner practitioners of Iaido.
There are three different classes of Shoden as "Youth", "Men" and "Women", and Shoden for Men has two different Tsuka materials, cotton and silk for choise.
We can custom-make Iaito based on your height, Dojo style, preference of material, color, and design to better suit your needs.
For Shoden Iaito, Thickness and Length of Tsuka and Weight are the standard specification.
Please choose your selections from the following options to make your own Iaito.

D. Fuchi-Kashira (Fixed)

F. Tsuba

G. Menuki (Fixed)

H-1. Tsuka Color (Material: Cotton)

H-2. Tsuka Color - Material: Silk

I. Saya Color

K. Hamon (Fixed)

Order Description & Option:
A. Blade	Thick type
B. Sword Length	2-3-0
	2-3-5
	2-4-0
	2-4-5
	2-5-0
	2-5-5
	2-6-0
	2-6-5
	Other specific size
C. Approximate weight while wielding (without Saya)	820g to 1020g depend on sword length
D. Fuchi-Kashira	FK-1-Cable Stitch (Fixed)
E. Kojiri	Not included
F. Tsuba	TB-3 (Higo)
	TB-4 (Musashi)
	TB-5 (Cucumber)
G. Menuki	ME-60 - Butterfly Brass (Fixed)
H-1. Tsuka Color - Material:Cotton	TKM-1 Black
	TKM-2 Brown
	TKM-3 Navy
H-2. Tsuka Color - Material:Silk	TKS-1 Black
	TKS-2 Sepia Black
	TKS-6 Dark Brown
	TKS-4 Light Brown
	TKS-5 Navy
	TKS-6 Dark Brown
	TKS-7 Light Navy
	TKS-8 Light Green
	TKS-9 Blue Purple
	TKS-10 Green
	TKS-11 Purple
	TKS-12 Gold
	TKS-13 White
	TKS-14 Dark Green
	TKS-15 Red
I. Saya Color	SA-1 Black Gloss
	SA-2 Black Stone
	SA-3 Brown Stone
J. Habaki	Brass- Plain (Fixed)
K. Hamon	HA-3 Notare-Incurve (Fixed)

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Shoden Iaito For Women

Shoden Iaito is for beginner practitioners of Iaido.
There are three different classes of Shoden as "Youth", "Men" and "Women", also Shoden for Women has two different Tsuka materials, cotton and silk to choose form.
We can custom-make Iaito based on your height, Dojo style, preference of material, color, and design to better suit your needs.
For Shoden Iaito, Thickness and Length of Tsuka and Weight are the standard specification.
Please choose your selections from the following options to make your own Iaito.

D. Fuchi-Kashira (Fixed)

F. Tsuba

G. Menuki (Fixed)

H-1. Tsuka Color (Material: Cotton)

H-2. Tsuka Color - Material: Silk

I. Saya Color

K. Hamon (Fixed)

Order Description & Option:
A. Blade	Thin type
B. Sword Length	2-3-0
	2-3-5
	2-4-0
	2-4-5
	2-4-7
	Other specific size
C. Approximate weight while wielding (without Saya)	700g to 780g depend on sword length
D. Fuchi-Kashira	FK-1-Cable Stitch (Fixed)
E. Kojiri	Not included
F. Tsuba	TKM-1 Black
	TKM-2 Brown
	TKM-3 Navy
G. Menuki	ME-60 - Butterfly Brass (Fixed)
H-1. Tsuka Color - Material:Cotton	TB-3 (Higo)
	TB-4 (Musashi)
	TB-5 (Cucumber)
H-2. Tsuka Color - Material:Silk	TKS-1 Black
	TKS-2 Sepia Black
	TKS-6 Dark Brown
	TKS-4 Light Brown
	TKS-5 Navy
	TKS-6 Dark Brown
	TKS-7 Light Navy
	TKS-8 Light Green
	TKS-9 Blue Purple
	TKS-10 Green
	TKS-11 Purple
	TKS-12 Gold
	TKS-13 White
	TKS-14 Dark Green
	TKS-15 Red
I. Saya Color	SA-1 Black Gloss
	SA-2 Black Stone
	SA-3 Brown Stone
J. Habaki	Brass- Plain (Fixed)
K. Hamon	HM-03 Notare (Fixed)

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Shoden Iaito For Youth

Shoden Iaito is for beginner practitioners of Iaido.
Shoden, Youth is for students to handle easier by using the thin or the slim blade.
We can custom-make your Iaito based on your height , Dojo style, preference of material, color, and design to better suit your needs.
For Shoden Iaito, Thickness and Length of Tsuka and Weight are the standard specification.
Please choose your selections from the following options to make your own Iaito.

D. Fuchi-Kashira (Fixed)

F. Tsuba

G. Menuki (Fixed)

H. Tsuka Color (Material: Cotton)

I. Saya Color

K. Hamon (Fixed)

Order Description & Option:
A. Blade	Thin
A. Blade	Slim
B-1. Sword Length for Thin blade	2-2-0
	2-2-5
	2-3-0
	2-3-5
	Other specific size
B-2. Sword Length for Slim blade	1-8-0
	1-8-5
	1-9-0
	1-9-5
	2-0-0
	2-0-5
	2-1-0
	2-1-5
	2-2-0
	Other specific size
C. Approximate weight while wielding	500g to 750g depend on sword length
D. Fuchi-Kashira	FK-1 Brass (Fixed)
E. Kojiri	Not included
F. Tsuba	TB-1 Crop Bag
F. Tsuba	TB-69 Crescent Moon
G. Menuki	ME-60 Butterfly - Brass (Fixed)
H. Tsuka Color (Material: Cotton)	TKM-1 Black
	TKM-2 Brown
	TKM- 3 Navy
I. Saya Color	SA-2 Black Stone
I. Saya Color	SA-3 Brown Stone
J. Habaki	Brass- Plain (Fixed)
K. Hamon	HA-2 Straight (Fixed)

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