Shinai

A shinai (Japanese: 竹刀) is a practice sword used primarily in Kendo. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, however these are styled differently than kendo shinai, and are represented with different characters.

Construction
The Shinai is made of four bamboo slats (take) held together by two pieces of leather, tsuka-gawa (handle) and saki-gawa (tip), and a string (tsuru). Placed under the saki-gawa is a plastic plug saki-gomu. To prevent the four take from getting misplaced there is a small square of metal, chigiri, placed between them inside the tsuka-gawa. A leather thong (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 holds take together in the event of a break and marks the proper striking portion of the blade (datosubu). Shinai are available in many styles and balances, and some may be treated (smoked or resin soaked) or made from carbon fiber alternative materials.

Care of Shinai
A Shinai must be properly taken care of or it can pose a danger to both the user, and the people around it. Shinai should be inspected for splinters and breaks before and after use, and taken care of in the manner considered most appropriate by one's style, dojo, or sensei.

Many people believe that oiling and sanding a shinai prior to use, and periodically during use can greatly extend its life. However, even in Japan, people disagree on what is considered proper shinai care and there is much lore and myth surrounding various methods.

To properly inspect a shinai, one first examines the area around the datosubu, looking on all sides of the shinai for splinters. Bamboo splinters infect easily, so care should be taken by either using a glove or rag while sanding the splinters down. The saki-gawa should be intact and the tsuru should be tight so that the saki-gawa cannot slip off the end of the shinai while in use. In addition, the nakayui should be tight enough as to not rotate easily.

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.

Trivia
Like many weapons, it can also be used as an implement for corporal punishment, notably in spanking, more common in Japan than the paddle in the US.
The Shinai has become a popular tool/weapon in Professional wrestling, due to its intimidating look and the loud cracking sound it makes once it strikes someone. It is frequently called Singapore Cane or Kendo Stick by the less knowledgeable. It is especially identified with the professional wrestler The Sandman. It was also identified with wrestlers Steve Blackman, Tommy Dreamer, and Justin Credible, as well as wrestling executive Shane McMahon during his occasional appearances as a wrestler.
In manga, Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki, Myojin Yahiko uses a shinai.