Grip

Round - The standard round shinai grip. Most kendoka is most used to this as commonly how their first shinai was built.

Oval (koban) - 小判, named after the japanese oval coin, this type of grip is more akin to a katana's grip. It is preferred by those who are looking for instinctively feeling the hasuji (edge alignment) of the shinai, especially when attempting angled strikes like sayu-men or dou.

Balance

Standard - Basic and 1a grade shinai are made with standard weight distribution. Ideal for beginners and those who do not have a preference for shinai balance.

Dobari - 胴張 (lit. enlarged waist). These shinai has an enlarged and heavier waist, thereby adjusting the center of balance closer to the handle. The result is a shinai with high maneuverability which is popular among high school competitive kendo.

Koto - 古刀 (lit. Old sword). Also known as chokuto. Koto shinai has an even weight and thickness throughout the entire shinai. This lends to more powerful strikes and more tactility when crossing swords.

A Grades

The A grades seen on our shinai denotes the bamboo's weight distribution.

When the shinai manufacturer receives a batch of bamboo. Only a certain percentage can be made into specialised shinai (ie dobari, koto). Bamboo with lower A grades do not have the suitable shapes or grain to be made into specialised shinai. For example, only 30% is suitable for 2A shinai, and 15% for 3A.

The A grades has no measured difference when it comes to durability.