The Shinai
The Shinai is a split bamboo sword used for practice in such martial arts as Kendo and Kumdo. It is believed to have been developed for practitioners in about 1750.
What is the Shinai Made Of
The Shinai is constructed out of staves of bamboo, which have been polished well for protection against the trauma of strikes. Each stave of bamboo is set into place by a small piece of metal, which is placed firmly into a slot at the end of each. Each stave, separated by rubber, comes together at the tip The tip of the shinai is covered by a piece of material called the sakigawa. The sakigawa is normally made out of soft leather, and is secured by a tie. In the middle of the blade part of the shinai is the nakayui, and the handle, or tsuka, keeps the ends of the bamboo staves together.
The Tsuba of the Shinai
Finally, the tsuba is the guard that protects the fingers when gripping the handle, from allowing the hands to slip up onto the blade, or as a way to balance the shinai. It is typically made of leather or plastic, and often feature beautiful designs that are etched into the material. For real swords, thetsuba can be made from more extravagant materials, including copper, gold, or silver.
When purchasing a shinai, sometimes a tsuba is not included or you may want to replace it with something more decorative. However, depending on the material it is made out of, it can range from $10 to up to $60.