DO KENDO | ArigaToKendo | Episode 2: How to Prep a Brand New Shinai (Before Your First Keiko)

In this episode, I explain how to properly prepare a brand new shinai before using it in practice. When you purchase a new shinai, it is important to check and prepare it correctly before your first keiko. Taking a few minutes to inspect the bamboo, adjust the fittings, and confirm that everything is secure helps ensure both safety and proper performance during practice. In this video, I demonstrate the steps I recommend when preparing a new shinai so that it is ready for training. This video is intended for beginners learning how to maintain their equipment, as well as experienced practitioners who want to review proper shinai preparation. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction – Preparing a brand new shinai 00:25 Why shinai preparation is important for safety 00:55 Checking the bamboo staves (take) 01:40 Inspecting the sakigawa and sakigomu 02:20 Checking the tsuru (string) alignment 03:05 Adjusting the nakayui 03:50 Confirming the shinai structure and tightness 04:30 Final safety check before practice 05:10 Key points to remember 05:40 Final advice Properly preparing your shinai not only helps prevent equipment failure but also shows respect for the tools we use in kendo practice. If you found this video helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to support the channel and help us continue sharing kendo with the community. #剣道 #Kendo #Shinai #KendoEquipment #ArigaToKendo