Shinai SOUKAI 39 – Dobari Men, short grip

Are you looking for a shinai that responds quickly, can be manoeuvred with precision and gives you a real advantage in the dojo?

The SOUKAI shinai combines sophisticated balance with Japanese craftsmanship and is designed for kendoka who value speed, control and a direct feel for the strike.

SOUKAI – the ‘Blue Sea’ – symbolises calm, power and dynamism in perfect harmony.

Material & Construction

The SOUKAI shinai is crafted from high-quality Taiwanese Keichiku bamboo and impresses with its stability, elasticity and consistent striking performance.

As a 39 cm Dobari Shinai, it has a grip diameter of 28 mm, whilst the grip length corresponds to that of a 38 cm Shinai. As a result, the strong first node is particularly close to the grip – a decisive advantage for balance.

The result: the centre of gravity is extremely close to the hands.

Balance & Practicality

Thanks to the close positioning of the hands, the kensen can be lifted and guided with minimal effort.
This results in fast, controlled striking movements with high precision – ideal for dynamic kendo and clean technique.

In short: less loss of power, more pace. Or even shorter: pure speed.

Use in training

The SOUKAI shinai is ideal for advanced kendoka who wish to specifically improve their timing, reaction speed and feel for striking.
In keiko, it impresses with its immediate feedback and exceptional manoeuvrability.

The shinai is shipped directly from Japan and comes unassembled, so you can assemble it according to your own preferences.

🛡️ SSP-certified – Tested safety from Japan 

This shinai bears the official SSP (Shinai Safety Promotion) label.
The certificate was introduced by the Zen Nihon Budogu Kyodo Kumiai in collaboration with the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei. 

What does this mean for you? 

✅ Testing of length, weight and bamboo density
✅ Quality control during production
✅ Compliance with official competition specifications
✅ Safety and quality according to Japanese standards 

In Japan, the SSP label guarantees official recognition for competitions. So you’re not training with just any shinai – but with a certified piece of sports equipment in accordance with ZNKR regulations.

Advantages at a glance

✅ 39cm Dobari Shinai with an extremely hand-friendly centre of gravity 
✅ High-quality Taiwanese Keichuku bamboo
✅ Grip length as on a 38 cm shinai
✅ SSP-certified & ZNKR-compliant
✅ High speed with minimal effort
✅ Excellent control & precise striking feel
✅ Original from Japan, unassembled

Fast. Direct. Controlled.

The SOUKAI shinai represents an uncompromising focus on speed and control – for kendoka who no longer wish to use more force, but to strike smarter and faster.