Yes - I would recommend you buy it - but Kenshikan also provides you with a beginners book to get you started.... Damn you! I can only guess that you are one who does not sitting in Seiza too long? I should be at training tonight - but my damn feets feel broken! And BTW the shinai are good to start with - it means that you dont have to choose something you dont know about...They are a little heavy for me - but I am a girl - but not a small one - so a 38 is too small - so I went with the mens 39