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**jarsbars** · 08-19-2009, 01:21 PM

I know an adult male that regularly uses a 38 in practice. He once told me it was to help him develop his footwork, but I don't think I ever saw him use a 39.

Point taken, and I don't doubt there are some that do but the norm is we all use 39, to not would put you at a disadvantage, you'll always find an exception to the rule.

I was just curious if there was a specific reason the lengths are what they are. If kendo is boiled down to the one step one strike then I don't understand the varying lengths. If lengths were determined over time through competition to standardize the shinai and for bokuto to have a middle of line katana size I completely understand. I was interested to know if there was something more behind it or was it one of those things that just developed into what it is.

08-19-2009, 01:21 PM	#10
jarsbars Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 375 Senior Member	I know an adult male that regularly uses a 38 in practice. He once told me it was to help him develop his footwork, but I don't think I ever saw him use a 39. Point taken, and I don't doubt there are some that do but the norm is we all use 39, to not would put you at a disadvantage, you'll always find an exception to the rule. I was just curious if there was a specific reason the lengths are what they are. If kendo is boiled down to the one step one strike then I don't understand the varying lengths. If lengths were determined over time through competition to standardize the shinai and for bokuto to have a middle of line katana size I completely understand. I was interested to know if there was something more behind it or was it one of those things that just developed into what it is.
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