[cajonnmu]

Well opinions do vary. But i have a PC nami iaito which i use for iaido and other students have complemented on its nice balance and 'lightness'. I'm very happy with it and its only £150. It has a black matt saya and is completely customisable. I have changed the tsuba for a much smaller one (easier for batto), and changed the saya for a PK gloss one (cos my matt one got damaged) and the sageo.

IMHO a very good 1st iaito, especially for the price. If your sensei says even this is too heavy, i'd question the strength in his arms

Don't spend a fortune on your 1st iaito. Bear in mind that whilst learning to noto correctly the koiguchi is gonna take a battering, and you don't want that to happen to an expensive saya. (the PCPK sayas are £35 to replace).

Hope it helps.

[Squeernemergo]

Fusa are the tufts at the end of the ties on some katana bukuro (bag). Tassels, like.

Bogubag/eurobogu is good enough, afaik. I wouldn't spend too much on your first iaito. Get to know the art first, and later on get an iaito more to your taste, more expensive, longer lasting. Give yourself some time to decide what you want, and check out other people's iaito at seminars and ask them where they got them. No sense spending £250 and then buying another iaito 5 years later, when you could go for £100 less and later on buy what you really want. It's all up to personal taste, of course.

[RooxiaNof]

Thanks for the help, have you ever heard of EuroBogu.net just glanced at the website today, seems ok £250 for a 2.5 sharku, black gloss saya, choice of cotton wrappin on the handle and comes with a silk Bag to carry it in, do you know what a Fusa is?

[GenryDont]

what are your views about Paul Chen Swords are they really worth the money, or just a waste?

You are into iaido, go to http://japanesesword.net/eng/index.html

[Ceriopal]

i own a paul chen sword and i think it is very well made. although i dont take iaido but i do take kendo and i am a samurai sword collector. i think they are very well made and beatiful swords

[johnuioyer]

Are Paul Chen blades a waste of money? Well, in your case, more than likely. Your sensei told you those blades are much too heavy. If you buy the blade anyway, that won't change; your sensei will still consider it too heavy.

If you really want to disregard what your sensei says, then just quit the class and buy whatever sword you want. If it's money that's the problem, there are a number of other vendors that have great wares (much better than the Chen stuff) at much lower prices; just try tozando.com and nosyuiaido.com for starters. I see three models at tozando for less than £140. Nosyuiaido's basic model is less than £200. There's no reason you can't get something at a good price without going against your sensei's reccomendation.

[mosypeSom]

Yeh i decided to wait till the paycheck comes in and buy a Katana from EuroBogu.net, the swords are very nice and slightly customisable, and yes i don't want my sensei to think poorly of me

[Rexaviennatutr]

Are Paul Chen blades a waste of money? Well, in your case, more than likely. Your sensei told you those blades are much too heavy. If you buy the blade anyway, that won't change; your sensei will still consider it too heavy.

If you really want to disregard what your sensei says, then just quit the class and buy whatever sword you want. If it's money that's the problem, there are a number of other vendors that have great wares (much better than the Chen stuff) at much lower prices; just try tozando.com and nosyuiaido.com for starters. I see three models at tozando for less than £140. Nosyuiaido's basic model is less than £200. There's no reason you can't get something at a good price without going against your sensei's reccomendation.

not to mention it is pretty obnoxious to not listen to him and use the sword anyway. I doubt you want your sensei to think poorly of you

[KeestRast]

I have been doing Iaido for a couple of months now and hopefully wiv the paycheck coming soon, i be able 2 finally purchase an Iaito, when i saw a Musashi Daito, it was £275, though wasn't too bad priced from Blades-Uk, but i made sure this was the right choice wiv my Sensei, he said that Paul Chen Iaitos are much too heavy, for it look like now i hav 2 buy an Iaito from Nine Circles custom made £357, not bad, then i realised a really annoying side it's an extra £17.02 for 2,5 sharku!!!, next i though fine then i will pay that, then the VAT is slapped on then delivery, then credit card charge, omg it came up 2 in total £500!!!!!!, grrr expensive, what are your views about Paul Chen Swords are they really worth the money, or just a waste?