One topic that is often coming up is the one about the shinken, that is, a real live, sharp sword. Some beginners ask me, even before ever coming over to try, if they can use it, and the more advanced students wonder when their time of picking one up would be.
As always, there is no easy and quick answer. Overall, the tendency of the ZNKR, the Governing body of Iaido, is to discourage the adoption of a real sword until much later in time. This is because accidents do happen, and quite frequently, when a practitioner starts to use one before his time, and sometimes the blade can even "bite" experts. On the other hand, practicing with something that can actually hurt you if mishandled, takes one's focus to the extreme and can be a long-time way to improve one's technique. Long time! Because in fact, in the short term (a few years since starting to use it at least) you tend to become worse out of fear and insecurity. From a "regulation" point of view, in Japan it is only mandatory to use a real sharp sword, as opposed as a Iaito (which is a metal unsharpened reproduction instead), from the 6th Dan exam and above. To put this in perspective, to be eligible to take a 6th Dan exam you have been practicing, in the very best of worlds and never having failed not even a single exam, 16 to 20 years already. But already in Europe and in international competitions, this limit was waived and now outside of Japan you don't really have to purchase and practice with a Shinken at all, if you don't want to. So, overall, the tendency remains to discourage adoption of a live blade until much further in the road; indeed, a Iaito can already injure you well enough if you are not careful, and it is supposed to be dull! There are also other reasons, including regulatory (in many Countries it is forbidden or very difficult to import/export/own/transport/use a live blade) and economic (a shinken STARTS at about 7.500 USD at the very cheapest). That being said, I almost do not know anyone that after 5th Dan didn't pick one up and try at least some sessions with one. Yes, you read right, actually even the strongest, most experienced practitioners don't ALWAYS use a shinken even when they own one! It's heavier and you might not feel at your 100% physical and mental condition that night, for example, and you need to be at 110%! My personal position is that it is fair, wise and sensible to give people the choice, without discriminating one way or the other. That being said, NOBODY should EVER purchase, use or train with a shinken without proper approval and specific guidance by an official, reputable and expert teacher. What is important is to practice with dedication and precision, listen, try to do one's best and the journey in the Way of the Sword will be challenging and incredible, no matter which type of sword you use.
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