Kendo Bamboo Blade?

Question

I want to get a Kendo Bamboo Blade from FYE in Florence, KY inside the Florence Mall. I saw some once in the back of the store on the floor under the shelves of anime videos. Does anyone know the price?

If so do you think Barns & Noble across the street will give me the $25 that my birthday gift card is worth? I can't get the Kendo Bamboo Blade otherwise.

Answer 1

For Your Entertainment at the mall is a video store so why would they sell shinai's there?  The mall no longer has a Asian weapons store and hasn't had one for over a good 7 years or better.  That must have been something else you saw there.

Lewis Imports in Covington ( My Old Home Town ) used to have all kinds of martial arts stuff years back, but unfortunately you'll have to order that stuff online now unless you're cheap enough to go the Richwood Flea Market route that is.  That junk is junk though out there.

Take your gift card and look online through yahoo or google for a decent shinai or bokken which ever suits you best.  My next question is where is a Kendo school at around any part of Florence? I don't remember ever seeing one out there.

Answer 2

Hi.

First of all, what you are referring to is actually called a "shinai".

I don't know the price of a shinai that you can find at the mall.  However prices usually range from $12 to $25, give or take a few dollars.  I'm sure you could pay a lot more for a high quality one made in Japan, but unless you are a serious Kendo practitioner you probably shouldn't need anything like that.

I'm sorry to say that I don't think Barnes & Noble will do that.  The whole idea behind the gift cards is to get people to spend money with them and exchanging money for a gift card is rather counterproductive for them.  It can't hurt to ask though (the manager perhaps), maybe they'll give you the difference in cash if you spend part of it with them.

Regardless, and if only for future reference if you can't obtain adequate funds in the near future, a mall is not a good place to buy a shinai.  I would look online, that is where they are going to be the cheapest.  Or try to find a martial arts store, they may be a little more expensive but you wouldn't be paying shipping at least.  But whatever, malls are convenient and if that's worth any extra price you may pay then go for it.

I hope this helps :)