O. Uyttenhove
27th July 2009, 12:52
Hi,
After several years of practice with a cheaper one, I am in the market for a new iaito.
I searched the web, asked my sempai and my teacher and I've come up with two possibilities: the custom iaito from Tozando or the one from Nine circles. They both have benefits and disadvantages.
The Tozando iaito I can customize with a sendan style saya but they don't have the fuchi/kashira I like.
The one from 9circles has the fuchi kashira but don't have the sendan saya.
In the end, the most important thing for me in an iaito is the quality of the blade (balance) and the quality of the tsuka-ito and the fittings. As far as I've read the quality of the tsuka-ito and the fittings are equally good with both suppliers. My doubt mainly concerns the balance of the blade and the practical use of a sendan saya..
Two of my sempai have an iaito from tozando, one other has one from 9circles. While the first two are happy about their iaito, they prefer the iaito from 9circles because of a much better balance.
Does every blade from the same supplier has the same balance? Is there anyone who has had good or bad experiences with Tozando or Nine circles, or with the sendan saya?
can anyone help me make my decision?
Thank you and sorry for the mistakes in English.
Best regards,
Olivier Uyttenhove
After several years of practice with a cheaper one, I am in the market for a new iaito.
I searched the web, asked my sempai and my teacher and I've come up with two possibilities: the custom iaito from Tozando or the one from Nine circles. They both have benefits and disadvantages.
The Tozando iaito I can customize with a sendan style saya but they don't have the fuchi/kashira I like.
The one from 9circles has the fuchi kashira but don't have the sendan saya.
In the end, the most important thing for me in an iaito is the quality of the blade (balance) and the quality of the tsuka-ito and the fittings. As far as I've read the quality of the tsuka-ito and the fittings are equally good with both suppliers. My doubt mainly concerns the balance of the blade and the practical use of a sendan saya..
Two of my sempai have an iaito from tozando, one other has one from 9circles. While the first two are happy about their iaito, they prefer the iaito from 9circles because of a much better balance.
Does every blade from the same supplier has the same balance? Is there anyone who has had good or bad experiences with Tozando or Nine circles, or with the sendan saya?
can anyone help me make my decision?
Thank you and sorry for the mistakes in English.
Best regards,
Olivier Uyttenhove