Itto Ryodan - Koto Shinai

i got this and Tokuren koto. i also have their Koetsu dobari and Kyoto Kurama dobari. in other words i have something to compare to. This shinai does feels heavier than Tokuren, definitely heavier tip and some how it is slimmer. i did weight this against the other 3 i have and total weight was 514g, exactly like the tokuren. winning center and doing deflects is mad easy with this one, but draw back is that you have to work harder to bring the tip back for double strike, or those big wazas. to combat this i made 70g tsuba out of epoxy resin (couldnt find one to buy, made my own to the specifications of internation kendo federation). the extra weight by hands allowed the recovery be faster and easier without sacreficing hasuji and still holding the center. the 80 grams (roughly, with tsuba dome) is not much to the total of the weight, especially located by hands. so far it's been 2 very fun keikos. and it's growing on me, i do like it more than i dont like it. side note for Kurama dobari i got. i set it up for lightest possible tip, very good to snipe kote, and etc, but you have to work extra hardd for everything else. like sommetimes you will get struck through your difflect because you didnt put enough strenght into diflect and due to light tip profile.