The shinai is a wooden, mock sword created for use in the Japanese martial arts. Created from the lightweight and flexible bamboo wood, it is principally used for kendo training. However, altered versions of the shinai may be used for training in other martial art forms. The use of a bamboo mock weapon can be traced back to the 14th century, whereas the first record of what we know as the modern shinai can be traced to 16th century. The length of a shinai consists of four wooden slats rather than a whole piece of wood as the separate slats allow for a relative dissipation of force. Therefore, the construction of this mock sword allows for stronger strikes to be made during training sessions without risking serious harm.