Bamboo Samurai Training Sword Hand-Made Training Sword for Iaido Kendo and Japanese Fencing 40" (Black)

I wasn't expecting it to actually be usable for swings and kata but it held pretty much from light swings to swift swings. If you're looking for something you could use for hitting, you're better of with a Bokuto/Bokken. This Bamboo katana is not suitable for hitting hard (maybe a few hits).I removed 1* just because there's room for improvements and some info aren't on the description as this was being written.Short Review:Habaki is plastic. (too light)No clue on type of tang and mekugi.Doesn't feel that flexible like in the photos.Saya and Tsuka is slippery.Blade has a weird shiny finish but does not improve nor negatively impact performance.Detailed comment:Habaki is made out of plastic. Yes it cuts the cost down but an alloy metal habaki would've made the katana feel better and adds a bit of weight.(it's super light...)No idea if this is a full tang or if it even has a tang and a mekugi.In the photos they provided. They show a very flexible bamboo but after receiving the real deal it feels like it'll break if i tried to test the flexibility of the blade like in the photos they have.The paint finish makes the Saya and Tsuka slippery so i had to use a silicone grip tape.(I have a spare Saya so i ifigured i'd use it instead)The blade has a weird shiny finish to it. I'm not sure if it's a varnish or it's some natural wax coat, but the good part is it is not sticky and doesn't affect the performance.Overall i would actually buy another bamboo katana from them instead of a hardwood/rosewood katana. I am not entirely sure but i think once hardwood/rosewood katana have gathered moisture, the hardwood/rosewood would become brittle and snap easily. I already snapped two just by swinging and practicing drawing/sheathing for 3-4 months. The hardwood katana didn't last long while my other bamboo katana is still flexible and strong till today and now i have two bamboo katanas.I'm satisfied with the product and would definitely buy another one again.(this review will be updated if anything happens)