skinny shield?

[Istobla]

So i made my first shield plank, curved using rachet straps and a block of wood to push out the middle. Size was dictated by the pieces of thin hardwood plywood I had, two pieces about 34 by 16. So i am building up the edges with an extra layer Of 1/4" Baltic birch, an am going to taper the bottom half in 2" each side. I was planing on doing a verticly straped grip, with the for arm strait up and down on the shield but am wondering if I should just do a high vertical center grip. Like I said, this is a scrap wood project so i am going to make it into a leagal shield even if it is not a very use full one.
It is going to be for a samurai persona so it doesn't have to look like anything particular but I want to make it the most functional with what I have. What should I do?

[Arrakis]

Little bitty center-grip shields are super fun to fight with and really improve your movement, I think.