Kodokan Kendo Dojo

	Introduction to the Equipment Kendo equipment consists broadly of three parts: the clothes, the armour and the weapons. All are traditional in form. Some modern materials are now available- though natural products are generally preferred. The clothing is based loosely on traditional Japanese wear, the top being a kimono style jacket (gi) and the trousers a (hakama). Today's kendo armour is the result of improvements in the protection having been refined through more than two hundred years of development. The weapons are basically unchanged, the bokuto being most commonly made of oak and the shinai of bamboo. Below each item will be discussed in a little more detail. For equipment and armour repair there is Emaishop. They are able to supply the items referred to here. Kodokan would also like to recommend Chiba Budougu Ltd, Japan for all armour and clothing
	Clothing Hakama: - Traditional Japanese loose pleated trousers worn in Kendo. Made of cotton (also available in man made fibres) The type of hakama presently used for kendo is the same as that was used for horse riding. Kendo-gi: - Practice jacket, also known as a kendo gi today. Made of quilted cotton. Also called do-gi or kendo-gi Both of these items are mainly blue (indigo –dyed) or white. A thick material, which is durable, sanitary and protects the body, is preferred. A good reference on how to wear and look after your hakama and gi is found on the website of Mushinkan Kendo Dojo in Colorado, USA here and a word document to assist in sizing of clothing and armour can be found here.
	Bogu (Armour) also known as kendo-gu Men:- Protective head guard/mask. Made of quilted cotton with steel face bars (tate-gane) and secured by cords (himo) That are passed around the head and tied at the back. Kote:- Protective gloves with padded deer skin uppers (kote-gashira) and quilted cotton wrist covers (kote-Buton) and loosely laced with cords (kote-himo) Do:- Torso protector. Made of bamboo slats, lacquered with a quilted and embroidered upper section (do-mune) and tied loosely with cords (do himo) Tare:- Protective apron. Made of quilted cotton with a belt like top section (mae-obi) and three lower flaps (dare) and tied Behind with cotton tapes (tare-himo)

	Weapons Bokuto above and Shinai below. Bokuto or Boken:- Wooden sword made in the shape of a Japanese katana (sword) from oak, loquat or other wood. Comes with hand protector, tsuba (top left). Shinai:- bamboo foil modelled (loosely) after the Japanese sword and made traditionally of bamboo (although synthetic materials are approved by the AJKF). Consisting of four pieces of bamboo held together with a handle cover (tsuka), tip cover (saki-gawa), string (tsuru) and secured with a strap (naka-yui), comes with hand protector (tsuba, bottom left).

www.kodokankendo.org.uk
paul.budden@kodokankendo.org.uk