This is how one would suit up for a Kendo sparring session. First, the uniform, called "dogi", would be put on. First you would don a woven cotton shirt called a "keigogi", as well as a pleated skirt called a "hakama". The armor, called "bogu", consists of four pieces. These are the body armor, or "do", a hip/groin guard, called a "tare", then the "kote", or gloves, and finally the helmet, called a "men". The weapons you would use for Kendo are the "bokken", also called "bokuto", and the "shinai". The "bokken" is made of oak or another sort of hardwood and is used for practicing katas and perfecting form. The shinai is comprised of four staves of bamboo bound in leather, and is used for full-contact fighting.
a "bokken" |
The body armor, "bogu" |
A "shinai" |
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B and Geoff D